Shizuoka hotels hit with almost 500,000 cancellations due to tourist drop

The impacts of the coronavirus are being painfully felt by hotel and ryokan operators in Shizuoka’s popular hot spring locations. Hotels and onsens that have relied heavily on tour groups from China are now facing either temporary or permanent closure.

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Hilton to bring LXR brand to Kyoto

On February 4, Hilton announced plans to open an LXR-branded luxury hotel in Kyoto. The resort will be located within the 28-acre Shozan Resort Kyoto on the site of a former bowling alley.

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Nintendo to convert former Kyoto HQ into boutique hotel

The 90-year old former headquarters of Nintendo will be converted into a boutique hotel. The conversion project will see the historic building refurbished into a 20-room hotel with a restaurant, and guest gym and baths. 

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Plans for 50 luxury hotels across Japan

The Ritz-Carlton Nikko. To open in 2020.

On December 7, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced a plan to encourage and support the opening of fifty world-class luxury hotels across Japan. Suga made the announcement at a press conference following a visit to a town devastated by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. 

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Hiramatsu to open Kyoto hotel in 2020

Hiramatsu, a fine-dining and wedding function company, will be opening a boutique luxury hotel in Kyoto in March 2020.

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Roppongi to see new Langham hotel in 2024

Preliminary images of the jaw-dropping design for the proposed Langham hotel in Tokyo have been released. 

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Two art hotels to open in Okayama

To coincide with the triennial Okayama Art Summit 2019 which runs from September 27 to November 2, two new architect-designed boutique hotels have opened up in Okayama City. Both buildings were designed in collaboration between Japanese architects and foreign artists.

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