Column
Column
2024.11.20
Get to know how the OCTB supports meetings and events!
Meeting and Event Support from the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau
MICE is an acronym used in the meeting and events industry that stands for Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions/Events. It refers to a broad category of events that bring together large numbers of people, and these large business events have a significant economic impact on the host destination. You might be an organizer for a large event that falls under the umbrella category that is MICE. The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau (OCTB) offers various support programs for meeting and event planners, particularly for those of incentive tours and international conventions. We encourage you to take advantage of these resources. Read along to best see how we can assist your event.
M: Meeting (including seminars and coorporate meetings)
I: Incentive Travel (including corporate rewards and training travel)
C: Convention (including international conventions and academic conferences)
E: Exhibition/ Event (including trade fairs and all sorts of large-scale events)
Support for Incentive Trips
(Company reward travel, training trips, etc.)
The OCTB can provide unique and memorable Japanese and Osaka-style attractions for participants at receptions and parties to create a special experience, available to organizers of incentive trips that meet the following requirements. See more details on our main support options in the Osaka MICE Catalogue.
Main Requirements:
・Minimum 100 participants
・Minimum 90% of participants from outside Japan
・Minimum 2-night stay in Osaka Prefecture
・Be organizing a gala dinner or similar party
*Approval for this support and the type of support awarded is decided on a case-by-case basis, so please contact us for more information.
Taiko drum performance
Kagami-biraki traditional sake barrel opening ceremony
See more on the OCTB's support system here:
Support for Conventions
(International conventions, academic conferences, association meetings, etc.)
The OCTB can offer financial support to organizers of international conventions that meet certain criteria. This support is aimed at conferences where Osaka is competing with other destinations to host the event. There is an additional special subsidy program for conferences held during the 2025 World Expo. If Osaka is chosen as the host destination for your event, the OCTB can provide unique and memorable Japanese and Osaka-style attractions for participants at receptions and parties to create a special experience. See more details on our main support options in the Osaka MICE Catalogue.
1) International Convention Subsidy
Main Requirements:
・Held for a minimum of three days
・Minimum 300 participants total
・Minimum 50 participants from outside Japan
・Attendance from five or more countries
2) Subsidy for International Conventions in Osaka that Align with Expo 2025
With the world’s next big event coming to Osaka in 2025, we can help cover a portion of the running costs for international conventions that align with the themes and goals of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.
Main Requirements:
Tier 1 (baseline amount):
The supported convention must
・be held for at least two days
・have a total of 50 or more participants
・have attendance from three or more countries including Japan
・not have already selected Osaka as the host destination at the time of application
・align with one of the themes presented by the Expo 2025 Theme Weeks or similar themes in life sciences, craftsmanship, energy and the environment, international finance, sports, sustainability, innovation, etc.
・not be receiving the following kind of support:
1) any grant-in-aid or subsidy from the national government or local municipalities
2) any grant-in-aid or subsidy provided by the Osaka prefectural or city governments
Tier 2 (increased amount):
The supported convention must
・meet all of the requirements of Tier 1
・be organized by an international entity
・rotate between at least three different countries (this includes conventions that have been held in at least two different countries before)
※Approval for this support and the type of support awarded is decided on a case-by-case basis, so please contact us for more information and see below regarding how to apply.
3) Event Operation Support System
To make receptions and parties even more memorable, we can help implement unique cultural attractions for unforgettable experiences. Options for these attractions include:
・cultural performances including taiko drums, traditional Japanese dance, the koto stringed instrument, or daikagura acrobatic arts
・other experiences including English rakugo (comic storytelling), a samurai show, a ninja show, or a ninja experience
・offering environmentally friendly and sustainable novelties
・offering Osaka goods for guests to enjoy, such as local sake or wine
・a portion of shuttle bus expenses covered (up to a certain amount)
For more information and other options, take a look at our Osaka MICE Catalogue.
- Main Requirements to Apply
For international conventions:
・Held for a minimum of two days
・Minimum of 100 participants total
・Minimum of 20 participants from outside Japan
・Attendance from three or more countries
For domestic conventions:
・Helf for a minimum of three days
・Minimum of 1,000 participants
Venue Search Support
(Convention facilities, unique and memorable venues, and more)
The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau has developed a venue search database of meeting and event facilities across Osaka to help you find the perfect venue. Using our close-knit network, we can connect you directly with the venue for smooth and quick planning. Unique venues, one such type of venue, are a critical component of ensuring an unforgettable event. The term refers to spaces not typically used for events, such as historical buildings, cultural facilities, or public areas, that can be used for conferences and receptions, providing a special atmosphere and showcasing the unique characteristics of the host destination. Unique venues around the world are a significant factor in deciding where to host an event, and there is a growing demand for their use in Japan. Osaka boasts many unique venues that can be used for meetings and events, including the Osaka City Central Public Hall and the Osaka Geihinkan Former Guest House, both of which hold deep historical and cultural significance to Osaka. Here, meeting or reception guests can experience a truly Japanese and uniquely Osakan atmosphere.
Osaka City Central Public Hall
Imperial Hotel Osaka
Sumiyoshi Taisha Kisshoden
Hotel New Otani Osaka
Explore venues across Osaka here:
If you are considering Osaka to be the host destination for your next event, contact us at the Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau to see how we can support your event planning.