Despite ongoing uncertainty that the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics will take place in Tokyo with spectators this summer, development in the Japanese capital remains robust. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is continuing to make a significant imprint on Asia with the fall 2020 arrival of Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo, which brought together New York’s Rockwell Group and Japanese artists like Takahashi Hiroko. “We were drawn to the color and energy of Shinjuku and its reputation for iconic fashion and entertainment,” says Allison Reid, Kimpton’s chief development officer.
Japan’s appeal is timeless, but “the opportunities here are highly competitive because of the limited land supply and the need to go vertical in a seismic zone, which creates additional construction costs,” explains Larry Traxler, Hilton’s senior vice president of global design. Still, he notes that Tokyo and Osaka remain the key markets for expansion, reinforced by the just-signed Waldorf Astoria Tokyo planned for 2026.
A guestroom at the Kengo Kuma-designed Hoshino Resorts KAI Beppu, shown in a rendering
Kyoto, known for its Shinto shrines and minimalist ryokans, will see additional growth following the 2020 debut of the Ace Hotel Kyoto, a collaboration between Atelier Ace, Kengo Kuma, and Commune. In September, the Roku Kyoto LXR Hotels & Resorts (designed by Blink Design Group) will open in Shozan Resort
Kyoto, a luxe enclave of Japanese gardens and teahouses that will bolster Hilton’s presence in the emerging market. “As Tokyo becomes increasingly more crowded, the allure of Kyoto continues to draw in more travelers,” says Crystal Vinisse Thomas, global director of lifestyle brands for Hyatt, which will soon welcome a Hyatt Place there. The brand has set its sights on other up-and-coming locales, adding the BAR Studio-designed Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono to its portfolio last year. The winter sports destination is also now home to Marriott’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Higashiyama Niseko Village.
A rendering of the sustainable cabins at Hygge Circles Ugakei, by Copenhagen-based Third Nature, Structured Environment, and Henrik Innovation
Subtropical Kyushu is also gaining in popularity. Earlier this year, Hoshino Resorts KAI Kirishima opened with views onto Sakurajima, one of the country’s most active volcanoes. Next up, Kuma again lends his expertise to the Hoshino Resorts KAI Beppu, slated to open this summer.
Even more under the radar is Inabe, where Copenhagen-based Tredje Natur (Third Nature), engineering firm Structured Environment, and Henrik Innovation will blend Japanese and Danish architecture in the Hygge Circles Ugakei on an old camping ground. Dreamed up for Nordisk and the city council as part of a competition, the sustainable adventure park will be strewn with cabins and glamping tents.
This is only the beginning. “Japan has a very strong domestic travel market, and as such, [Hilton is] extending our footprint into other key cities such as Yokohama, Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Sapporo,” Traxler adds.
China Kitchen at Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, designed by Melbourne-based BAR Studio
Related: The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon Brings the Drama
Photos and renderings courtesy of Hoshino Resorts, Hyatt, and Hygge Circles Ugakei
