Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi: A Premier Venue Directly Connected to the International Airport with One of Japan’s Largest Exhibition Spaces – Introduced from a MICE Expert’s Perspective
With the cooperation of Aichi Sky Expo, this article explores the venue’s unique features from the perspective of a professional MICE media outlet. It is intended for event organizers who are considering venues in Japan and wish to better understand what makes Aichi Sky Expo a standout destination.
What Is Aichi Sky Expo – the Largest Exhibition Venue in the Chukyo Area?
Opened in August 2019, Aichi Sky Expo (Aichi International Exhibition Center) is a large-scale exhibition venue built on a vast site of approximately 280,000 square meters, with a total floor area of around 90,000 square meters and one of Japan’s largest exhibition spaces totaling 60,000 square meters.
The venue was established under the concept of creating “a new hub for exchange and innovation in Aichi, Japan’s industrial capital.” It aims to attract exhibitions and conferences focused on the manufacturing industries that Aichi is globally known for—automobiles, robotics, and IT—while promoting industrial exchange and new opportunities for business collaboration.
Directly Connected to an International Airport with Convenient Access from Nagoya
Aichi Sky Expo is Japan’s first exhibition venue directly connected to an international airport. It is located on the island of Chubu Centrair International Airport in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, offering excellent accessibility from major cities in Japan and abroad.
Although situated in the southern part of Aichi Prefecture, many are surprised to learn that it is only a 28-minute direct ride from Nagoya Station via the Meitetsu Airport Limited Express “μ-SKY.” It also takes about 30 minutes by car from central Nagoya.
From Chubu Centrair International Airport Station, the venue is just a five-minute walk away, providing a smooth transition from the airport to the exhibition halls—an outstanding advantage for both organizers and participants.
Key Features
Aichi Sky Expo offers several practical advantages for large-scale events. The venue is surrounded by non-residential areas, minimizing concerns about noise restrictions. A large parking area accommodating 3,447 vehicles is located adjacent to the halls, ensuring easy door-to-door access. Additionally, the spacious grounds allow trucks to load and unload equipment with exceptional efficiency.
Facilities and Layout: Exhibition Halls, Meeting Rooms, Multipurpose Areas, Parking, and More
Aichi Sky Expo is equipped with six exhibition halls, 18 meeting rooms, a multipurpose outdoor area of approximately 36,000 square meters, parking for 3,447 vehicles, and a variety of amenities such as a food court and retail shops. The facility offers versatile spaces that can accommodate a wide range of events, from international exhibitions to conferences and entertainment shows.
Exhibition Hall A: A Multipurpose Space Ideal for Events with Sound Equipment
Exhibition Hall A is a square hall measuring 100 meters by 100 meters (10,000 square meters) with a ceiling height of 20 meters and a completely column-free layout. The spacious, open design allows for diverse uses such as examinations, ceremonies, concerts, and sports events.
The hall is equipped with high-level sound insulation, including double soundproof walls and sound-absorbing materials, making it suitable for events involving loud audio or performances.
Exhibition Halls B–F: Up to 50,000 Square Meters of Continuous Space with Sliding Doors
Exhibition Halls B through F feature a ceiling height of 14 meters and a floor size of 132 meters by 76 meters. When combined, the five halls can be used as a single, continuous space of up to 50,000 square meters—one of the largest in Japan. The retractable shutters between the halls allow for flexible layouts and seamless connection, accommodating large-scale exhibitions and conventions.
The venue has also hosted standing buffet parties for around 1,000 guests, demonstrating its flexibility for social events as well. Each hall is equipped with essential support facilities, including organizer offices, meeting rooms, dressing rooms with showers, pantries, and rest areas.
Meeting Rooms: Flexible and Spacious, All on Flat Floors
Adjacent to the shopping mall area, Aichi Sky Expo offers a total of 18 meeting rooms in three sizes—S, M, and L—ranging from 30 to 300 square meters. This configuration allows for a wide range of event styles and layouts.
Among them, six rooms are classified as L-size (approximately 200–300 square meters). The rooms L3 through L6 can be connected to create a single space of up to 800 square meters, offering excellent flexibility for conferences, workshops, and corporate gatherings. All rooms are designed on flat floors, making them easy to configure for various purposes.
Multipurpose Outdoor Area
A vast outdoor multipurpose area stretches along the southern side of the venue, covering an impressive 36,000 square meters of fully asphalt-paved space. The area has been used for outdoor music festivals, automobile test-driving events, and commercial film shoots. Its proximity to the sea also provides an attractive scenic backdrop that enhances the atmosphere of outdoor events.
Sustainability and Local Character in Facility Design
The design of Aichi Sky Expo incorporates locally sourced materials from Aichi Prefecture, such as cedar wood, Seto-made bricks, and Tokoname ceramic tiles. The extensive use of wood creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere, while the facility’s architecture reflects a strong commitment to environmental sustainability in line with the principles of the SDGs.
By blending functionality with regional craftsmanship, the venue showcases Aichi’s cultural identity and promotes sustainable construction practices that reduce environmental impact.
Collaboration with Surrounding Facilities
Located on the same island as Chubu Centrair International Airport, the venue benefits from direct access to several nearby hotels and commercial facilities, including the “Flight of Dreams” complex and Centrair’s restaurant area. On the opposite shore, visitors can explore the “AEON Mall Tokoname” shopping complex and the “Pottery Footpath,” a well-known sightseeing area dedicated to Tokoname ware.
Together, these amenities provide visitors with a comprehensive and enjoyable stay experience that complements business and event activities.
Track Record and Future Outlook
In recent years, Aichi Sky Expo has seen strong growth in attendance, driven in part by increasing demand for concerts and live performances. At the same time, the venue continues to actively attract its core target—B2B trade shows and industry exhibitions.
Today, Aichi Sky Expo is widely used for exhibitions, concerts and festivals, sports and e-sports tournaments, academic conferences, and corporate events including networking receptions. The venue’s versatility and strategic location make it one of Japan’s most dynamic and promising event destinations.
Service Support and Operational Strengths
So far, we have explored the physical aspects of the venue. In this section, we focus on the service and operational support provided by Aichi Sky Expo.
We spoke with a representative to learn more about what kind of assistance organizers can expect. They shared three key points.
1. Dedicated Event Coordinators Offering Hands-On Support
“Our dedicated event coordinators work closely with each organizer to ensure the success of every event. During the event, unexpected changes may occur—such as a higher number of visitors than anticipated or the need for additional waiting rooms—but our team is fully prepared to handle such adjustments quickly and effectively.”
2. Global Support for International Organizers
“Leveraging the expertise of our parent company, GL events—one of France’s leading event management groups—we provide comprehensive support for overseas organizers as well. Our multilingual staff can assist in English and other major languages, allowing smooth communication from contract arrangements to on-site operations without the need for interpreters.”
“Another major advantage is our direct connection to Chubu Centrair International Airport. The venue is only a five-minute walk from the airport station, which makes it highly convenient for international participants attending global business events.”
“In addition, Aichi Sky Expo is the only permanent bonded exhibition venue in Japan. Since the entire airport island is designated as a comprehensive bonded area, overseas exhibitors can bring in display items without customs clearance. This significantly reduces costs related to import duties and consumption taxes, providing a strong advantage for international exhibitors.”
Chubu Centrair International Airport is Japan’s only airport designated as a comprehensive bonded area.
3. Regional Collaboration to Support Events
“We regularly hold an Area MICE Promotion Council several times a year to strengthen cooperation across the region. Initiatives include free shuttle bus services for visitor transportation and local dining coupons distributed at city restaurants—both aimed at enhancing the satisfaction of event participants. These programs are funded by the accommodation tax introduced in January 2025. In collaboration with the local tourism association, we also actively promote information sharing and joint campaigns with local events.”
Food and Hospitality: Insights from the Dedicated Food Coordinator
Food and beverage services are an essential element in ensuring the smooth operation of any event. Aichi Sky Expo places strong emphasis on hospitality through food. The venue features a 350-seat food court, two permanent cafés, and several shops that serve boxed meals, light snacks, and dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.
For organizers, a dedicated food coordinator is stationed on-site to provide full catering support. The team can arrange a wide variety of menus, from small gatherings to large-scale events, including special services for VIP guests.
Food Coordinator:
“To ensure every visitor enjoys a comfortable and fulfilling experience, we offer a wide range of dining options within the venue. Our catering services can accommodate everything from small meetings to large-scale events, and we also provide tailored hospitality for VIP guests.
We incorporate Aichi’s local ingredients and regional specialties to create food experiences that are unique to this venue. Through cuisine, we hope guests from Japan and abroad can experience the charm and flavor of Aichi. Our goal is to deliver high-quality, memorable service.”
Food Coordinator:
“In addition, the adjacent Chubu Centrair International Airport offers a variety of restaurants and leisure facilities, including ‘Flight of Dreams,’ which families can enjoy together. We aim to further enhance collaboration with these neighboring facilities so that both event participants and visitors can have an even more comfortable and enjoyable stay.”
Aichi Sky Expo Web https://www.aichiskyexpo.com/en/
