China’s Wanda Group to develop luxury hotel in Tokyo

According to an article in Business Journal, Chinese property developer and cinema chain operator, Dalian Wanda Group, plan to develop a mixed-use hotel and cinema complex in Tokyo.  This will be the first project in Japan to be developed by a major mainland Chinese property developer.

It is hoped that the hotel will be open in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The group has developed 109 large-scale shopping malls and 71 hotels (including 69 five-star hotels) across China. In early 2014, the group acquired a 90% stake in plans for a mixed-use condo, hotel and commercial project in Chicago. Construction of the $900 million project is scheduled to start in 2016. There are also plans for Wanda Hotels in London and Madrid.Read more


Japan’s largest hotel to be built in Yokohama

Apa Hotel Resort Yokohama Bay Tower 1

APA Group will be developing a 37-storey hotel on a waterfront site in downtown Yokohama. With 2,400 guest rooms and a total floor area of 58,000 sqm, this hotel will have the highest room count in a single building in Japan.Read more


Yaesu Fujiya Hotel to be redeveloped

Yaesu Fujiya Hotel TokyoThe Yaesu Fujiya Hotel by Tokyo Station will close at the end of March 2014 as the Kokusai Kogyo Group plan to sell the building and land to Sumitomo Realty & Development in April.

Sumitomo are expected to demolish the hotel and redevelop the site into an office building.

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Eviction orders for Gamagori hotel

The Toyohashi branch of the Nagoya District Court has issued an eviction order to the religious organization that is using the former Gamagori Fukinuki Sightseeing Hotel in Miyacho, Gamagori City. The court is ordering the land to be returned to its owner (Miyacho) and the building to be demolished.

The original hotel opened in 1939 and has undergone many alterations and extensions over the years. During its prime, the hotel was Miyacho's leading hot spring resort. However, in 1998 the hotel filed for bankruptcy with debts over 3 billion Yen. It was later put up for public auction with a minimum bid of 956 million Yen. A buddhist organization purchased the building, but not the land, from Miyacho in 2004 and were charged an annual land rent of 3.8 million Yen. They demolished several buildings and refurbished the main hotel which had previously been damaged by fire.Read more


Shiba Park Hotel to demolish north building

Shiba Park Hotel will be demolishing the main north building. Demolition work is being carried out by Ando Corporation and is expected to be completed by the end of June 2012.

The north building is 8 stories and has a total floorspace of 2891 sqm. The hotel was opened in 1949 and has 391 rooms.

Source: The Kentsu Shimbun, February 20, 2012.


Historic Niigata ryokan declares bankruptcy

The Kihachiya Ryokan in Sado City, Niigata, has entered into bankruptcy proceedings and may be forced to sell their hotel. According to Teikoku Databank, Kihachiya Ryokan has debts of 560 million Yen.Read more


Six hotels demand compensation from TEPCO

Six hotels in Akita Prefecture are seeking a total of 12.8 million Yen (166,000 USD) in compensation from TEPCO. The hotels claim that the nuclear power plant disaster has led to cancellations from foreign visitors, which has reduced their operating revenue.

The hotels are part of the Akita Prefecture Ryokan Association. The Association submitted the claim for compensation to TEPCO on their behalf. The claim by each hotel ranges from 120,000 to 5,200,000 Yen.Read more