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Table of Contents

1. What Is an Anniversary Event? Its Meaning and Benefits Explained
2. Internal Corporate Anniversary Events: Objectives and Planning Ideas
3. Unique Venues Recommended for Hosting Anniversary Events
4. Introducing Unique Venue Examples with Actual Anniversary Event Cases
5. 企業の周年イベントを成功させたいならHow to Ensure the Success of Your Corporate Anniversary Event

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What Is an Anniversary Event? Its Meaning and Benefits Explained

 

A corporate anniversary is a celebration marking the number of years since a company’s founding or establishment. These milestones typically include the 1st, 5th, 10th, 50th, or even 100th anniversaries, counted from the founding date. Companies use these occasions to reflect on their history, express appreciation to employees who work with them daily, and strengthen relationships with business partners and related organizations. Each company organizes and holds anniversary events with specific objectives in mind, resulting in a variety of event formats.

Anniversary events can also target different audiences depending on the company. Some are designed for consumers who use the company’s products or services (B2C), while others focus on business partners (B2B) or even employees’ families. The target audience influences the type of content and activities included in the event.

In this article, we will focus on internal anniversary events for employees, introducing their purposes, key planning points, and recommended venues.

 

 

What Is an Internal Corporate Anniversary Event? Its Purpose and Planning

 

Organizing events that involve employees — not only anniversary events — helps promote interaction among staff and creates new opportunities for communication. Among such events, the primary purpose of internal anniversary celebrations is to express gratitude to employees. In day-to-day work, there are few occasions where employees, supervisors, and subordinates consciously express appreciation to one another. Providing such an opportunity fosters a sense of unity and belonging, as well as a stronger desire among employees to contribute to the company. This can also have a positive effect on employee retention, as it encourages long-term commitment to the company. Therefore, planning fun and enjoyable activities that employees can genuinely appreciate is a key factor in hosting a successful event.

In addition, incorporating activities that help employees learn about the company’s history and philosophy can serve as part of internal training, allowing staff to gain a renewed understanding of the company’s direction and values. Sharing the company’s past achievements as well as its future vision can further strengthen the sense of unity within the organization. When employees feel proud of and attached to their company, it naturally increases their motivation and sense of belonging, which may also lead to new ideas and innovations. In this way, holding an anniversary event for employees provides significant benefits that can contribute to the company’s future success.

 

 

 

 

Unique Venue Ideas for Hosting Anniversary Events

 

An anniversary event marks a significant milestone for a company and is an important occasion. Many organizers want to offer a special experience that goes beyond the ordinary. For this reason, utilizing a unique venue is highly recommended.

As the name suggests, a unique venue refers to a special location that is made available for events outside of its usual purpose. Examples include historical buildings, shrines and temples, castle ruins, art museums, and other distinctive cultural facilities. Holding an event at such a unique and atmospheric venue allows guests to enjoy a truly memorable experience. Moreover, it also provides an opportunity to appreciate the cultural and historical value of these venues.

Some organizers may feel concerned that using a historic site as an event venue might involve many restrictions. However, because these venues are different from typical event spaces, there are actually a wide variety of creative ways to utilize them. In the following section, we will introduce actual unique venues along with recommended event formats.

 

 

Introducing Unique Venues with Anniversary Event Examples

 

This time, we will introduce recommended unique venues according to different purposes. The featured locations are mainly in the Kansai area, including Kyoto, Hyogo, and Osaka. Please take a look and find a unique venue that may suit your event!

 

Looking for a venue that can accommodate large groups?

-Minami-za (Kyoto)

 

Minami-za was established in Kyoto’s Shijo Kawara area, which once flourished as a theater district. In 1996, it was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, and later designated as a Historic Design Building by the City of Kyoto. Today, it stands as one of the most iconic theaters representing both Kyoto and Japan.

 

 

One of the major upgrades added during several renovations is the flattening of the first-floor seating area. The audience space and the stage are now seamlessly integrated, creating an open, partition-free area that can be used for interactive events and various functions. With a large capacity that can accommodate up to approximately 1,000 people, Minami-za is ideal for companies looking to host a large-scale anniversary event where all employees can participate and enjoy together.

 

Click here for more details about the Minami-za venue

 

 

Looking for a venue that’s perfect for exhibitions and visually striking events?

-Kobe Geihinkan (Former Nishio Residence), Hyogo

 

The Kobe Geihinkan (Former Nishio Residence) is a Taisho-era modernist mansion that has retained its elegance for over 100 years since its completion.

Set within an expansive property of approximately 10,000 square meters, the estate features a Western-style main building, a traditional Japanese garden, a tea house, a chapel, and the newly added VIZCAYA GARDEN pavilion. Recognized for its historical and cultural value, this rare residence has been designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Hyogo Prefecture.

 

 

Once a social hub visited by VIPs from around the world, the interior of the Kobe Geihinkan is adorned with deep crimson carpets and rich, elegant furnishings. This setting provides a perfect backdrop for photo booths that showcase the company’s history. Some companies choose to hold their anniversary events here with a dress code to create a special atmosphere different from everyday work life. At this Taisho-modern style guesthouse, employees can enjoy a truly memorable and unique experience together.

 

Click here for more details about the Kobe Geihinkan (Former Nishio Residence) venue

 

 

Looking for a venue suitable for workshops?

-Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka

 

Opened in 2022, the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka is located on Nakanoshima Island, known as the “Water City” of Osaka. The museum houses over 6,000 works of modern and contemporary art and design from both Japan and abroad. Its distinctive features include a black cube-shaped exterior and a spacious indoor atrium that spans from the first to the fifth floor.

 

 

The museum offers a variety of spaces, including a hall that can accommodate up to 300 people, multipurpose rooms, workshop spaces, and an outdoor lawn area. These unique settings provide the perfect environment for workshops focused on the company’s future direction, as well as for creating new materials such as company brochures or anniversary logos.

 

Click here for more details about the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka venue

 

 

Interested in seeing venues that have hosted anniversary events using unique venues?

–HEIAN JINGU SHRINE Restaurant & Banquet Hall, Kyoto

 

Renovated and reopened in 2018, the Heian Shrine Hall is located adjacent to the nationally designated scenic garden, Shinen. Built to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Heian Shrine’s enshrinement and the 100th anniversary memorial of Emperor Komei, this venue offers the exclusive use of the beautiful scenic garden.

 

 

This venue was used for the 50th anniversary celebration of a global company that grew from Kyoto to the world. To commemorate this milestone, we proposed dishes inspired by the company’s colors. Employees and guests alike enjoyed a truly special and memorable time.

 

Click here for more details about the Heian Shrine Hall venue

Click here for detailed event information

 

 

How to Ensure the Success of Your Corporate Anniversary Event

 

We have introduced the meaning and benefits of anniversary events, as well as examples of utilizing unique venues. How did you find the information? An anniversary is an important milestone for any company. It serves as a valuable opportunity to express gratitude to the employees who work alongside you every day. We offer one-stop support from planning to event management on the day itself. Please feel free to contact us anytime.

 

Contact us here

 

 

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・【社外向け】BtoB、BtoC向けに周年記念を祝う際のポイントとは？周年記念の意味やメリットもご紹介

・周年記念とは？地域社会への貢献にもつながるユニークベニュー事例と合わせてご紹介