Japan's outstanding convention cities

Chiba Chiba is perfectly located midway between Narita International Airport and Tokyo. Many of Japan's leading companies and subsidiaries of foreign companies now have offices here. The highlight is Makuhari Messe, which hosts more than 100 trade shows and exhibitions each year. The Messe has a total floor area of 72,000 sqm. The International Exhibition Hall offers 54,000 sqm of space over 11 halls, with the largest pillar-free space being 9,000 sqm. The maximum capacity is 7,500 people theatre style. The International Conference Hall and Makuhari Event Hall offers 1,000 sqm of floor space. The maximum capacity of the Convention Hall is 1,600 people banquet style while there are also 14 separate breakout rooms. The largest regular event to be held at the Messe is the Tokyo Motor Show. The most obvious incentive option is Tokyo Disneyland, which is 10 minutes from Chiba by train in the direction of Tokyo. The huge theme park is very close in set up to the US brands and can easily offer a day or two's entertainment. Disneyland has several international hotels on its doorstep including the Hilton Tokyo Bay and Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay. Web: www.ccb.or.jp/eYokohama Yokohama is 90 minutes from Narita International Airport and is Japan's second-largest city, sitting on the doorstep of Tokyo. Yokohama has plenty to offer CEI groups. The largest convention space is the Pacifico Yokohama, Its National Convention Hall can seat 5,000 theatre style. The conference centre has more than 60 breakout rooms and the exhibition hall offers 20,000 sqm of space. The area is well served by international hotels, including the 600-room Grand InterContinental, 398-room Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel and Towers and 603-room Yokohama Royal Park Hotel Nikko. For incentives, a trip to the Kamakura Buddha is a must, while near by Mount Fuji has endless options for walking, cycling and hiking. Web: www.welcome.city.yokohama.jp/convention Kobe Kobe is close to Kyoto and Osaka. The city is home to around 1,200 foreign companies, so it is no stranger to international business gatherings. The largest meeting space in the city is the Kobe International Exhibition Hall, which has 9,800 sqm of space over three halls. The exhibit space can be used for large conferences of up to 4,000 people plus four conference rooms that can seat between 100 to 400 people theatre style. One of the best incentive options in Kobe is a visit to the Nada sake breweries, which make a special style of sake and are a major tourist attraction in the city . Web: www.kcva.or.jp/e-convention