Country overview: Japanese hotel pipeline looking strong in 2020

Japan’s hotel pipeline is in good shape for the coming decade and boasts several impressive openings travellers will appreciate.

Japan is heading into the new decade with a bang, according to numbers and statistics pulled from the TOPHOTELCONSTRUCTION database.

We take a look at what’s going on in Japan’s pipeline and check out the projects worth watching.

2020 sets the tone for the decade in Japan

Studying figures from the TOPHOTELCONSTRUCTION database reveals a lot about the health of a country’s hospitality industry and based on statistics and projections pulled from the database, it appears that Japan is doing well as the new decade begins, with a total of 81 projects in the pipeline (16,471 rooms).

2020 looks set to be a busy year for Japan’s hospitality industry, as 39 of the total pipeline projects will open this year, bringing 6,823 new rooms to the country.

20 hotels will open in 2021, while 2022 will welcome 12 new properties, and a further 10 in 2023 and beyond. All the new hotels in Japan will be in the first-class luxury segment, with 46 4-star properties and 35 5-star properties opening in the coming years.

The majority of the hotels in the pipeline are either under construction or in the pre-planning phase, with some in the pre-opening stages, setting the scene for various openings over the next 12 months.

Top cities and brands

Perhaps it is no surprise that most openings are confined to Japan’s major cities, with Tokyo benefiting from 10 new hotels, Osaka from six, Okinawa and Kyoto from five each and Yokohama from four.

The spread of brands is across both local and international groups, with the most popular brand being Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott with 15 new openings on the horizon, followed by Hilton Hotels and Resorts with five properties due to open, the Ritz-Carlton claiming three and Nikko Hotels International with two.

Notable hotel projects in Japan

The Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba is the largest project getting underway in Japan. 884 rooms are spread over 30 floors in this 4-star refurbishment of an existing property. Geared towards business travellers visiting Tokyo for work, the hotel boasts 17 banquet and meeting rooms, nine restaurants and bars, two wedding chapels, a fitness club, an outdoor swimming pool and a beauty-treatment clinic.

The Hoshino Resorts OMO7 Osaka Shin-Imamiya is a 5-star new build project currently under construction. Slated to open in the second quarter of 2022, the hotel will be beside a train station in Osaka, making it a convenient base from which to explore the many highlights of this captivating city. The property is intended to unlock the potential for tourism in the area and celebrate Osaka’s local history and culture.

The Hilton Okinawa Sesoko Resort is a 300-key project due to open halfway through this year. A 5-star new-build hotel and resort located in a privileged position near the Okinawa coast, the property boasts panoramic views over the ocean and is perfect for special occasions, such as weddings and big events.

Finally, the Kimpton Tokyo Shinjuku is an urban property in the centre of Tokyo which will open in the second quarter of 2020. With 162 rooms, meeting and event facilities that can accommodate up to 300 people, three locally inspired restaurants and a fully equipped wellness studio, guests will find everything they need to enjoy both the Kimpton experience and the Japanese capital’s frenetic energy.

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