Conference in Japan

Cultural divide

The past and future collide delightfully in one of the world's most unique destinations.

>> Conference venues and rooms in Japan

There are few countries with the ability to continually enthral and entertain like Japan. Centuries old traditions co-exist in harmony with the wildly futuristic & it's this seeming incongruity that gives Japan much of its edge. For foreign visitors, it can be confronting and confusing, but an open-minded attitude and ability to be swept along by its stark contradictions makes for an interesting and rewarding journey. Lost in translation, it can be, but getting there is half the fun.

GETTING AROUND

JAL has 35 flights a week out of Australia to Japan, including twice-daily services from Sydney. Once at Tokyo's Narita Airport, forget about taking a taxi ñ to get to central Tokyo, it can cost upwards of $250. A more budget-friendly option are the Narita Express trains, which depart every few minutes and cost between $36 and $67 one-way, depending on the class of carriage.

Although the Tokyo subway system may initially seem daunting, it is highly efficient and gets visitors anywhere they want to go. The routes are colour-coded and most of the stations are clearly signposted in English; for any problems, station staff will go out of their way to help.

HIGH-SPEED VIBRANCE

Tokyo is in a constant state of reinvention, with one of the most startling projects being the Rinkai-Fukutoshin area. Once a vacant stretch of reclaimed land in the midst of Tokyo Harbour, it is now teeming with hotels, museums, shopping centres, entertainment options and even a man-made beach.

Japan has long been associated with the latest and greatest electronic gadgets, so a visit to Akihabara is highly recommended. You'll find the very latest in products, all at extremely competitive prices, in the hundreds of stores grouped around the railway station.

Located near the Imperial Palace Tokyo Museum of Modern Art, the Hotel Grand Palace has 464 guestrooms and suites, and 19 meetings rooms. The hotel is also within walking distance of the Kudanshita subway station, with quick and easy connections to such celebrated areas as the Ginza and the vibrant nightlife of Roppongi. Late last year, a broadband Internet service was rolled out through the hotel's conference rooms and guestrooms.

Outside Tokyo, easily accessed by the high-speed bullet trains or shinkansen, are such historic cities as Kyoto. For the sports-minded, Japanese ski resorts offer some of the best conditions and facilities in the world. Kusatsu, close to Nagano, site of the 1998 Winter Olympics, is less than three hours away by bullet train. Aside from the skiing, Kusatsu is renowned for its many hot spas.