While Caribbean, Maldives and Seychelles islands may be better known, event planners are discovering Okinawa. With a favorable climate, professional facilities and interesting sidelights, the offshore Japanese island provides all the standard features planners look for, with an added asset — it’s relatively unknown. For those seeking an introduction to somewhere “new,” Okinawa proves an ideal MICE destination.

Although popular with tourists from Japan, China and Southeast Asia, many Americans remain unfamiliar with Okinawa’s attributes. Of course, since World War II thousands of U.S. military personnel representing all four branches of the armed forces have served at more than 30 military facilities scattered around the island. To them, its attractions are no secret. “The weather was always nice, the beaches fun to go to, the local culture interesting,” recalled Capt. Craig Rheaume, a former U.S. Air Force resident. “It was really an eye-opening and exciting experience.”

Okinawa Main Island is the dominant destination in the archipelago of 160 islands within the larger Ryukyu chain lying about 400 miles southeast of Japan. Stretching about 60 miles north to south, never more than 20 miles across, its towns and landscapes suffered near obliteration in fierce fighting during the American invasion of Japan in World War II. Rebuilt since the 1940s, with a focus on tourism, Okinawa provides a range of resorts and meeting venues where high-quality professional services blend with a relaxed vacation atmosphere.

Okinawa beef © Thaweerat | Dreamstime.com

The official Okinawa Convention Center measures up to flagship facilities anywhere on the globe. Under its undulating green roof lies an exhibition space large enough for 5,000 participants; a theater; and a dozen conference rooms of various sizes adjustable for large meeting spaces or smaller breakout sessions. Experienced staff accustomed to handling big events manage on-site catering and technical facilities.

Resorts representing Sheraton, Renaissance, The Ritz-Carlton, Hilton and Marriott are among firms combining lodging and meeting facilities. Conference space can be booked at the Double Tree by Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort, harborside in the city center, a 5-mile drive from the Convention Center. Along with sophisticated facilities, consider the team-building options provided at The Busena Terrace Beach Resort, which hosted Bill Clinton, Vladimir Putin and Tony Blair at the 2000 G8 Kyushu-Okinawa Summit.

Diverse activities enhance free time after business sessions. Nearly 300 miles of coastline beckon with beaches surrounded by lush tropical jungles. Fancy waterfront resorts and spas offer fitness and wellness programs along with outdoor activities such as snorkeling, kayaking and whale watching. Excursions explore coral reefs, and jungle eco-treks may lead to swim sessions at waterfalls.

Shopping and steakhouses serving Okinawa beef entice visitors to explore Naha, the largest city. In Ocean Expo Park, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium reveals the mysteries of Okinawa’s marine creatures in tanks exhibiting whale sharks; 800 types of coral; and rare, retrieved deep-sea species.

Okinawa Convention Center © Kuremo | Dreamstime.com

Ancient and contemporary spots attract sightseers. The six courtyards of Nakagusuku Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are the best-preserved ancient ruins of the original Ryukyu Kingdom. An 18th-century farmhouse which survived World War I unscathed, Nakamura House illustrates the lifestyle of early wealthy farmers. Monuments and museums in the serene waterside Peace Memorial Park honor thousands of local and American G.I. victims of the devastating Battle of Okinawa.

Off-site visits sample local culture at Daiichi Makishi Public Market and stop at hospitable neighborhood pubs to taste island delicacies — soba wheat noodles in soup, melon stir fry and braised pork belly. Workshops in dyeing colorful bingata fabric, strumming the guitar-like sanshin or glassmaking can be organized as team-building activities.

Naha International Airport, Okinawa’s main gateway, lies mid-island, conveniently on the outskirts of Naha. Visitors arriving by air will find frequent connections from Tokyo, Osaka and several other Japanese cities, plus direct routes from other Asian hubs. Every six to 10 minutes the Yui Rail, Okinawa Urban Monorail, traces the urban corridor from Naha Airport through downtown and the popular Kokusai-dori “Miracle Mile” tourist area. Easy car rentals and good roads make it easy to navigate the island’s rich offerings.

UNIQUE VENUES
The Conference Center at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology offers an appropriate setting for technical events, set on the campus of the graduate university in lush surroundings said to encourage deep thinking and collaboration. It features attractive and functional venues for international symposia, workshops, and industrial- and community-related events, including a 493-seat auditorium and meeting and seminar rooms. Its academic orientation furnishes support in translation and digital presentation.

Now in its fifth year, the Okinawa Suntory Arena provides exhibition space; adaptable seating; and modern audio-visual options for large-scale conventions, concerts and sporting events, as well as corporate meetings and expos.