View this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/ca7044a1c21b/host-your-next-congress-in-japan-sapporo?e=2...) ** Welcome to the latest Japan Meetings & Events e-newsletter for Associations. ------------------------------------------------------------ We look forward to providing associations with relevant information and updates regarding hosting your future congress in Japan. Hokkaido (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=31364da839&e=202c24bde1) ’s capital city, Sapporo (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=438063fead&e=202c24bde1) , is the 5th most populous city in Japan with around two million people, and is the centre of politics, economy, and culture in Hokkaido. Sapporo first gained international prominence as the host of the 1972 Winter Olympic Games and has since hosted other big-ticket events such as matches for the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, Rugby World Cup 2019™ and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Marathon. Autumn in Jozankei - the largest hot spring town in Hokkaido Recognised for its abundance of rivers, mountains, volcanoes and wildlife, and therefore its vast offering of outdoor activities, Sapporo hosted the Adventure Travel World Summit (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=d4e04a1b93&e=202c24bde1) in September last year for the first time in Asia Pacific. Transport: Getting to Sapporo is easy (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=1036e13ea9&e=202c24bde1) with over 70 daily flights to New Chitose Airport via Tokyo, only about 1.5 hours away. Reaching Sapporo's city centre from the airport takes just 35 minutes by train or 60 minutes by car, and with hotels concentrated within a 1 km radius of central Odori Park, along with its convenient subway system and iconic street grid, Sapporo is easy to get around and navigate. Key Business Sectors: Agribusiness - Hokkaido’s sprawling natural and rural areas provide an abundance of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products; Tourism - Sapporo is one of the foremost international tourist destinations in Asia due to its natural environment, with the Sapporo Snow Festival season alone welcoming nearly two million people from both Japan and abroad; Environment - In recent years, Sapporo is also seen as a leading environmental city following various world-class achievements and certifications. It is also pioneering sustainability-related efforts under MICE including assessing the status of environmental efforts from the perspective of tourism and events; IT and media fields - Sapporo was the first 'Creative City of Arts' to be certified in Asia and is home to many creators playing a leading role in Japan's youth culture including the latest digital technology used in the projection mapping performed at the Sapporo Snow Festival, hackathons and Google Lens. What to Visit: The Sapporo Snow Festival (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=5bd6794eee&e=202c24bde1) in Odori Park which takes place over a week in early February each year; visit the extensive 439,000 m^2 Maruyama Park (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=f17681835e&e=202c24bde1) which features untouched forest on Mt Maruyama; eat and drink your way through Susukino (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=911f5db841&e=202c24bde1) , the biggest entertainment and nightlife district north of Tokyo; spend a relaxing day at the hot springs of Jozankei Onsen (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=133f8e4a97&e=202c24bde1) surrounded by beautiful scenery; and venture slightly further afield to Niseko (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=75ef0b27af&e=202c24bde1) , the most famous ski resort in Japan which also has plenty of outdoor activities on offer in summer. What to Eat & Drink: Sapporo Beer, one of the oldest and most popular beer brands in Japan with its trademark star logo, brewed in Sapporo since 1876; Sapporo ramen (the birthplace of miso ramen); the delicious seafood of Hokkaido; and thanks to the region's rich soil and cool climate, why not spend several days touring small yet unique distilleries in cities nearby sampling Nikka (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=c39a4edde7&e=202c24bde1) whisky in Yoichi or Ohoro (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=a3a5c5a0be&e=202c24bde1) gin in Niseko. Discover more about Sapporo (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=3b99cb641b&e=202c24bde1) Sapporo Convention Centre The largest multi-purpose meeting facility in Sapporo (see inset photo and below), this venue has extensive experience holding large-scale international conferences and events. On hand to assist is the Professional Conference Organising (PCO) Team which provides high-level service and assistance with managing events. The conference hall has a capacity of 2,500 people seated theatre-style or 1,200 in a classroom style. There are also 17 other conference rooms and the Conference Hall can also be used as an exhibition space of 2,607 m² which can be divided into three separate zones. The Sapporo Convention Centre (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=3b547dfd4e&e=202c24bde1) is just an eight-minute walk from Higashi-Sapporo Subway Station. It was at this convention centre that the Adventure Travel World Summit took place last year and here is a glimpse of the agenda (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=7c9d6cf25c&e=202c24bde1) of activities organised for the delegates during this period. Sapporo Convention Centre Contact the Sapporo Convention & Visitors Bureau here (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=27d63e905c&e=202c24bde1) Inset photo: © Courtesy of The Foundation for Ainu Culture History and Culture of the Indigenous Ainu People The Ainu are an indigenous people from the northern region of the Japanese archipelago, particularly Hokkaido. Speaking a distinct language with grammatical differences to Japanese although some similar aspects of word order, the Ainu language was formerly purely verbal with stories passed down orally from generation to generation. A very spiritual group who have lived in harmony with nature, they believe that spirit-deities are everywhere and are forever watching over humans. In 2008, the Ainu were recognised as an indigenous people and Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=1a8bdc0946&e=202c24bde1) , a national centre for learning about and promoting Ainu history and culture, was opened in 2020. As well as providing a base for larger initiatives to revitalize and expand the Ainu culture which, whilst invaluable in Japan, still remains under threat, Upopoy is also a symbol of the building of a vibrant society with a rich, diverse culture in which indigenous people are treated with respect and dignity. Click here to find out more about Ainu Art Projects (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=8f736c0ef8&e=202c24bde1) and Folk Dance (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=bc513ca716&e=202c24bde1) performances. Ainu Folk Dancing SAPPORO STREAM HOTEL Located in the Susukino area of Sapporo with direct access from the subway station, this brand-new hotel which just opened in January 2024 is part of a large-scale shopping and cinema complex. Rooms are designed in a minimalist style with brick walls that represent the pioneers of Hokkaido, and there are 17 different room types to choose from. Visit hotel website here (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=83cada4bb2&e=202c24bde1) GRAND MERCURE SAPPORO ODORI PARK Opening under a new brand in April this year, this international convention hotel is just three minutes' walk from Odori Park with easy access to central Sapporo. The hotel offers 294 spacious guest rooms over 20 floors with beautiful views of the surrounding area. Visit hotel website here (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=4d540fd218&e=202c24bde1) Visit Japanmeetings.org (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=8ec518a610&e=202c24bde1) Download Resources for MICE Planners (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=972510a2bf&e=202c24bde1) View the Japan Virtual Site Tour (https://gainingedge.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ecff7b7b23ff03219da8552ad&id=0893d5c187&e=202c24bde1) ** Thank you. We look forward to assisting you with planning your next event in Japan. ------------------------------------------------------------ ============================================================ Disclaimer You are receiving this email because your email address is on our subscribers' list. If you are not interested in receiving more emails like this one, please click on the Unsubscribe link below. Every effort has been made to provide accurate information at the time of publication and we encourage you to contact the featured suppliers or the destination’s Convention & Visitors Bureau directly, to find out more detailed information. 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