City & Venue Search
Kitakyushu
Kitakyushu is a transformative city that has overcome many problems in its modern history. The city developed around the heavy chemical industry starting in 1901, when the government-owned Yawata Steel Works started operations. Since then, the city has added a cluster of robotics, automotive and other high-value-added industries, developing into a manufacturing hub. Collaboration between industry, academia and government helped the city overcome the serious pollution problems of the 1960s, and in 2011 Kitakyushu was named Asia’s first OECD Green Growth City.
With its rich history of transformation, conventions in Kitakyushu are sure to provide participants with truly transformative experiences.
Access
Fukuoka Airport→JR Kokura Station：30 min. by train?(Subway → Shinkansen)
Fukuoka Airport→JR Kokura Station：80 min. by highway express bus
Kitakyushu Airport→JR Kokura Station：35 min. by airport bus
Tokyo Station→JR Kokura Station：4 hr. 33 min. by train (Shinkansen)
Osaka Station→JR Kokura Station：2 hr. 11 min. by train (Shinkansen)
Hakata Station→JR Kokura Station：16 min. by train (Shinkansen)
Venues overview
| Facility | Rooms | |
| Hotel | 77 | 7,834 |
| Ryokan | 37 | 387 |
| Total | 114 | 8,221 |
Pre-/Post-Convention Programs
Kitakyushu offers a full slate of industrial tourism options unique to a manufacturing city. These pre-/post-convention attractions have earned high praise. At TOTO, experience the history and technology of products that have always adhered to the strictest quality standards. At Yaskawa Innovation Center, experience factory tours and an exhibition hall that make industrial robot technology approachable and relatable.
Kitakyushu also boasts a full raft of facilities that introduce advanced efforts in the environmental field, including the Kitakyushu Environment Museum, where visitors trace Kitakyushu’s path from overcoming pollution to becoming a Green Growth City, and Kitakyushu Eco-Town, one of the largest in the country where visitors tour recycling companies and Kitakyushu Next-Generation Energy Park.
Recent Trends in Regional Industry and Research in Kitakyushu
Robotics, Automotive
A global manufacturer of industrial robots, Yaskawa Electric Corporation is located in Kitakyushu, which has a growing cluster of corporations and researchers that support the robotics industry.
When it comes to service robots, Kitakyushu is pioneering a demonstration project for nursing care robots with its designation as a National Strategic Special Zone in 2017, as well as endeavoring to support research and development for the practical application of new robot technologies, such as robots for inspecting infrastructure.
The northern Kyushu area, which also includes Kitakyushu, is home to four automobile manufacturers and forms a major base that supports Japan’s automobile industry with a production capacity of 1.54 million vehicles a year. Small- and medium-sized local businesses are also expanding operations and entering the market as automobile-parts related companies.
Education/Research
A collaboration of 4 Universities Four universities with campuses in the Kitakyushu Science and Research Park have combined their strengths to run a collaborative graduate school offering a general Car Electronics Course and an Intelligent Car & Robotics Course. Both courses train highly skilled, next generation leaders in the fields of industrial automotive and robotic fields.
The Kitakyushu Science and Research Park is focused on the development of next-generation vehicles with fully-automated driving functions that utilize artificial intelligence. Kitakyushu is also promoting driving demonstration projects for ultra-compact mobility and the expanded use of fuel cell vehicles, as it aims to become a major base for the development, demonstration, and production of next-generation vehicles.
Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech)
For over a hundred years Kyutech has educated highly skilled experts with far-reaching aspirations and solid manufacturing experience. With engineering schools and graduate schools, the institute is at the forefront of research in areas such as environmental engineering, aerospace engineering, and robotics.
Sustainability
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Support Programs for Convention
| Support for bidding process | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Type of Support | Availability | Languages |
| Site inspection | Arranging an inspection trip for site selection | ✓ | English |
| Support for hosting/preparation | |||
| Category | Type of Support | Availability | Languages |
| PR | Support for encouraging participation in the event | ||
| Supporting other PR activities | |||
| Conference and event preparation | Providing information on PCOs, travel agencies and event management companies | ✓ | English |
| Providing information on reception venues (including unique venues) | ✓ | English | |
| Providing information on related programs (local attractions, traditional performing arts, post-convention programs, sightseeing and hands-on experiences with Japanese culture for persons accompanying conference participants) | ✓ | English | |
| Providing tourism information | ✓ | English | |
| Requesting nominal support | ✓ | English | |
| Coordinating with relevant organizations | ✓ | English | |
| Conference and event operation | Arranging reception venues (including unique venues) | ✓ | English |
| Arranging volunteers | ✓ | English | |
| Setting up an information desk | ✓ | English | |
| Providing maps/guidebooks for participants | ✓ | English | |
| Arranging shuttle buses | ✓ | English | |
| Providing convention bags | ✓ | English | |
| Hospitality | Welcome posters and digital signage | ✓ | English |
| Welcome message by the head of the local government | ✓ | English | |
| Providing discount tickets to tourist facilities | |||
| Providing discounts on public transportation | |||
| Dispatching tourism ambassadors | |||
| Related programs | Making arrangements for attractions and traditional performing arts | ✓ | English |
| Making arrangements for post-convention programs | ✓ | English | |
| Making arrangements for sightseeing and hands-on experiences of Japanese culture for persons accompanying conference participants | ✓ | English | |
| Arranging tour interpreters and guides | ✓ | English | |
Support Programs for Incentive Travel
| Support for Promoting Incentive Travel | |
|---|---|
| Type of Support | Availability |
| Site inspection support (provision of accommodation, food, tourist activities) | - |
| Creation of draft proposals, providing information | ✓ |
| Support During Incentive Travel | |
| Type of Support | Availability |
| Accommodation | ✓ |
| Airport transfer services | ✓ |
| Welcome banners | - |
| Chartered transport (e.g. coaches) | ✓ |
| Prepaid cards for public transport | ✓ |
| Venues (MICE facilities, unique venues) | ✓ |
| Event management services | ✓ |
| Recruiting volunteers to assist at events | ✓ |
| Excursions, technical visits etc. | ✓ |
| Attractions, entertainment etc. | ✓ |
| Experience programs | ✓ |
| Local cuisine, traditional cuisine | ✓ |
| Greeting at airport or station | - |
| Greeting or welcome letter from local government head | ✓ |
| Travel brochures | ✓ |
| Discount coupons | ✓ |
| Giveaways | ✓ |
