Experiences for Groups & MICE

Hiroshima is an exceptional destination not only for individual travelers but also for meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) and group tours. The city’s mix of modern infrastructure, historical significance, and unique venues creates memorable opportunities for corporate and large groups. Here’s how Hiroshima caters to group and business travel:

World-Class Facilities with a Purpose: As a forward-looking city that has hosted global events (including the G7 Summit in 2023), Hiroshima boasts excellent conference and meeting venues. The Hiroshima International Conference Center, located conveniently in Peace Memorial Park, offers auditorium and meeting spaces in the inspiring setting of the peace park – a constant reminder of the greater purpose of international gatherings. Large hotels such as the Grand Prince Hotel (overlooking Hiroshima Bay) or the RIHGA Royal Hotel in the city center provide extensive banquet halls and breakout rooms for corporate functions. The city is well prepared to handle conventions, with the Hiroshima Convention & Visitors Bureau actively supporting organizers (including subsidies and multilingual volunteer staff). What makes Hiroshima unique is that holding an event here is more than just business – it sends a message. Many organizations choose Hiroshima for international conferences on peace, medicine, and education, aligning their event with the city’s values. Hosting a meeting in Hiroshima allows participants to draw inspiration from the city’s story of resilience and to feel they are part of something meaningful. Even a standard conference can include a moment of silence at 8:15 am or a visit to the Peace Museum, adding depth to the program that one can only experience here.Unique Venues & Themed Events: Hiroshima offers venues with wow-factor that can turn a standard reception into an unforgettable experience. For example, Hiroshima Orizuru Tower, a modern building adjacent to the A-Bomb Dome, features “Hiroshima Hills” – a rooftop observation deck with panoramic city views – and the 12th-floor Orizuru Square event space. This venue can be privately booked for welcome cocktails or dinners, treating guests to a nighttime view of the illuminated Atomic Bomb Dome just below. The Orizuru Tower even has state-of-the-art LED walls and can incorporate interactive digital displays, ideal for product launches or award ceremonies. Imagine a reception at sunset where delegates fold paper cranes and drop them into the tower’s glass well as part of a team message for peace – a truly one-of-a-kind Hiroshima event. Other unique venues include the Hiroshima Museum of Art, which can host elegant evening galas amid its collection of French Impressionist paintings, or even Hiroshima Castle grounds, where outdoor tents or a light-up event can give a historical ambiance (with possible appearances by samurai armor-clad greeters for fun). For a casual social event, groups love an Okonomiyaki street party – some DMCs arrange to rent out a section of Okonomi-mura or bring in multiple okonomiyaki chefs so attendees can customize their own Hiroshima pancakes as a live cooking networking dinner. Sports fans might enjoy a private section at Mazda Stadium to watch the Hiroshima Carp baseball team, complete with ballpark bento boxes and the team’s purple “victory umbrellas” for cheering (a quirky Hiroshima tradition). Whether it’s a formal dinner or a playful incentive event, Hiroshima has the venues and creative flair to deliver a standout experience.Peace-Inspired Team Building: Few cities can offer team-building activities as meaningful as Hiroshima’s. Companies and groups coming here often incorporate a peace-related team exercise to underscore themes of unity, resilience, and corporate social responsibility. One popular idea is an Origami Crane Challenge – dividing into teams to learn origami folding from local instructors and collectively fold 1,000 paper cranes which are then donated to the Children’s Peace Monument. This activity fosters teamwork and patience, and as participants work together they reflect on Sadako’s story and the value of hope. Another option is organizing a volunteer session in Peace Memorial Park, such as a park clean-up or helping maintain the thousands of paper cranes (replacing old ones with new garlands). Groups can even meet city officials or peace activists afterward to discuss Hiroshima’s reconstruction and mission, turning a team activity into a profound learning session. For outdoor team fun, Miyajima Island offers opportunities: a group hike or orienteering challenge on Mt. Misen, or a photo scavenger hunt around the island’s temples and shopping streets (who can get the best selfie with a wandering deer?). The island’s modest size makes it ideal for a half-day incentive outing, culminating in a group toast with momiji manju and local cider by the torii gate. Additionally, Hiroshima’s companies like Mazda (headquartered here) offer factory tours – imagine taking your incentive winners to the Mazda Museum, where they can see cutting-edge manufacturing and even test-drive (in a controlled setting) Mazda’s latest cars, blending team excitement with innovation learning. From peace park to production line, Hiroshima’s team-building options are diverse and impactful.

Excursions for Groups – Beyond the City: Hiroshima’s location in western Japan means groups can easily extend their itinerary with rewarding excursions. A top choice is a day trip to Saijō, the sake brewing quarter in the countryside. Groups can do a sake brewery hopping tour, walking along Sakagura-dori (Sake Brewery Street) to visit traditional breweries standing side by side. Many breweries like Kamotsuru have tasting rooms where groups can sample different sakes, and some offer pairing sessions with local snacks (perhaps a challenge to identify flavor notes, which becomes a fun competition). Visiting Saijō during the October Sake Matsuri is a bonus – the festival atmosphere with sake tents and live music is perfect for incentive trips, though even outside festival time the breweries provide a warm, authentic welcome to visitors. Another excursion is to the Inland Sea islands. Charter a private boat or take the ferry to Okunoshima (Rabbit Island) for a quirky break – the island is overrun by friendly wild rabbits that delegates will enjoy feeding and photographing. Or head to Iwakuni (just south of Hiroshima) to see the historic Kintai Bridge and perhaps arrange a cormorant fishing demonstration on the river for the group in summer. And of course, Miyajima can be a full-day excursion on its own: beyond the shrine, groups can engage in activities like a traditional mochi pounding demonstration, or a spiritual walk with a local guide who explains the island’s Shinto heritage. For adventure-inclined teams, sea kayaking around the torii gate or cycling along the Tobishima Kaido (island-hopping bike route) can be arranged with local outfitters. Hiroshima’s surrounding region (Setouchi) offers so much that a DMC can tailor side trips to fit the interests of the group – whether cultural, culinary or adrenaline-pumping.MICE Hospitality with a Heart: Hiroshima’s Convention Bureau and local businesses understand the significance of each group visit and often go the extra mile to deliver omotenashi (Japanese hospitality). Don’t be surprised if a conference opening ceremony features local school children singing a peace song or a welcome message from the Mayor on behalf of a city that truly appreciates your presence. The bureau can arrange traditional performances to enliven your events – think Hiroshima Kagura, a dynamic folk dance with elaborate costumes and drums, performed exclusively for your delegates. (Kagura tells heroic myths through dance and is a regional pride; it’s sure to captivate an international audience with its swirling dancers and fearsome masks.) They can also set up taiko drumming workshops for an interactive break-out session, where participants learn to drum together in rhythm – a great metaphor for team synergy. Evening receptions might include a sake barrel breaking ceremony (Kagami-biraki) with Hiroshima sake to bring luck, or the serving of Hiroshima’s special “Lemon sour” cocktails (using local Setoda lemons) as a signature welcome drink. For incentive groups, bespoke experiences can be arranged, such as a private dinner on Miyajima after tourist hours – imagine lanterns lighting a path to Itsukushima Shrine where a priest performs a blessing and a seafood barbecue awaits on the beach, exclusively for your group. Accessibility and comfort are also top-notch: the city’s transport network of streetcars and buses can be chartered for group movements (picture your company logo on a historic Hiroden tram as you shuttle to dinner), and there are professional interpreters/guides fluent in multiple languages to assist. Throughout your stay, Hiroshima’s people exude a genuine warmth – shaped by history, they welcome visitors not just as customers but as messengers who will carry Hiroshima’s story worldwide.

In summary, Hiroshima shines as a destination for B2B and group travel by offering more than just facilities – it offers an experience infused with meaning. Corporate travelers and tour groups alike leave Hiroshima not only with successful meetings or happy memories, but with a deeper understanding of culture and a shared inspiration from this City of Peace. From cutting-edge event venues and rich team activities to the simple human connections forged in this remarkable city, Hiroshima delivers an MICE experience that is both professionally rewarding and profoundly moving. As a result, it has earned its place in the portfolios of discerning tour operators and corporate planners seeking a destination that truly touches the heart and mind of every participant.