British hospitality giant IHG’s refreshing Hotel Indigo brand is set to land in the Japanese mountain resort town of Karuizawa in 2022.

IHG, which operates no fewer than 34 hotels across Japan, has signalled its intention to open a new property under its young and characterful Hotel Indigo brand in the popular mountain resort town of Karuizawa, near Nagano in the central Chūbu region.

Japan’s third Hotel Indigo

IHG and Tokyo Century Corporation have just signed a management agreement to launch the Hotel Indigo Karuizawa in 2022. The third Hotel Indigo in Japan, it’ll follow hot on the heels of Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, which opened earlier this year, and Hotel Inuyama Urakuen Garden, which is due to launch in mid-2021, as the fast-growing brand continues to build its international presence.

“We are proud to announce another Hotel Indigo, and our second hotel in collaboration with Tokyo Century Corporation. We look forward to operating another fantastic hotel together, and building a successful long-term partnership,” said Abhijay Sandilya, IHG vice president, development for Australasia, South Pacific & Japan.

Yoichiro Nakai, senior managing executive officer of Tokyo Century Corporation, added: “Following our first resort development project, the ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa, we are very pleased to be developing a resort hotel in Karuizawa, Japan’s best-in-class luxury resort, as our second project with IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan. This is an important milestone in our partnership, and we look forward to working together to further develop Karuizawa as a destination by attracting tourists from Japan, and around the world.”

An authentically local hotel

In keeping with the brand’s modus operandi, the 155-room property – which will be spread across three wings – will exhibit a local approach that should help lure a well-travelled and curious global set. This means authentic experiences, an interior design scheme drawing on the story of the local neighbourhood, and drinking and dining options focusing on local dishes using seasonal ingredients.

Sandilya continued: “Hotel Indigo is a brand that brings local neighbourhood stories to life, combining authentic local experiences, modern hotel design, intimate service and excellent local cuisine. With its amazing culture and local stories, Japan is perfect for the Hotel Indigo brand, and that’s why we are seeing so much growth and interest from owners.”

There will also be meeting facilities, a spa and a gym onsite. Plus the property’s location, just two kilometres from Karuizawa Station, promises easy access to the region’s much-loved outdoor activities, including hiking and golf in the summer and skiing and onsens in the winter or – for the more culturally inclined – the charming Karuizawa old town itself.

Just an hour from Tokyo by the Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train), Karuizawa is a popular weekend retreat for city-dwellers and travellers looking to experience the idyllic Japanese countryside for themselves.

According to the TOPHOTELCHAINS online database, 64 hotel projects are currently in Hotel Indigo’s pipepline:

 

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