Company retreats to Japan often fall into a pattern of visiting shrines, taking cooking courses, and dining on local cuisine. Japan is a great place for that! But why not take it to the next level? Here are 5 reasons why an Undokai, or Japanese sports festival, is the definitive group activity for company retreats in the land of the rising sun.

1. You’ll experience a unique part of Japanese culture that most tourists never get

Partaking in an Undokai is an exclusive experience that virtually all people born and raised in Japan have grown up doing but is rarely experienced by visitors. Try bringing up your company Undokai at the next meeting with your Japanese colleagues and business partners. They’ll be floored that you played the same games they grew up playing and will help build the bridge to overcome cultural differences through shared experience.

2. It’s a healthy and effective team-building activity

Undokai foster traits prized in Japan: group cooperation and inclusivity, and celebrating team achievements together. Whether it’s the kick-off activity of an all-hands meeting, an active ice breaker, or just a friendly competition among colleges, teams games are a perfect way to get everyone involved and socializing. While it’s debatable that you could get the same results at any Happy Hour, Undokai gets your peers off their seats with healthy physical activity, not another hangover.

We know that physical games are not in everyone’s comfort zone, but that is also the beauty of participating in active team building–individuals see personal growth when overcoming challenging tasks and evolve to become better team players. Players make an oath of sportsmanship before competition, and we make sure everyone has equal opportunities to shine and contribute to their team. And if you truly prefer to cheer on the sidelines, seeing your colleagues compete in crazy games is undoubtedly entertaining!

3. It’s customizable to each company, for all skill levels and physical abilities

This is not to say that Undokai games are difficult; in fact, it’s quite the opposite. All our activities are for all skill levels and prioritize fun over competition. The tradition of Undokai itself in a Japanese person’s life starts as early as preschool, and many of our corporate events encourage families to bring their children to join the festivities.

On a different note, physical games may bring concern for participants with physical disabilities. We customize our events to accommodate players with mobility disabilities.

Undokai can also be customized based on your company culture and values, reinforcing the guiding tenets of your company and promote the unity desired in a team building event.

4. It’s produced all over Japan: you can do it anywhere in the country

Having a storied history of hosting world-renowned sporting events, from the Olympics to various World Cups, Japan is abundant in sports venues where Undokai games can be played. Ranging from well-maintained indoor arenas in colder months, to outdoor fields and even in temples/shrines and beaches in the summer months–Undokai can be facilitated throughout Japan in any location, during any season. Undokaiya has branches in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kyushu, with the freedom to manage events all over the country.

5. It’s highly underrated: goodbye tourist traps!

Before considering your company trip activities, consider this. Inbound tourism to Japan has been increasing at a rapid, breakneck pace at an average rate of 26% among overseas visitors per year. In 2018 alone, this island nation received 31,191,856 visitors, which is 3x more people than any record before the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake. If you combine these numbers with the actual 37 million residents of the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area or 20 million residents of the Kansai Metropolitan Area (that includes Osaka), these are densely populated areas that still are inundated with visitors. As you can imagine, Japan’s cultural landmarks and bustling cities are filled to the brim with selfie stick-wielding tourists, leaving no photo-op untouched. It’s almost as if there’s no place left to enjoy being in Japan without having to rub shoulders with strangers, bouncing from one crowded place to the next.

Wanna get away?

“Tourists in Nara” by camknows is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

But at your own company Undokai, it’s simply you and your colleagues, playing timeless and wacky games and making memories. We believe in putting your phones down and playing with your teammates, whether they are co-workers or close friends, strengthening human relationships and laying the foundation for higher morale when you have to return back to the office. Whether you enjoy classic team games like tug-of-war or 3-legged races, or if you want to try more challenging games like bubble sumo, giant volleyball or kibasen, the playbook at Undokaiya runs the gamut.

It’s easy to plan an Undokai for your company trip to Japan.
To get started, we have an ultrafast survey that puts you contact with us and solidifies your plan.