Can you believe that 2024 is almost over? The year has been a whirlwind of amazing openings and events, and 2025 is shaping up to be another year full of unmissable experiences and events. From the Osaka Expo to various luxury hotels, art museums and commemorations, 2025 will be nothing short of amazing. Let’s dive into some of what 2025 has to offer, so get ready to start planning your trips to Japan!
Before we dive into everything that 2025 has in store for us, let’s take a brief look at some of the recent openings and Japan news for the end of 2024.
In the outdoors, the Hokkaido East Trail officially opened its 410 kilometre path from the city of Kushiro to Rausu on the Shiretoko Peninsula. While walking the path you’ll encounter extensive nature and have the opportunity to see some of the unique wildlife that calls Hokkaido home. Spanning three national parks in Hokkaido, namely Kushiro Shitsugen, Akan-Mashu, and Shiretoko, it is everything that an outdoors enthusiast would want.
Don’t forget that October also marked the 60th anniversary of the introduction of the shinkansen in Japan. One of the most popular forms of transportation in the country, the shinkansen takes visitors all throughout the country at breakneck speed. Being able to see the countryside speed by, and even get occasional glances at Mt. Fuji is an experience not to be forgotten. With a new second of the Hokuriku shinkansen being opened in March of this year between Kanazawa and Tsuruga, travelling will continue to get more and more convenient.
Fans of gaming will be excited to hear that the Nintendo Museum in Uji, Kyoto officially opened its doors also in October of this year. A perfect spot to learn about one of the biggest gaming companies in Japan and in the world, the museum has information on the history of the company and more, including examples of the many products that they have released.
Another exciting development in the entertainment industry is the upcoming release of Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim on December 13th. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, it will be a perfect combination of Japanese animation and the famous Lord of the Rings world.
Ski fans will be excited to hear that the Nikko Style Niseko HANAZONO will be opening its doors on the 15th of December. With beautiful views and delicious food, this accommodation will make for a perfect gateway to the world famous snow of Hokkaido and Niseko resort area.
Nikko Style Niseko HANAZONO
Now let’s get into what 2025 has to offer in Japan!
Art
January 22, 2025 will mark a new expansion of the innovative teamLab Planets, with three distinct new areas being opened. One area, the Athletics Forest will allow people to explore athleticism and three dimensionality. An immersive and interactive space, it will allow people to physically experience art. Another space being opened is the Catching and Collecting Forest, allowing people to create a unique collection book by catching animals with their phones. The final space, entitled Future Park, is focused on creation with others, involving constantly evolving artwork.
Triennales and art events will also be aplenty in 2025. The Aichi Triennale will be held from the 13th of September, to the 30th of November, and entitled ‘A Time Between Ashes and Roses’, the triennale will be held across three separate spaces in Aichi Prefecture. The Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival 2025 will also be run from the 13th of April to the 13th of October, working to promote the idea of ‘social impact’ and reinvigorating arts and culture. The Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts will also be reopening in March of 2025 after some renovations.
Heading further to the west, the Naoshima New Museum of Art, designed by Tadao Ando, is scheduled to be opened in Spring of 2025. Naoshima, an island in the Seto Inland Sea, is famous for its wide variety of art installations and exhibitions, and the new museum will add to an already fantastic art destination.
Also in the Seto Inland Sea area, the Setouchi Triennale 2025 will start on April 18, divided into three sessions: Spring, Summer, and Autumn. Spread across 17 venues of islands and coastal areas, the Triennale focuses on the local community and culture, with the theme "Restoration of the Sea."
Lastly, in the Chugoku region of western Japan, the Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art will be opening its doors to the public on March 30th, 2025. Tottori is famous for its sand dunes, located right on the coast of the Sea of Japan, in addition to a nearby learning centre about the dunes, a Kengo Kuma designed cafe, and a sand sculpture museum.
One of the most exciting events of the art space will also be held in Osaka, the Osaka Expo. From April 13th to October 13th, the world will come together to celebrate the theme of ‘Designing Future Society for our Lives’. The expo will be held on the island of Yumeshima, with a variety of different countries having their own pavilions. Part of the expo design is envisioned as a circle, partially jutting out into the ocean, allowing visitors to walk over both land and sea. Tickets to the expo are still on sale, it will be an event not to be forgotten.
Luxury
Moving into the accommodation space, there are a huge amount of luxury hotels and other openings in store for 2025. In Tokyo there will be the JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo, the Fufu Tokyo Ginza, the Fairmont Tokyo, and more. The JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo is slated for a spring 2025, as part of the Takanawa Gateway Urban Development project. With 200 rooms, it would also be within walking distance of Shinagawa Station. In Osaka, the RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka - Vignette Collection is slated to open in 2025 after a two year refurbishment. The hotel will officially become part of the Vignette Collection once the refurbishments are completed.
Hoshino Resorts has plans to open properties in both 2025 and 2026. HOSHINOYA Nara Prison, a refurbishment of a Meiji era prison, will be the first converted prison property in Japan, expected to open in 2026. In the autumn of 2025, RISONARE Shimonoseki is also scheduled to open its doors. Located on the Kanmon Strait in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, this property will have abundant waterside views and sights of the Kanmon Bridge.
Hoshino Resorts is also planning two additional accommodations in the future. KAI Teshikaga and HOSHINOYA Niseko Lodge are planned for 2026 and 2028 respectively. KAI Teshikaga will be the second accommodation for Hoshino Resorts in Hokkaido, and will be in Kawayu Onsen, near Lake Mashu and Lake Kussharo. HOSHINOYA Niseko Lodge will be the first of its name in Hokkaido, offering guests unique experiences to the area, in addition to being located in the bustling and popular Niseko area.
There will also be a theme park entitled JUNGLIA slated to open in 2025 in Okinawa. With a focus on nature experiences such as balloon rides and a safari, the park will be located in the northern part of the island, nearby Yambaru National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As northern Okinawa receives comparatively less footfall than other parts of the region, the theme park will introduce people to the beauty of Okinawa, and give them experiences that cannot be found in the big cities.
Anniversaries and other events
Outside of the luxury accommodations and the many art events and openings, 2025 in Japan will also include a wide amount of anniversary events and other openings. 2025 will mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The cities will host events to commemorate the anniversary, in addition to promoting peace, remembrance, and anti-nuclear advocacy. Nagasaki will host the Nagasaki Bunkasai Peace Festival, an event to promote peace education and peace throughout the world.
Super Mario will also be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025. The famous plumber will have had 40 years of games, why not celebrate by visiting the newly opened Nintendo Museum?
Shiretoko National Park in Hokkaido, will also celebrate 60 years as a national park, and 20 years since it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A peninsula found in eastern Hokkaido, Shiretoko is a known as one of the spots in Japan where you can see drift ice, among other things such as amazing wildlife and nature.
Another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan, the ‘Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining’, will be celebrating 10 years since being designated a World Heritage Site. Composed of 23 distinct sites, it commemorates the industrialization of Japan in the 19th century.
For the foodies, the Osaka TimeOut Market should open its doors in 2025, marking the first TimeOut Market to be opened in Asia. And for the sports fans, there will be F1 and Formula E races in Japan from April 4th to 6th and May 17th to the 18th respectively.
The Kurobe Unazuki Canyon Route, a transportation route through Toyama Prefecture, has also been announced to open to the public in 2026 or later. Composed of a variety of different transportation methods, from funicular to cable car, it will take visitors through the rugged mountains and nature in Japan that few are able to see.
While 2024 is still not over just yet, the things to look forward to in 2025 are plentiful! No matter what you may be interested in, from the outdoors, to hotels, to food, Japan in 2025 will have something just right for you. We’ll see you in 2025!
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