Northstar

NOV-DEC 2017 33 meetings & conventions • mcmag-asia.com More than just culture Words Brittany Panter Tokyo turns on the charm factor for unique venues. Tokyo is a city of the future. The city's unique blend of traditional culture and futuristic technological development makes it an ideal venue for meetings and conventions that aspire to be just as unique. For meeting planners, the city the museum's contemporary architecture is particularly striking. Inside the building, there is a reception hall capable of hosting up to 100 guests for cocktails and there is a space on the third floor that can be used for everything from private exhibitions and small events of all kinds. Attendees can also admire Hokusai's works in the exhibition galleries. Fukutoku Garden The birthplace of Edo (old Tokyo) culture, and once home to a famous market, Nihonbashi is located in the heart of Tokyo and is a bustling business centre where tradition and modernity coexist. Located among the high rises is Fukutoku Garden, a 300-square- metre event space that is surrounded by greenery. Next to the 9th century Fukutoku Shrine, the garden is an ideal venue for all sorts of events. Interested in other unique venues in Tokyo? The TCVB has created two brochures called "Tokyo Unique Venues" that showcase a range of diverse venues across the city. offers a wide-range of venues to suit every taste, from historic venues such as Japanese gardens, museums, temples and shrines to more modern and cultural offerings such as aquariums, skyscrapers and even theme parks. Increasingly, planners are also looking for destinations which offer great value for money and one way to balance the books is to offer more, which is where unique venues come in as they are able to facilitate more immersive, valuable and memorable events. Here are two examples of recent additions to Tokyo's repertoire of unique venues. Sumida Hokusai Museum The Sumida Hokusai Museum, which opened in 2016 in Ryogoku, honours noted Japanese woodblock print artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). Close to the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Stadium, Top left: The striking futuristic facade of Sumida Hokusai Museum; Below: An ideal space for cocktail receptions at the museum The cosy and charming Fukutoku Garden

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