Marriott International announced the signing of 12 Fairfield by Marriott hotels across five prefectures in Japan – Kyoto, Wakayama, Mie, Gifu, and Tochigi – in a long-standing collaboration with Japanese real estate developer, Sekisui House; in total, an anticipated 15 hotels will be signed by next year.
All properties are expected to open by 2021, with the first dozen hotels scheduled to open in late 2020. With more visitors exploring Japan’s lesser-known destinations, these upcoming Fairfield by Marriott Hotels will give travelers access to remote destinations whilst ensuring that guests can count on the international brand’s standards of warm hospitality and inviting spaces with each and every stay.
“Japan has been experiencing robust growth in inbound tourist arrivals in recent years,” said Craig Smith, President & Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Marriott International. “This year alone, Japan has welcomed more than 20 million international travelers and is on track to reaching its goal of 30 million visitors by 2020. We see that, while there is an increasing demand to explore destinations outside of the popular gateway cities, there is currently a limited amount of accommodations in these more remote areas. Together with Sekisui House, we believe in the potential of capturing this growing trend with the simplicity and reliability of Fairfield by Marriott hotels to showcase our commitment to providing warm hospitality in emerging destinations across Japan.”
The upcoming Fairfield by Marriott hotels will be situated in convenient locations near popular roadside rest stations called “Michi-no-Eki” in Japan. The Michi-no-Eki system was launched 20 years ago by the Japanese government to create a safe and comfortable roadside stop-over for road trip travelers, which also feature unique attributes of each region. There are currently more than 1,000 stations along popular motorways that provide convenient services for travelers, including locally-inspired dining venues, farm-fresh produce, and traditional handicrafts. Many resting stops also have a tourist information center that guides visitors to nearby attractions, since many Michi-no-Eki stations are located near national parks and historic UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
“We are thrilled to launch this hotel development project with Marriott International, which will introduce a whole new way of experiencing Michi-no-Eki and its surrounding areas in undiscovered destinations across Japan,” said Yoshihiro Nakai, President & Representative Director, Sekisui House. “We hope to empower local communities through this project, by showcasing local cuisine, handicrafts, and culture. We will work with local tourism operators and government partners to show the uniqueness of each destination and bring more domestic and international travelers to these remote areas.”
The swift speed and efficiency in which the hotels are expected to open is largely due to the innovative construction process. These new Fairfield by Marriott hotels in Japan will be the first of their kind to be constructed in a factory, before being shipped to each site for assembly. This innovative modular construction model allows the hotels to maintain high-quality standards as well as reduce the construction assembly time on site. The hotels feature between 49 to 96 rooms and will offer guests comfortable yet simple hotel experiences in beautiful destinations.
Fairfield by Marriott hotels brings travelers closer to key attractions in five distinct prefectures across Japan
As part of the Kansai region, the Kyoto Prefecture is prized for its historic heritage and stunning nature, which attracts visitors year-round to experience the four seasons. There are three hotels planned to open in Kyoto and its surrounding area by late 2020:
– Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Miyazu with 85 rooms
– Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Kyotamba with 75 rooms
– Fairfield by Marriott Kyoto Minamiyamashiro with 51 rooms
Known for its beautiful beaches and mountainous landscape, including the UNESCO, designated Biosphere Reserve, there are two hotels planned to open in the Mie prefecture by 2020:
– Fairfield by Marriott Mie Mihama with 50 rooms
– Fairfield by Marriott Mie Odai with 70 rooms
The Wakayama prefecture is reputed for its national parks that showcase stunning seaside scenery. Three hotels are expected to open by 2021:
– Fairfield by Marriott Wakayama Chikatsuyu with 50 rooms
– Fairfield by Marriott Wakayama Susami with 50 rooms
– Fairfield by Marriott Wakayama Kushimoto with 96 rooms
In the wild and largely unexplored wilderness of the Gifu prefecture in the Chubu region, travelers will find traditional mountain villages including UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shirakawa-go. Four Fairfield by Marriott Hotels are expected to open in the region by 2021.
– Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Mino with 53 rooms
– Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Gujo with 90 rooms
– Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Takayama Shokawa with 60 rooms
– Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Seiryu Satoyama Park with 67 rooms
Kanto region’s Tochigi prefecture features numerous historical sites including Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Three hotels are expected to open in the area by late 2020:
– Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Utsunomiya with 87 rooms
– Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Nasushiobara with 79 rooms
– Fairfield by Marriott Tochigi Motegi with 49 rooms
Each of the hotels will be newly-built standalone properties with its own warm atmosphere, located either at or within short walking distance of the roadside service areas of Michi-no-Eki along the national or prefectural routes or highways and will provide a convenient access to notable leisure attractions in the region. Some of the Michi-no-Eki locations are accessible via scheduled bus services to major cities and towns with shuttle bus services between major transportation hubs and leisure attractions. All Michi-no-Ekis offer basic facilities including tourist information centers, restrooms, and 24-hour parking and the majority of them also provide dining venues, retail, and recreational facilities.
Photo shows (Left) Yoshihiro Nakai, President & Representative Director, Sekisui House Ltd & Craig Smith, President & MD, Marriott International APAC at the signing ceremony in Tokyo.
