Japan Offers Biz Travelers Incentives To Extend Stays
Favorable travel conditions to and within Japan are offering U.S. corporate travelers the luxury of extending their stays and/or bringing along their spouses, significant others or family members during business trips to the Far East island.
The current yen-dollar ratio continues to keep Tokyo prices on par with those in New York or other major U.S. cities. Plus, with attractive airfare deals—aimed primarily at tourists but also available to business travelers—buying into a U.S.-Tokyo package is worthy of consideration.
For instance, Japan Air Lines is selling a four-night Tokyo package for less than $800 out of Los Angles or San Francisco and less than $900 from New York City. Rates include airfare and hotel accommodations. Since these rates—based upon double occupancy—require a $240 single person supplement, the economics of bringing along a companion becomes clear. JAL also has combinations that include flights and hotels Kyoto.
For business travelers whose experiences in Tokyo have been largely confined to office towers and formal dinners, extending a trip by even a few days could be a mind-expanding experience.
For starters, extending a business trip for leisure provides time to wander from the office building and commerce-laden Ginza district's main streets and poke through side lanes where travelers can feast on such local foods as noodles or grilled chicken and vegetables at one of the stands in Yakatori Alley. Travelers after work also can drop in for an act or two of Kabuki at the Kabuki-za Theater right on Ginza. A further exposure to Japanese culture can be enjoyed in Sendagaya, an area where afternoon Noh Theatre is performed at the National Noh Theatre.
Travelers can take extra time to navigate the nighttime neon jungle of hustling and bustling Shinjuku, where legions of traveling "salarymen" often loosen their ties and unwind before boarding their hotel-bound trains.
Other activities largely overlooked by business travelers rushing to get to meetings or the airport include the Tsukiji Fish Market, reputedly the planet's largest. Here, consumers from all over the world check out aquatic species before participating in a raucous 6 a.m. auction. Furthermore, many nearby sushi bars offer the absolute finest examples of Japan's signature dining experience.
The city also offers a number of attractions and appeals for those choosing to stay the extra days.
To the east of the Ginza district's office towers stands the Imperial Palace, surrounded with stone walls and moats. While palace entry is forbidden, the outer garden, Eastern Imperial Garden and Kitanomaru Park are open to the public.
Among Tokyo's dozens of museums, two of the best are very user-friendly. Edo Museum is near the Ryogoku train station on the Sobu line. This museum traces the cultural and industrial development of the city from the Edo period (1603-1868), a time of gradually accelerating modernization. Displays include mockups of stores, living quarters, shops, ships, bridges and vehicles, almost anything that helps describe and depict Japan's transition from feudalism. Another must is the Tokyo National Museum in the Ueno district. Japan's largest museum, it features artifacts, archaeology, paintings and all manner of fine art.
Tokyo also boasts a collection of single-subject museums with themes including swords, kites, sumo wrestling, paper, tobacco and salt.
Other areas travelers might want to explore include Asakusa, which offers a rare glimpse of old Tokyo. Highlights include the Asakusa Kannon Temple, a five-story pagoda, and the Sensoji Temple.
Visitors also might want to stroll through the sophisticated Roppongi area, home to beautiful Suntory Hall, Tokyo's leading concert venue. Also worthy of note are the fashionable districts of Shibuya and Harajuku, home to countless boutiques and restaurants.
For a total change of pace, an early morning stroll through a bucolic pine forest en route to the Meiji Shrine could precede a morning meeting. A total change of pace from the frenetic surrounding city, the shrine is an impressive monument to the emperor who, starting in 1868, is credited with setting Japan irrevocably on the path to modernization and worldwide involvement.
Among the world's leading cities, Tokyo arguably is the one that's least likely to yield up most of its secrets to a cursory glance. But, should business take travelers there in the near future, this is a great time to stay an extra few days, or even tack on vacation time to gain a better understanding about one of the world's most intriguing business hubs.