Tokyo’s Koto ward to tighten rules on data center development
With growing demand for data center projects, driven largely by the expansion of cloud services and generative AI, and increasing tensions with local residents, Tokyo’s Koto ward has issued new guidelines on data center development.Read more
Tokyo's largest subway operator to launch hotel brand
Tokyo Metro, operator of Tokyo’s largest subway system, is launching its own hotel brand and operations utilizing land it owns around major train stations and acquiring new sites, according to its mid-term business plan for 2025 to 2027.Read more
Beppu hotels acquired by Tokyo based real estate companies
Two Tokyo-based real estate companies are planning a 5-story luxury hotel in Beppu’s Kannawa Onsen district.Read more
Office rents increase in Tokyo's Grade A and C buildings
Rents for Grade A office in central Tokyo have recovered to 2021 levels, according to Sanko Estate and the NLI Research Institute. Average monthly office rents reached 30,509 Yen per tsubo (9,230 Yen/sqm) in the first quarter of 2025, up 7.1% from the previous quarter and the sixth consecutive quarter to see growth. This is the first time rents have exceeded 30,000 Yen per tsubo since the fourth quarter of 2021.Read more
Hoshino Resorts launches mountain hiking hotel brand
Hoshino Resorts, operator of a number of ryokan and hotels, has launched a new hotel brand centred around mountain resorts. The goal of the LUCY hotel brand is to harness the nature-based tourism potential of Japan’s national parks and other scenic locations and encourage inbound tourists to venture outside of major cities.Read more
Tokyo's Chuo City to start buying up old akiya
Tokyo’s Chuo City has started a program to acquire land with old ‘akiya’ or vacant homes that are at risk of collapsing or spreading fire in the event of a disaster. This is in response to the devastating fires that broke out in a densely packed neighborhood of wooden houses in Noto’s Wajima market following an earthquake on January 1, 2024.Read more
Hilton to open above Akasaka Station
Mitsubishi Estate, TSB Holdings, and Hilton announced that the 174-room Canopy by Hilton Tokyo Akasaka is planned for the Akasaka 2•6 Chome District Redevelopment above Akasaka Station. This will be the first Canopy by Hilton property to open in the Kanto area and the third in Japan.Read more