Although the Japanese have deeply rooted traditions and a love for their history, visitors to the uber-modern city of Tokyo will quickly see that the Japanese also love everything new. From high-tech gadgets to futuristic fashions, Japan has started many a trend that has spread throughout the world. In Tokyo, it seems, everything new is celebrated, and with new business facilities opening at a rapid clip, conventioneers have plenty of reasons to join the party.
In the dozens of towns that constitute the city of Tokyo, there are 3,600 hotel rooms and more than 300 meeting venues. Opened last March, Tokyo Midtown is the new kid on the block in the Roppongi area.
Located on the former grounds of the Defense Agency building, the mixed-use development stands on 24.7 acres of land--an impressive amount of space in a city of 12.4 million people. The Midtown Tower anchors the development, where the five-star Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo offers amazing views of views of Tokyo Tower and Mount Fuji. The grounds also include the Suntory Museum of Art, 130 stores and restaurants, and the Midtown Garden, where guests can enjoy the changing colors and blossoms of the season.
Meetings needs are well covered here. The Tokyo Midtown Hall boasts two multitrack halls—one large and one small. The two can be easily separated or combined, offering up to 14,100 square feet of meeting space. Also available is the Tokyo Midtown Conference Center, which offers nine rooms of different sizes to accommodate all types of gatherings.
Opening this month, the Akasaka Biz Tower will give attendees even more opportunities to shop and dine to their heart’s content. Located in Akasaka, another important business district of Tokyo, the building will include 46 shops. Restaurants not to be missed here include the Chinese restaurant Akasaka Rikyu; Zakuro, a Japanese restaurant; a shabu-shabu place; and a French bistro called Maxim’s de Paris.
Tokyo has enough sights and attractions to last a lifetime, so choosing where to go first is the only problem visitors face. Those who wake up early should start their day exploring the impressive Tsukiji Fish Market—the fish on sale will likely end up in the best sushi restaurants.
To get a taste of old Japan, visitors should head to the town of Asakusa. There, they can visit Senso-ji, a Buddhist temple completed in 645 A.D. Nearby, they’ll find the Kabukiza Theater, where groups can attend kabuki shows throughout the year.
With direct flights from most major American cities—and the fact that from the West Coast it’s quicker to fly to the Land of the Rising Sun than it is to go to Italy—makes Japan a convenient place to do business. Add a more favorable exchange rate than that of the Euro and Japan suddenly looks like a bargain.
Getting around Tokyo has also just gotten easier. A new shuttle bus service named Wa-shoi! Bus started last April. Business travelers can now travel from Narita International Airport to Shinjuku and Akihabara in Tokyo free of charge. Once in the city, a reliable network of train lines makes it easy to get from one side of town to the other.
Tokyo, capital of the Land of Wa, will wow attendees with everything new.
