Venue

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...

Hotels & Venues

Opening Event Report: STATION Ai, Aichi–Nagoya’s Startup Support Facility, Opens — Seven Standout Features We Found On Site

I’m Fujii, Editor-in-Chief of MICE TIMES ONLINE. Are you familiar with STATION Ai (ステーションエーアイ), the startup support hub that opened on October 1, 2024 in Tsuruma Park, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture? To commemorate the opening, an inaugural event was held from November 1 to 2, 2024. Along with coverage of that event, this article introduces...

Hotels & Venues

Overseas Report: Busan’s Ocean-View Workation Center — A Business Base That Shows the City’s Potential Beyond Tourism (Location, Facilities, and User Feedback)

Busan is South Korea’s second-largest city. From Japan it’s an easy trip by air or ferry, which makes it a popular overseas destination. Yet its role as a stage for business is less well known. Our editorial team visited a workation center in Busan—a place you can use as a first step for doing business—and...