Following on from the success of this year's Rugby World Cup, we take a look at some of the hotels and attractions set to open in 2020—the year of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games—as well as the latest train and aviation news!
Hotel Openings
One of the first hotels to open right after the New Year is Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora in the popular onsen resort of Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture. Located alongside the Haya River, each of the hotel's 94 guest rooms and 4 suites feature a modern Japanese bath tub with access to mineral-rich onsen water and beautiful riverside or hillside views. The decor tastefully reflects the surrounding nature and pays tribute to the history of this little railway town tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Hakone proper. Guests will arrive to a traditional 'sado' (茶道, tea ceremony) greeting - good news for Brits thirsty for a cuppa! Find out more about Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora here.
Hotel Kaie will open its doors to guests in February 2020 in Shiomi, Tokyo. A variety of incredibly spacious rooms—226 in all—ensures a stay at Hotel Kaie is a comfortable one for all kinds of guests, particularly for families: not only are there family rooms, Tokyo Disney Resort is a mere 15-minute train ride away! As for time to unwind, the hotel features a gym, a lounge and bar, the luxurious Akekure Japanese restaurant and a buffet-style restaurant fit for all. The hotel website is currently Japanese only but features English headings to help you get about the site: find out more about Hotel Kaie here.
Set to open in February 2020 is Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo West, a luxury hotel in the heart of snowy Sapporo, Hokkaido. The hotel offers an impressive variety of lavishly furnished guest rooms—169 in all—ranging both in size and accessibility. Details of the hotel restaurant are yet to be confirmed but other amenities include a private car park, perfect for those choosing to hire a car in Sapporo and explore the rest of Japan's frontier region. Unfortunately the Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo West will just miss out on the Sapporo Snow Festival, but with the Tokyo 2020 men's and women's marathons and walking races now officially relocated to Sapporo, the Mitsui Garden Hotel will be an ideal base for visiting spectators. Find out more about Mitsui Garden Hotel Sapporo West here.
Due to open in March 2020 in time for the famous cherry blossom season is Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato at the Yumoto Onsen resort in Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Surrounded by the mountains of northern Yamaguchi and situated within a traditional onsen town, KAI Nagato provides guests with the perfect opportunity to experience the region's rich culture whilst appreciating and being considerate of local areas of natural beauty; the 123 red torii gates of Motonosumi Inari Shrine aren't too far away either! 30 of the resort's 40 guest rooms are located within the main building, whilst the remaining 10—each with a private outdoor bath—are situated in the annex. All of the guest rooms are inspired by the samurai culture of Yamaguchi and feature colourful, locally manufactured Tokuji Washi headboards. As for dining, guests can enjoy 'kaiseki ryori' (会席料理, traditional Japanese multi-course meal) cuisine made with local in-season ingredients: squid is one of Yamaguchi's specialties you absolutely must try! Find out more about Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato here.
Located in the Higashiyama area of Kyoto City, The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu will open its doors to guests in March 2020. A mere 8-minute walk from the famous Kiyomizu-dera Temple, the former Kyoto Kiyomizu Elementary School will be reborn as a luxury hotel with 48 guest rooms, restaurants, private baths, a gym and more. Through its simple yet incredibly elegant design, The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu oozes local flavour and showcases the building's historical value beautifully. The hotel website is currently Japanese only, but to find out more about The Hotel Seiryu Kyoto Kiyomizu click here.
Opening in April 2020 is Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Kohamajima in Kohamajima, Okinawa Prefecture. The island of Kohamajima lies at the heart of the Yaeyama Islands, the southwesternmost part of Japan and home to the largest coral reef in the northern hemisphere, making for a highly exclusive getaway from the worries and fast pace of modern life. RISONARE Kohamajima is located right next to the island's picture perfect white sandy beaches and cobalt-blue waters where giant manta rays swim. The resort houses 60 incredibly spacious guestrooms of four different suite varieties in separated buildings and offers a number of activities including spa, snorkeling, diving and golf. Find out more about Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Kohamajima here.
Hotel Strata Naha is a luxurious hotel set to open in the heart of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture in April 2020. Historically Okinawa has been a hub of cultural fusion, namely of the Ryukyuan, Japanese and Southeast Asian cultures and it is this unique identity that lies at the centre of Hotel Strata Naha. Of the 221 guest rooms there are a total of 11 different room types, from the lavish Panorama Suite which offers a breathtaking panoramic view over Naha to the cool Garden Terrace Twin. 'Local' is a key message of Hotel Strata Naha and is evident in both CAFE STRATA and Ayanumui Ishikamayaki (think Teppanyaki but on stones) Restaurant where they use locally sourced ingredients, as well as in the artwork that decorates the hotel: created by local artists using traditional techniques. Oh, there's also a well-stocked skybar - bottom's up! The hotel website is currently Japanese only but features English headings to help you get about the site: find out more about Hotel Strata Naha here.
Scheduled for April 2020 is Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura in the ancient Japanese capital city of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. Located only a 2-minute walk from JR Kamakura Station, Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura is perfectly placed to explore the beautiful sights of the city, including Hasedera Temple, the Great Buddha (Daibutsu) of Kotoku-in Temple, food-filled Komachi-dori Street and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. Of the hotel's 138 guest rooms there are a total of 12 different room types, from Premium Corner Twin to Garden Double. Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura will also feature an in-house Café&Meal MUJI and a MUJIcom, meaning you need look no further than the front door for your fix of locally produced fruit and veg and MUJI's famously cool, high-quality goods. Find out more about Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura here.
Here's a hotel with a twist: opening in April 2020 in the Nipponbashi area of Osaka, Osaka Prefecture is Esports Hotel E-Zone Cyberspace, Japan's very first e-sports hotel. Esports Hotel E-Zone Cyberspace offers a rather no-frills accommodation experience, instead prioritising the gaming aspect: the first, second and third floors are dedicated to gaming, with over 70 top of the range gaming PCs; the floors above meanwhile will house sleeping cabins, though the seventh floor will also feature some rooms with their own PCs for serious gamer 'otaku' - eat, sleep, game, repeat! The website is currently Japanese only but features some artist rendered images of the final product which you can find here.
Opening in May 2020 is the Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. Located only a 2-minute walk from JR Kawasaki Station, Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki is a tremendously convenient home-base location for those visiting nearby Yokohama and Tokyo. Guests can enjoy a variety of delicious cuisines including Japanese, Chinese and French at the hotel's restaurants, cafes and bars before retiring to one of 304 guest rooms, including double, twin and suite room varieties. An on-site gym is also available to guests to enjoy. Find out more about Hotel Metropolitan Kawasaki here.
A luxury hotel experience in the heart of Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, the Hyatt Regency Yokohama will open in May 2020. The hotel boats an impressive 315 guest rooms—297 standard rooms and 18 suites—as well as two restaurants, a café bar lounge, Regency Club lounge, gym, events spaces and more! As of yet there is still a lot to be confirmed but undoubtedly the Hyatt Regency Yokohama will make for a truly memorable stay. Find out more about the Hyatt Regency Yokohama here.
Also opening in May 2020 is The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. Nikko is paradise on Earth for nature lovers so they will be pleased to hear that all 94 spacious guest rooms and suites offer views of Lake Chuzenji or Mt. Nantai. Guests can also enjoy a soak in the therapeutic waters of onsen hot springs for a physical embodiment of the surrounding area's natural beauty before slipping into a traditional yukata robe and slippers. Throughout the hotel local elements are elevated yet retain that famous Japanese art of beautiful minimalism: take the traditional 'engawa' (縁側, porch) in the luxury accommodations for example. Both Japanese and international restaurants are also available on-site should guests wish to try the local cuisine, or savour a taste of home. A gym, spa and other amenities are also provided. Find out more about The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko here.
Opening at the very heart of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture in June 2020 is Hyatt House Kanazawa. The city is becoming increasingly popular as a cuisine and culture-heavy alternative to Kyoto, so it comes as no surprise that one of the world's most recognisable hotel brands will be opening a home-style accommodation site that both respects this historic city's architectural and cultural sensibilities and allows guests to enjoy their travels as if at home. Whilst there is much to still be confirmed, Hyatt House Kanazawa will be located right next to JR Kanazawa Station, the final stop on Japan's newest Shinkansen bullet train route, making for an incredibly convenient base from which to explore the beautiful Hokuriku region.
Set to open in December 2020 is the Marriott Resort & Spa Ishigakijima in Ishigakijima, Okinawa Prefecture. Whilst there is much to still be confirmed, the hotel will reportedly have close to 360 guest rooms between the main building and separate suites, making it the largest hotel on Okinawa's far-flung islands.
Two new Hotel WBFs are also scheduled to open next year:
Shin-Osaka Sky Tower in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture - January 2020. Find out more here.
Matsuyama in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture - October 2020.
Attractions
The much-anticipated Super Nintendo World, the world's first Nintendo-themed expansive entertainment area over at Universal Studios Japan (USJ) in Osaka, will open to the public sometime in spring 2020. The new attraction is based largely on the fan-favourite Mario Kart and Yoshi games and will feature a ton of recognisable landmarks, including Bowser's fiery fortress and Princess Peach's pink castle, not to mention some grumpy-looking Goomba mushrooms and tube-dwelling Piranha Plants! You'll also have the chance to experience the thrill of Mario Kart for real with a state-of-the-art ride, though we can't confirm you'll be able to blast your competitors out of the way as a giant Bullet Bill. There will also be a ride dedicated to the lovable Yoshi. What's more, you'll be able to up your collection of Nintendo goodies at the on-site souvenir shop before chowing down at the Mario-themed restaurant. Whilst USJ haven't yet established a webpage dedicated to the new Super Nintendo World, they have released a fun promotional video which you can watch here.
Disney fans—listen up! On 15th April 2020 Tokyo Disneyland will open a brand new area named "New Fantasyland," featuring the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast attraction and the 1500-seat indoor Fantasyland Forest Theatre, both of which pay homage to the animated film's legendary soundtrack. You'll also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the magic tale as you enter Belle's village, complete with Maurice's Cottage, Gaston's fountain, and of course, Beauty and the Beast-themed restaurants and shops. Brand-new additions will also be made to the Tommorowland and Toontown areas on the same day: saddle up with Baymax on The Happy Ride with Baymax before grabbing one of those famous Disney popcorn buckets—this one Big Hero 6-themed—over in Tomorrowland's The Big Pop popcorn shop; in Toontown meanwhile you'll get to meet Minnie Mouse in person at Minnie's Style Studio - don't forget your Minnie Mouse bow! Find out more here.
Reopening in March 2020 in the Higashiyama area of Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture is Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art, formerly Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art. The museum is Japan's oldest public art museum housed in its original architecture and will remain so even after the renewal project as classical design and historical elements are retained as much as possible. An array of new indoor and outdoor spaces and features will moreover fit seamlessly with the classical visage of the museum's main building and the nearby Higashiyama, including the KYOCERA Square, Glass Ribbon, two new courtyards in the form of the Atrium and Sky Courtyard, and the Higashiyama Cube. Kicking off the museum's reopening will be the inaugural '250 Years of Kyoto Art Masterpieces' and 'HIROSHI SUGIMOTO - POST VITAM' exhibitions; a number of of others have already been confirmed for July onwards, including 'THE Doraemon Exhibition KYOTO 2020' and 'ANDY WARHOL KYOTO'. Refreshingly, Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art will also dedicate a section named 'The Triangle' to emerging artists. Find out more about Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art here.
Opening in Tokyo's Yomiuriland on 14 March 2020 is Hana・Biyori, a magical fusion of nature and entertainment like you've never seen before. Visitors to Hana・Biyori can enjoy over 300 of Kanto's largest and most colourful flower chandeliers in a whole new light—or should we say, array of lights—thanks to the digital projection mapping in the year-round greenhouse. The outdoor Japanese garden is proof however that taking it back to basics is never a bad idea: set within sprawling, elegant scenery are Buddhist statues, Kyoto Imperial Palace's Hijirimon Gates (yes, the very same!), a pagoda and, of course, your favourite seasonal Japanese floral spectacles such as cherry blossom in spring and crimson coloured leaves in autumn. Did we also mention it's home to Japan's first Starbucks in a botanical garden? Just think of all those Japan-exclusive seasonal promotional drinks and items! Blooming marvellous, we say! Find out more about Hana・Biyori here.
In February 2019 the Japanese government officially recognised the Ainu people as indigenous to Japan; from 24th April 2020, their story will be told at the brand-new UPOPOY National Ainu Museum and Park in Shiraoi, Hokkaido. Meaning "singing in a large group" in the Ainu language, UPOPOY's mission is bring people from all backgrounds together to celebrate Ainu's rich culture and history. The new museum and cultural park will host a series of informative exhibitions, as well as experiential activities: try a sample menu of traditional Ainu cuisine, for example! Find out more about UPOPOY National Ainu Museum and Park here.
Remember when you used to sing that you were the King or Queen of the Castle? Well, as of summer 2020 rhyme will become reality as Hirado Castle in the port city of Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture opens its doors (or gates) to overnight guests in what will be a first for a Japanese castle! The Kaiju Yagura, one of the castle's five fortified turrets, will feature a luxurious interior design where guests can experience life as a feudal lord, albeit in an even swankier setting, whilst looking out over the Hirado Strait and Hirado Ohashi Bridge. Find out more here.
Designed by globally acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma, The Meiji Jingu Museum opened in the Yoyogi area of Tokyo in November 2019 in anticipation of the 100th anniversary of the enshrinement of the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken at Meiji Jingu shrine next year. Achieving harmony both in regards to the surrounding dense woodland and the traditional Meiji Jingu was an absolute top priority of the museum's and it has done so without question. Important cultural properties, such as the carriage used by Emperor Meiji to sign the Japanese constitution, have been transferred from the Meiji Jingu Homotsuden Treasure Museum (currently closed) to this museum. Visitors will also be treated to an easy-to-understand introduction to Meiji Jingu and the Shinto religion. Find out more about The Meiji Jingu Museum here.
Events
We'd be impressed (and saddened) if it came as a surprise to you that in summer 2020 Tokyo will play host to arguably the world's most exciting and largest sporting events: the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This will be the second time that Tokyo has hosted the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games—the first being in 1964—thereby making it the first city in Asia to host the Games twice. A total of 137 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are expected to participate in the Olympics (24 July - 9 August) and 80 in the Paralympics (25 August - 6 September). Now, for the exciting bit! With the stated goal of making the Games more "youthful" and "urban" and to increase the number of female participating athletes, the International Olympic Committee approved a batch of new sports and new events within existing sports for both Games: baseball/softball, karate, sport climbing, surfing, and skateboarding will make their Olympic debuts; and for the Paralympics, badminton and taekwondo in place of 7-a-side football and sailing. Tokyo will host 33 competition venues, including the Games' centrepiece, the new woodland-themed National Stadium, designed by globally acclaimed architect Kengo Kuma. But beyond the capital the Games will have just as much impact: dubbed the "Recovery Olympics", a key theme of Tokyo 2020 is to promote recovery efforts towards the Tohoku region, much like this year's Rugby World Cup did, in the wake of the devastating 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. As such, Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures have been entrusted with hosting some of the baseball/softball and football events; combined with Tohoku's 3rd place in Lonely Planet's 'Best In Travel 2020 Top Regions' awards last month, the Games looks to be a wonderful opportunity for regional recovery well beyond 2020. Hokkaido will also benefit directly from the Games in the form of inbound tourism: an IOC decision in October saw the men's and women's marathon and race-walking events relocated to Sapporo due to heat concerns. So if there's one thing to take away from Tokyo 2020, it's that Japan is waiting for you!
Whilst sport will no doubt nab centre stage in 2020, art looks to remain a huge talking point in the promotion of some of Japan's most idyllic off-the-beaten-track destinations. Since 2010, the Setouchi Triennale in Japan's Inland Sea has been at the forefront of attracting art enthusiasts and influencers from across the world to quiet corners of Japan with a selection of works by high-profile Japanese and international artists, and next year a number of art festivals will similarly look to put cities and regions all over Japan on the map. Here are just some of them:
Ichihara ART x MIX 2020 ・ 20 March - 17 May 2020 ・ Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture
Northern Alps Art Festival ・ 31 May - 19 July 2020 ・ Omachi, Nagano Prefecture
Yokohama Triennale ・ 3 July - 11 October 2020 ・ Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Oku-Noto Triennale 2020 ・ 5 September - 25 October 2020 ・ Suzu, Ishikawa Prefecture
2020 in Bingo (Hiroshima Triennale) ・ 12 September - 15 November 2020 ・ Mihara; Onomichi; Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture
Biwako Biennale 2020 ・ 12 September - 8 November 2020 ・ Omihachiman, Shiga Prefecture
Sapporo International Art Festival (SIAF) 2020 ・ 19 December 2020 - 14 February 2021 ・ Sapporo, Hokkaido
Airlines
Finnair is Europe's largest leading airline for travel to Japan and last month the Helsinki-based carrier announced that as of 15 December this year its seasonal Sapporo route will be operational year-round! Sapporo will join the likes of Tokyo (Narita), Osaka, Fukuoka and Nagoya as Finnair's fifth Japanese destination and marks a key milestone in the airline's plans for ambitious growth in the Far East and Asia. Finnair will operate two flights per week each way between Helsinki and Sapporo. Fares to Sapporo from London via Helsinki start from £600 return in Economy Class and £2815 in Business Class (all taxes and charges included). Not London-based? No worries! Finnair flies to Helsinki twice daily from Manchester and up to twice a day from Edinburgh - Sapporo really is a whole lot closer now! To find out more about Finnair's year-round London-Sapporo via Helsinki route, click here.
From summer 2020 All Nippon Airways (ANA) will be adding five cities to its international network, namely Stockholm (Sweden), Istanbul (Turkey), Milan (Italy), Moscow (Russia) and Shenzhen (China). These new non-stop routes will fly into Tokyo's Haneda International Airport (HND) and will bring the total number of international cities served by ANA to 52. Click here to find out more about ANA's improved summer schedule.
Trains
Another year, another Japanese sightseeing train: as of 14 March 2020, JR East's newly-unveiled luxury Saphir Odoriko express train will connect the capital's Tokyo and Shinjuku stations with Izukyu Shimoda Station in Shizuoka Prefecture. The train's sleek design pays homage to the blue ocean and sky of Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula, a popular resort area famous for its onsen hot springs and beautiful coastlines. Passengers will travel in both style and comfort on the Saphir Odoriko: the lead car of the 8-car train will feature 20 premium seats arranged in pairs, perfect for those who love nothing more than looking out at the passing scenery; the following two cars will consist of private compartments for up to 4-6 people each; the remaining cars (bar the noodle cafeteria car) will feature standard Green Car (first-class) seating.
Explore Hokkaido, Japan's northern frontier region, with The Royal Express in August 2020. Departing from Sapporo, the luxury Tokyu train will depart on several four-day tours tours: The Royal Express will first make its way to southern Hokkaido's Tokaichi region before then heading to scenic Shiretoko in the east via popular destinations such as Asahikawa and flower-famous Furano. Up to 30 people can participate in each tour, with reservations set to be accepted from February 2020.
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