Japan’s MICE Venues See a Wave of Environmental Certifications: TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO and Sapporo Convention Center Earn LEED Gold
Japan’s events and MICE sector is accelerating efforts to benchmark venue sustainability against international standards. In December 2025, major facilities in Tokyo and Sapporo announced they had attained Gold-level certification under the globally recognized LEED rating system. This milestone—achieved by a newly built arena and an existing convention center with distinct characteristics—highlights significant progress on environmental performance across different types of venues.
Japan’s First for an Arena: TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO Earns LEED Gold Certification
On December 10, 2025, Toyota Fudosan Co., Ltd. and Toyota Alvark Tokyo Co., Ltd. announced that TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO—a next-generation, multi-purpose arena that opened in October in Tokyo’s Odaiba area—has earned LEED Gold certification. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally adopted environmental performance rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. The arena achieved a Gold rating in the “LEED-BD+C (Building Design and Construction)” category for new construction and major renovations, marking the first such case for an arena in Japan.
Under the arena’s guiding concept of “Betting on Possibilities,” environmental stewardship is positioned as a core pillar. Key factors recognized include a 32.3% reduction in energy costs based on whole-building energy simulation and on-site generation of renewable energy via a rooftop solar array rated at 300 kW—among the largest for arenas in Japan. The project also combines reclaimed water with rainwater utilization to cut indoor water use by 77.6% versus baseline, and secures 44.0% of the site as open space—both of which contributed to the high evaluation. The arena has already attained “ZEB Ready,” the highest level among domestic arenas under Japan’s certification program, demonstrating strong environmental performance against both domestic and international standards.
First in Japan Among Existing MICE Venues: Sapporo Convention Center Achieves LEED O+M Gold
On December 5, 2025, the City of Sapporo announced that Sapporo Convention Center has earned a Gold-level certification in the LEED “Operations + Maintenance for Existing Buildings (LEED O+M)” category. This marks the first time an existing MICE facility in Japan has obtained a LEED certification.
LEED O+M focuses on the operation and maintenance of existing buildings and is awarded to facilities that continuously promote sustainable operations. This certification strengthens alignment with the global trend toward “Sustainable MICE” in recent years. As environmental performance of venues becomes increasingly important for attracting international conferences, the center was recognized for a comprehensive set of initiatives: reducing energy consumption through the introduction of high-efficiency HVAC systems and a full transition to LED lighting; conserving water resources via low-flow restrooms; and rigorously sorting and recycling waste.
A Major Step Toward Realizing Sustainable MICE
With TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO, a newly built arena, and Sapporo Convention Center, an operating MICE facility, both earning the internationally recognized LEED Gold certification in quick succession, Japanese MICE venues are demonstrating environmental performance that meets global standards on both the “hard” (building design) and “soft” (operations and maintenance) fronts.
TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO secured high marks through the integration of cutting-edge technologies from the design stage, while Sapporo Convention Center was recognized for steady, day-to-day operational improvements. Both facilities regard environmental stewardship not as a cost but as a key driver of international competitiveness. As sustainable venue operations become central to MICE attraction, the efforts of these two facilities will serve as important benchmarks for Japan’s broader MICE industry.
