This year and the next year, new hotels are slated to open across Japan, each offering a wide variety of style and locations to suit clients.
The Hoshinoya Kyoto (www.kyoto.hoshinoya.com) opens in the historical Arashiyama in Kyoto on Dec. 12. All of its guestrooms are accessible by boat and have a view of the Ooigawa river. Reservations are available now, with rooms priced at approximately $657 per night.
Sankara Hotel & Spa (www.sankarahotel-spa.com)is opening in March 2010. Located on Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Site of Yakushima Island, this resort is set back into ancient forests and offers spacious bedrooms and individual balconies. The spa uses Asian herbal oils and the on-site restaurant offers cuisine made by a gourmet French chef using local organic ingredients.
The Akihabara Washington Hotel (www.wh-rsv.com) closed in 2008 and is scheduled to reopen on April 1, 2010. Situated in Tokyo’s Electric Town, new renovations at this 14-story building are geared toward fans of Japanese anime. This hotel also features an exclusive women-only floor. Agents are advised to check its Web site for reservations and additional information as the opening approaches.
The Westin Sendai (www.starwoodhotels.com),located in Sendai, is scheduled to open on Aug. 1, 2010. With views of the Sendai skyline, this hotel is centrally located to the business district. Group reservations are now being accepted; however individual reservations are not available at this time.
The St. Regis Osaka (www.starwoodhotels.com) opens Oct. 1, 2010. Situated in the center of Osaka, the luxurious hotel provides accessibility to the city center. The St. Regis Osaka restaurant will boast Jean Georges’ culinary creations.
The Capitol Hotel Tokyu (www.tokyuhotelsjapan.com) is scheduled to be completed in 2010. The new building contains a garden and promenade leading to the adjacent Hie Shrine, while still being located in the heart of Tokyo.
Citycruise Ginoza is also slated to open next year. The hotel is set in the tropical destination of Okinawa with cottages and time-share guesthouses. Its Web site is not yet available and the property is not accepting reservations at this time.
Japan National Tourism Organization
www.jnto.go.jp
