Company trips are also conducted in Japan for the purpose of enriching internal communication. Is there a difference between company trips in Japan and those overseas? In this article, we infiltrated a one-night, two-day company trip by Fun Japan Communications and show you how it looked. Please refer to this article if you are working in a Japanese company or are considering having an interview with a Japanese company.
Where are the recommended and popular places for company trips in Japan?
Where do Japanese people go on company trips? The destination of company trips is considered on the premise of "travelling, staying, and recreation with a large number of people". Therefore, travel destinations that are easily accessible from urban areas are more likely to be chosen than remote areas. Also, if the trip is for relaxation, places that offer refreshing activities such as hot springs and skiing are often chosen.
If the company is located in the Kanto region, popular company trip destinations include hot spring areas such as Hakone (Kanagawa), Atami and Izu (Shizuoka), Kusatsu Onsen and Ikaho Onsen (Gunma). If the company is located in the Kansai region, popular destinations include Arima Onsen and Kinosaki Onsen (Hyogo), Ise (Mie), Nanki Shirahama (Wakayama).
What do people do on company trips in Japan? What is the purpose?
The main purpose of company trips is to foster interaction among employees. In recent years, not only sightseeing but also team-building training has been gaining popularity. By having employees who don't usually interact with each other work together, it is expected to generate new ideas and business creations, and improve a sense of belonging.
In Japan, the following activities are conducted on company or training trips.
Training & Workshops
Visits to related companies, group work, etc., the content is mainly related to work.
Recreation
Sightseeing, hot springs, skiing, playing with sea water, etc., are also for leisure purposes.
Banquet (Dinner and Social Gathering)
Events such as bingo, quizzes, and karaoke are held.
Is the dress code for company trips in Japan free? Is casual not allowed?
In Japan, many people view it as part of company events, and they avoid wearing damaged jeans, tank tops, and revealing clothes. It varies depending on the company culture, so it's better to check with the organizer about what kind of clothes are appropriate.
Is the company trip a company's expense? Can I participate at the company's expense?
Company trips are typically covered by the company as welfare expenses. However, depending on the purpose and the company, you may have to pay for some of it yourself.
Examples of expenses incurred on company trips
- Transportation costs and breakfast/lunch expenses to get to the meeting place
- Orders outside of the restaurant course
- Purchased souvenirs and sweets
- Food and drink expenses for the after-parties
Check with the organizer or the person in charge of accounting in advance to see what can be expensed.
Some Japanese people have opinions like "I don't want to go" and "It's outdated"!?
When you search on Google Japan, you will see search results like "I don't want to go on a company trip" and "Company trips are outdated" at the top. However, it's not uncommon for people who said they didn't want to go to say "It was actually fun when I went". By sharing meals and sleeping arrangements, there is a chance to get to know the atmosphere of the company and unexpected aspects of your colleagues. Also, it's a good opportunity to get to know the company as the company's true color comes out.
The "FUN! JAPAN" staff went on a 1-night, 2-day company trip (training trip)!
From here, we will share the details of Fun Japan Communications' company trip. Fun Japan Communications, which operates FUN! JAPAN, is a group of professionals who convey the goodness of Japan. How did the employees, who are well-versed in Japan, enjoy their company trips?
Time Schedule of Fun Japan Communications Company Trip
- Day 1 From morning: Training in Hakone
- Day 1 15:00: Hotel Check-in
- Day 1 15:30-17:30: Presentation of Training Content
- Day 1 18:00-20:00: Banquet Time
- Day 2 8:00-9:00: Breakfast
- Day 2 PM: Return Home
Day 1 From morning: Training in Hakone
The destination for this Fun Japan Communications company trip is Hakone Town in Kanagawa Prefecture. It's about an hour from Tokyo and is a thriving hot spring town.
The theme of the training is "Creating Articles that Discover New Aspects of Hakone". In teams of 6-7 people, we will create articles that convey the charm of Hakone, not found the standard tour courses. Members who are not directly involved in article production in their regular duties, such as HR and system administrators, were excited about their first on-site data-gathering/coverage.
In order to create articles that capture the reader's psychology, preliminary research is essential. It's important to gather information not only about the latest buzz in Hakone, but also about what spots and gourmet foods are hitting on SNS, why tourists visiting Japan are coming here, and daily information collection.
For the first day, each team has already conducted preliminary research and interview negotiations in advance. We worked hard on facility coverage that is not yet well known to tourists visiting Japan, and experiences at traditional craft facilities.
Day 1 15:00 Hotel Check-in
The team has finished their on-site data-gathering/interview/coverage and it's time to check into the hotel. This time, we're staying at "Hotel Okada". It's a resort hotel with a total of 122 rooms.
The rooms accommodate 4 to 5 people and are Japanese-Western style rooms with both futons and beds. Recently, there has been an increase in hot spring inns with beds for those who are not accustomed to futons.
Surrounded by nature, the open-air bath and foot bath with a spectacular view are among the many attractive hot spring facilities. Even if it's part of a company trip, it's important to have facilities where you can relax.
There are convenient shops for buying souvenirs, and a well-equipped karaoke corner for after-parties. In Japan, it's a standard(!?) to play table tennis in a yukata when you go to a hot spring, and Hotel Okada also has a permanent table tennis table.
Day 1 15:30～17:00 Presentation of Training Content
We suppressed our desire to go to the hot springs and play table tennis, and instead focused on compiling the results of our team's research. The preparation of the materials took just under an hour. We share our opinions and incorporate them into the materials. There are those who wrote the text, those who arranged the photos, and those who did the presentation, and we divided the roles to ensure that we can complete the task within the limited time.
Each team has 15 minutes for their presentation. There were a few teams that encountered unforeseen circumstances that could also occur in actual reporting, such as taking longer than expected to shoot, or the place being closed when they went. It was a learning experience for everyone, emphasizing the importance of pre-reporting research and the many steps involved in "conducting an on-site coverage/interview and writing an article".
Day 1, 18:00-20:00 Banquet Time
Once the training is successfully completed, it's time for the long-awaited banquet. Some people say "A company trip is all about the banquet", marking the beginning of an important time in a sense.
The seating order and seating arrangements are sometimes said to express "respect and hospitality", and there are banquets where a "seat of honor" is set for superiors. However, this company trip was conducted in a side-by-side ('川' character) arrangement so that everyone could interact.
After the president's greeting, we toasted and started the banquet!
In a typical Japanese hotel banquet hall, low tables and seating cushions are arranged in a spacious room where you enjoy your meal. The menu is full of dishes such as sashimi, steak, grilled fish, chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), and small bowls using seasonal ingredients. It's characteristic to sip on drinks while nibbling on the food little by little.
At banquets, employees who don't usually have a chance to talk can engage in conversations about work and personal life. Discovering unexpected aspects of each other, finding common hobbies, and deepening interactions are also the benefits of company trips.
We enjoyed the "entertainment" provided by the organizers while dining. From a rock-paper-scissors tournament with luxurious prizes to ghost stories told by a horror article writer, it was a great time!
After the banquet was over, some people went to a karaoke box. Since they would just sleep in the room afterwards, maybe some people let loose too much!? The fun night passed by in a flash.
Day 2, 8:00-9:00 Breakfast
Breakfast was buffet style. We enjoyed Odawara's specialty, kamaboko, which is a neighboring town of Hakone, and shirasu, a specialty of Sagami Bay, which Hakone situated on its coast.
Day 2 PM Heading Home
We ended our trip with a stroll around Hakone Shrine and a commemorative photo. The company trip, which started with training and included a banquet and sports event, successfully deepened our camaraderie over the course of two days and one night. Even those who participated for the first time reported positive changes that could be applied to their future work, such as "I was able to spend quality time with my colleagues in the same room" and "I had more opportunities to start conversations".
Many people may be curious about what a Japanese company trip entails. While the activities such as recreation and training vary by company, the premise is "communication between employees". If you're even slightly interested, the first step is to participate! There's no doubt that you'll be able to interact in a fun way.
Hotel Information Used for the Employee Trip
Hotel Okada
- Address: 191 Yumotochaya, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Access: About 10 minutes by community bus "Taki-dori A Course" from Hakone Yumoto Station
- Number of rooms: 122 rooms in total (all non-smoking)
- Check-in: 15:00
- Check-out: 11:00 *Check-out time may vary depending on the plan
- Official website: https://www.hotel-okada.co.jp/global/
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