Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau

31/05/2024

Everybody, good day from Fukuoka.

Today we will be continuing our Fukuoka ward series. This time we have the ever-popular Chuo ward to discuss!

Chances are when most people think of Fukuoka, the Chuo Ward (Chuo translates to central) and its many offerings, are among the first things that come to mind, and for good reason. Funnily enough, while one of the most popular areas of the city it is the smallest of all of Fukuoka’s wards by area.

Tenjin, one of the major shopping and entertainment districts in the city is located in the Chuo Ward. You will also find the city hall, and several popular venues, including the ACROS building, all clustered in the area, making it very convenient to get around.

Ohori Park is possibly one of the most popular locations in all of Fukuoka, and it connects seamlessly to several other neighborhoods in the ward, including Ropponmatsu, Otemon, and Daimyo, all of which are filled with delicious food and unique and inviting atmospheres. Within the park the City Art Museum can also be found, featuring a wide variety of pieces and special exhibitions. For those wanting a taste of history, the remains of the Korokan Emissary Hall can be found in adjacent Maizuru Park together with the Fukuoka Castle Ruins. For a slightly less exposed, but unique area with tons to recommend in it, definitely pay the Hirao area in the south of the ward a visit also!

Finally, as our offices are also located in the Chuo ward office in Akasaka, all of us at the Fukuoka Convention and Visitors Bureau are quite familiar with the area! If you come down the Fukuoka definitely don’t miss out on all that the Chuo ward has to offer.

*Photos of locations throughout the ward provided by The Fukuoka City Government*

27/05/2024

📡🌍 3GPP RAN WG1 to WG5 Conference: The Mobile Broadband Standard

From May 20th to 24th, 2024, the 3GPP RAN WG1 to WG5 conference was held at the Hakata International Exhibition Hall & Conference Center. Organized by NTT DOCOMO，INC. and The Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB), this significant event saw the participation of around 1,300 experts from all over the world (with a total of about 3,000 include online participants), making it the largest gathering to date.

The international standardization meetings for wireless communication standards, including those for mobile phones, occur six times a year in various locations worldwide. This rotation ensures that experts from across the globe gather to decide on standards for different regions over an 18-month cycle, leading to vibrant and dynamic discussions.

Mr. Seiji Nishioka, Executive Director of ARIB, Mr. Seiji Sato, Chief Researcher of ARIB, and Mr. Syunsuke Kurihara, Assistant Manager of NTT DOCOMO, INC. They shared insights into the significance of these meetings in shaping the future of mobile broadband standards.　Finding a venue that could accommodate such a large number of attendees can be challenging, but Fukuoka’s Hakata International Exhibition Hall & Conference Center handled it perfectly. Thanks to Fukuoka restaurant guides, attendees could easily enjoy various affordable meals to their liking.

Stay tuned to hear about other amazing conferences happening in Fukuoka!

3GPP – The Mobile Broadband Standard　→　 https://www.3gpp.org/

Hakata International Exhibition Hall & Conference Center → https://www.hakata-ieh.jp/en/

24/05/2024

🌟 Excited to share highlights from the 81st Annual IMA World Magnesium Conference! 🌟

Held in beautiful Fukuoka from May 19th to 21st, 2024, at the Grand Hyatt Fukuoka, this conference marked another successful hybrid event. Initially scheduled to be held in person in 2020, the conference was held virtually that year due to Covid-19. This year, the event brought together 215 professionals from 23 countries, all passionate about the magnesium industry, including manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors.

Organized by Mr. Masashi Inoue, Chairman of the Japan Magnesium Association, and Dr. Kazumasa Yamazaki, Honorary Chairman of the Japan Magnesium Association, the conference was a resounding success. Both organizers expressed immense pride in bringing this prestigious event back to Fukuoka.

The conference was a fantastic opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing, enriched by the stunning views of Fukuoka. Attendees enjoyed networking events at two remarkable locations: the Hilltop Resort and the Resort Terrace BBQ at Luigans Spa & Resort. These venues offered both hilltop and seaside views, showcasing the natural beauty of Fukuoka city.

The IMA World Magnesium Conference continues to be a pivotal event for industry leaders, fostering collaboration and innovation in the field. Looking forward to the advancements and connections made during this exceptional gathering!



Information about the Conference: https://www.intlmag.org/page/conference-2024

Information about Grand Hyatt Fukuoka: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/japan/grand-hyatt-fukuoka/fukgh

Information about Hilltop Hotel Fukuoka: https://hilltopresort-fukuoka.com/en/

Information about the Luigans Spa and Resort: https://www.luigans.com/en/

23/05/2024

On May 16th and 17th, “Laennec 2024 Fukuoka” organized by Laennec Liver Pathology Society was held at Hotel Nikko Fukuoka. About 50 researchers specializing in liver pathology from 16 countries, including United States, Germany, Belgium, Canada, and Brazil, participated in the event.

Dr. Hirohisa Yano who is the former Professor, Department of Pathology, Kurume University School of Medicine (currently Director, Clinical Laboratory, Saiseikai Futsukaichi Hospital) and served as the host of the conference, expressed joy that this year’s meeting, held in Japan for the first time in 22 years since 2002, saw the highest number of participants to date. Discussions with presenters were lively throughout the sessions, and these enthusiastic conversations continued through to the coffee breaks.

Some participants also took the opportunity to travel to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, enjoying the best season in Japan for over ten days. In Fukuoka, they enjoyed the traditional Japanese dinner at Hakata Hyakunengura on the first day and indulged in Wagyu steak at the Grandhours on the second day. On the next day of the meeting, May 18th, they savored Fukuoka’s fine early summer weather on a river cruise excursion in Yanagawa City, located about an hour away from Fukuoka.

Information on Hotel Nikko: https://www.hotelnikko-fukuoka.com/en/

Information on Hyakunengura: https://www.ishikura-shuzou.co.jp/en/

Information on Grandhours: http://grandhours.asia/ #1

Information on Yanagawa: https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/773/

Information on the Conference: https://www.laennecliverpathology.org/2023/06/laennec-2024-fukuoka.html

＃Japan ＃Fukuoka ＃Kyushu ＃Restaurant ＃Convention ＃Venue

26/04/2024

Check out our new promotional video! Welcome to Fukuoka!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/meetingplacefukuoka/

We are very proud to release our new Fukuoka promotion video: Meet in Fukuoka!For event organizers, this video is available for use as a MICE promotional too...

26/04/2024

Do you want to hear more about Fukuoka’s events, tourism, and activities? Make sure to follow us on LinkedIn, where we post about new developments weekly!

26/03/2024

Good morning from Fukuoka everybody!

It is a rainy day over here, but with the cherry blossoms on the verge of blooming we thought we'd introduce some of the city's best spots for hanami, or flower viewing.

- Maizuru Park: the location of the Fukuoka City Castle Ruins, this park is famous not only for its sakura trees, but plum blossoms as well. With the Castle of Illusions making an appearance atop the keep, this year's night-time hanami will certainly be unique.

- Nishi Park: Nishi Park is located close to Ohori Park, just slightly further north towards the coast. The Sakura bloom here is widely considered one of the most spectacular in the city, and this year there are plenty of unique activities and ceremonies planned there and in the surrounding area!

- Uminonakamichi Seaside Park: Located in the city's Higashi ward, those who make the trip out to the strip of land that connects the mainland to Shikanoshima island will be rewarded with a vista of flowers and plenty of activities besides.

- Nokonoshima: Known for its year-round seasonal flower displays, Nokonoshima too dons pink when spring arrives. Go and hang around for some of the delicious local eats in the area and enjoy a natural reprieve away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

We hope that these provide you with some flower viewing ideas. Below we will attach some links related to some of the events associated with these areas.

*Aerial photo of Nishi Park provided by Fumio Hashimoto. Photos of Maizuru Park and Nishi Park crowds provided by The Fukuoka City Government. Photo of Uminonakamichi provided by The Fukuoka Tourism Association*

https://gofukuoka.jp/articles/detail/879a6eaf-9d8d-4eae-90de-d434d48c1173 (a list of cherry blossom viewing areas)

https://gofukuoka.jp/events/detail/7e3eb611-27c5-4e58-b42c-c61b4b489838 (Nishi Park Sakura Festival information page)

https://gofukuoka.jp/events/detail/63e99758-c44f-4af6-b918-347a7ecd9895 (The Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival information page)s)

02/02/2024

Happy Friday from Fukuoka everybody!

Today we'd like to remind people that the holiday of Setsubun is scheduled for tomorrow, making today "Setsubun Eve" in Japan. Setsubun refers to the last day of Winter before Spring in the old Japanese calendar, making the holiday significant as a time for renewal and throwing out the old and replacing it with the new.

Several of Fukuoka's most beloved shrines and temples are partaking of the festivities this year, and we have compiled a list of the places and their schedules in the link attached below, so for those interested in checking it out please give the links a look!

https://gofukuoka.jp/events/detail/33dddf3c-e5f6-4ef3-a70d-063675f6821d -> Information on Kushida Shrine festivities
https://gofukuoka.jp/events/detail/4551612f-2a84-49d0-b98d-53dcf7b07280 -> Information on Tochoji Temple festivities
https://gofukuoka.jp/events/detail/9906d3f9-ae62-4dd3-8cfe-bb8883b36ca5 -> Information on Miyajidake Shrine festivities
https://gofukuoka.jp/events/detail/0b9cccb4-a34e-4c4c-af81-33cd616bb092 -> Information on Sumiyoshi Shrine festivities



Photo of Kushida Shrine provided courtesy of the Fukuoka City Government.

18/01/2024

Season's greetings from Fukuoka in west Japan!

While still two or so weeks away, the spirit of the season is slowly but surely changing from keeping warm in winter to welcoming the upcoming Spring. The main holiday that truly heralds the incoming season is that of Setsubun.

Setsubun is one of the most important traditional holidays in Japan, and it represents a spirit of renewal and resetting before the new year begins in earnest.

In the past many households would represent this process by throwing beans, which helps to purify one of any residual bad luck. In Fukuoka, Kushida Shrine also features three gates that are decorated by Otafuku-men (comedic and auspicious masks of women). While the festival is to be held on February 3rd this year, starting from January 15th three masks were set up by three of the shrine gates.

On the day of setsubun there is much to see and do, but for now, why not go check out the gates?

Please consult this link for more detailed information!

https://gofukuoka.jp/events/detail/dc9c7b97-2977-4f51-ac4b-620e9a76f329

*Photos provided courtesy of the Fukuoka City Government*

22/12/2023

Seasons greetings from everybody at the Fukuoka Convention and Visitors Bureau!

Yesterday we here in Fukuoka were greeted by flurries of snow on our morning commute. After weeks of unseasonably warm weather, it seems that finally winter has descended upon us. However, given the time of the year it seems appropriate that snow has greeted us here in the holiday season!

Fukuoka has certainly been in the holiday season. From piping hot bowls of udon, oden, and ramen, to people scrambling to make final osechi ryouri (a typical new years feast) reservations, perhaps to no avail, the city comes to life in ways that may feel familiar to those in the west or elsewhere.

This year the city has gone all out to add as much holiday cheer as possible. With this year being the 11th anniversary of the festivities, the city went and set-up a full blown Christmas event with many locations throughout the city. From recreations of European wintry townscapes to massive assemblies of Santas, the city feels warmer than ever in the middle of the cold.

We here at the Fukuoka Convention and Visitors Bureau would like to wish you and all of your loved ones a most special holiday season, no matter where you may happen to be.　よいお年をお過ごしください!

For more information on the Christmas event please click here:

https://gofukuoka.jp/events/detail/de646b97-8b05-4972-b4ad-009def6412ba