Have you ever imagined a corporate event beneath a starry night-sky and beside the azure ocean? While you are serenaded by the sound of the waves, you’re served signature Okinawan dishes that are freshly prepared on the live grill, as you connect with your team. If you thought Japan was all about big cities and mountains, a visit to Okinawa Island might make you believe otherwise; perhaps even make you consider it for your upcoming MICE event or for a picturesque nuptial ceremony.
Okinawa is Japan’s very own natural paradise; the birthplace of Karate and an important part of the erstwhile kingdom of Ryukyus (an independent kingdom that ruled most of Japan’s southern islands from the 15th to the 19th century) — its rich history makes it even more significant on the country’s landscape. This island is the least populated and the smallest one in the Japanese archipelago made up of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa. Perhaps its modest size and low population give its people the longevity of living; Okinawans are known to have the longest life-expectancies in the world. Naha, the home to the prefectural seat of Okinawa Prefecture on the southwest part of Okinawa Island, inhabits around 800,000 denizens. These residents are considered as one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations among the prefectures of Japan. Primarily driven by tourism, the island’s economy has seen a diversification in the recent time. Expanding its forefront in the travel industry, Okinawa is strongly positioning itself as a leading MICE hub in the world, not just in Japan.
Winning accessibility
The island of Okinawa is widely connected via land and sea; you can either take a flight to Naha or embark upon panoramic ferry rides that dock at several ports throughout the island.
Also known as Okinawa Airport, Naha Airport is the fairly new hub of the Okinawa Prefecture. Other islands in the Prefecture including — Miyako, Ishigaki, Irimote, and Kume — can be flown to via Naha Airport. The fifth largest airport in Japan, you can board a flight from more than 20 airports in Japan to Naha. With impressive connectivity, major airports like Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Narita Airport in Tokyo, Kansai Airport in Osaka, Itami Airport in Osaka and Kobe Airport, connect to Naha. The city’s international terminal boasts flights to and from Asian metros of Seoul, Taipei and Shanghai. If you’re interested in taking the ferry to Okinawa, you can hop on from many destinations in mainland Japan including Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima. Arimura Sangyo and Ryukyu Kaiun are the operators that ply ferries between Tokyo and Okinawa. Its excellent connectivity is one of the reasons Okinawa is winning on the MICE front.
Curious sightseeing
There’s enough to keep your delegates entertained and delighted on their visit to Okinawa. A bunch of team building activities can be organised at its various tourism sites. One that can be considered is whale watching in the island. Depart from Miegusuku Port to embark upon a cruise where you get up close and personal with these mighty mammals as they swim in the sea of Kerama. From January to April is the ideal time to spot these beautiful creatures. If wonders of the blue further interest your employees, then take them to Motobu Genki Village, where they can swim with dolphins. Before diving into a very safe pool populated by these friendly creatures, an English-briefing along with basic information about the species is provided.
Another interesting adventure can be enjoyed by your team at Bios no Oka in Uruma, a town just one hour from Naha Airport. A lush, serene nature park with boat rides across a canal that offer stunning views of flora and fauna along with a petting zoo and cafés, Bios no Oka makes for a nature-filled day-out for your team.
For some time off, there are many beautiful beaches on the island of Okinawa, where you can sunbathe and practice the art-of-doing-nothing. You can even go diving amid manta rays, underwater ruins, striking corals and vivid fish at many dive spots across the isle. Inhabited by hammerhead sharks and a majestic submerged monument Yonagunijima is one to consider only if you are made of steel.
For history enthusiasts, Okinawa has many UNESCO World Heritage Sites that pride themselves on a history that dates back over 450 years to the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Hemmed with well-preserved stone citadels and panoramic views of the
Nakagusuku Bay from its hilltop, Nakagusuku Castle is one such beauty that must be on your list. Others include Zakimi Castle, that was built by Gosamaru, a great Japanese commander and Nakijin Castle, the erstwhile castle of a Ryukyu king who ruled in northern Okinawa.
Venues and Hotels
Okinawa is a stunning island destination that’s ideal for small- and large- scale events. With a wide range of conventions and venues, it offers a host of choices to event planners. Its picturesque backdrops with cerulean waters are also ideal for the ‘something blue’ you may have always wanted on your wedding day.
With a theatre, event hall and 12 large and small conference rooms, Okinawa Convention Centre is the largest MICE complex in the prefecture. Accommodating upto 5,000 people for all sorts of events from trade shows, concerts to sporting events, its theatre is suitable for all kinds of performing arts. Here are some other hotels you could consider for your MICE visit to Okinawa:
With 344 guestrooms and suites’, Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island, Okinawa hotel’s largest space sprawls across 150 sqm. Offering ocean vistas, its five banquets feature modern facilities. The Terrace I, II and III are also available for events. Housing the Seragaki Island Chapel, the property is ideal for nuptial ceremonies by the hues and sounds of the sea. An array of dining options include Serale for all-day dining, Cucina Serale for authentic Italian fare and Shirakachi Robata for Japanese grill, sushi and teppanyaki amongst others. The Lobby Bar is an ideal place to network and share a tipple with your business colleagues. There is also Regency Club — the hotel’s exclusive club lounge and Spa Hanari for rejuvenating therapies. An outdoor swimming pool with sweeping views and a fitness centre are other facilities at the hotel. hyatt.com
Part of the Exes brand of hotels under Kariyushi Hotels Group, Okinawa Kariyushi Beach Resort Ocean Spa features 1,390 sqm of event facilities including three banquet halls and two party spaces. Rooms are equipped with balconies overlooking the sea. Other amenities include a business centre, complimentary newspapers in the lobby and dry cleaning/laundry services. The resort arranges for guests to partake in activities such as snorkelling, diving and hiking. It also organises guided cycling tours for its guests. kariyushi-oceanspa.jp
Set in the resort area of Okinawa in Onna, Okinawa Spa Resort Exes offers facilities of banquet halls for meetings and parties. It features an outdoor pool and the hotel organises snorkelling and windsurfing at the hotel. Rooms overlook panoramic vistas and have L’Occitane amenities, a coffee machine, and a marble bathroom. It also boasts a fitness centre and spa that offers relaxing treatments. Restaurant Ten serves a wide range of western and Japanese cuisines. Head to the bar to enjoy a variety of liquors from around the world. Okinawa Kariyushi Beach Resort Ocean Spa Hotel can be reached by a skywalk. sparesort.exes-kariyushi-inb.com
Okinawa Exes Naha is a short walk from Naha’s main shopping and nightlife streets and is a 15-minute drive from Naha Airport. The hotel features an outdoor pool and a fitness centre. Rooms are equipped with a Nespresso machine, a marble bathroom and a large work desk. The private swimming pools in the Villa suites on the top floor are quite opulent. A traditional Japanese dinner in Loo-Choo to taste authentic Okinawan cuisine is a good idea. Reserve a table at Bar Taira for an evening of cocktails and sushi. exes-naha.jp
Apart from the above mentioned hotels, Kariyushi Hotels Group also owns and manages a luxury Hotel under the Exes brand — Ishigaki Resort Island and a city resort hotel in Naha called Okinawa Kariyushi Urban Resort Naha. For large-scale MICE happenings, it makes sense to book rooms across its properties and host events across the hotels.
