Atami hotels sold to US fund
The landmark Hotel New Akao in Atami has been sold to Shirakami, an affiliated company of Fortress Investment Group. The sale is for Hotel Acao Annex (former Hotel New Akao) and Hotel Acao (former Royal Wing) and approximately 7% of Acao Spa & Resort’s landholdings.
Ultra-luxury hotel for Torch Tower
On November 8, developers Mitsubishi Estate and Tokyo Century Corporation announced that Dorchester Collection will be operating an ultra-luxury hotel in the 390-meter tall Torch Tower near Tokyo Station. The hotelier is owned by the Brunei Investment Agency and operates The Beverly Hills Hotel, Plaza Athénée in Paris, and The Dorchester in London, to name a few.
Mandarin Oriental Hotel coming to Takamatsu City
The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is planning to open a new hotel in Takamatsu City, according to Kyodo News. The opening is scheduled to coincide with the 2025 World Exposition to be held in Osaka.
Patina hotel to open in Osaka in 2025
Capella Hotel Group is planning to open a Patina Hotels & Resorts-branded property in Osaka by 2025. This will be the second hotel under this luxury brand to open worldwide, following the Patina Maldives in 2021.
Shrine to convert akiya into tourist lodgings
Hikosan Jingu Shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture is embarking on a plan to convert 10 vacant ‘akiya’ homes into lodgings for tourists. It is hoped this will revitalize the historic streets and help out local souvenir shops and businesses.
Akasaka Excel Hotel Tokyu to close
Akasaka Excel Hotel Tokyu will close its doors permanently in late August 2023 as its lease comes to an end.
Togo Murano-designed hotel in Kyoto to close its doors
Hotel Rubino Kyoto Horikawa will permanently close next March as the prolonged pandemic takes its toll. The hotel was designed by iconic modernist architect Togo Murano and opened in 1972.