Just as 2025 has been a ground breaking year for travel and tourism to Japan, it has also been an exciting year for property openings with many more highly anticipated locations scheduled to open their doors in the years ahead. While major cities like Tokyo and Osaka are seeing an obvious increase in globally owned and luxury brand hotels, lesser-known destinations are also welcoming important and eagerly awaited hotel properties, encouraging travelers to venture off-the-beaten-path and discover more of Japan’s regional charm. Here are just a few of the highlight hotels that opened in 2025 as well as some exciting new openings on the horizon. You’ll want to mark your calendars and plan your future stays at these brand-new hospitality hot spots.
Rosewood Miyakojima
Rosewood Miyakojima, which opened its doors March 1, 2025, marks Rosewood Hotels & Resorts’ first property in Japan, introducing ultra-luxury hospitality to Okinawa’s pristine Miyakojima Island. Nestled among sugarcane fields overlooking Oura Bay, the 55-villa resort blends Ryukyu heritage and wabi-sabi design with sustainable architecture by Studio Piet Boon. Guests can enjoy four dining venues showcasing locally sourced ingredients, an infinity pool, beach access, and the Asaya Spa with Okinawan-inspired treatments. The resort also offers cultural activities like karate, pottery, marine conservation programs, a wedding pavilion, family-friendly Explorers Club, and opportunities to explore the island’s vibrant reefs and sea life, for a deeply immersive and environmentally conscious luxury experience.
Waldorf Astoria Osaka
Waldorf Astoria made its long-awaited entrance into Japan with the opening of Waldorf Astoria Osaka in April 2025. Occupying 12 floors of a 39-story tower in the Umekita Second Project’s south district, the hotel offers 252 spacious rooms beginning at 50 square meters. Guests can enjoy three signature dining venues, including a modern reimagining of the iconic Peacock Alley, as well as premium leisure facilities like an indoor pool and a full-service wellness center.
Fairmont Tokyo
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has debuted in Japan with the opening of Fairmont Tokyo on July 1, 2025, marking a milestone for the luxury brand. Located in the newly unveiled BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA Tower S, just minutes from Haneda Airport and Tokyo’s major stations, the hotel offers 217 rooms and suites with sweeping views of Tokyo Tower and the bay. Designed by BAR Studio, the interiors reflect refined artistry, while the signature Fairmont Gold offers an exclusive “hotel within a hotel” experience with highly personalized service. Guests are welcomed by Serene, the Chief Happiness Officer and resident Labrador, and can enjoy five distinctive restaurants and two bars, ranging from sushi and teppanyaki to a standing bar and secret speakeasy, along with wellness facilities including a 20-meter indoor infinity pool, spa, saunas, and 24-hour gym. With one of Tokyo’s largest ballrooms and sky-high venues with terraces for ideal for weddings and gatherings, Fairmont Tokyo blends modern luxury, Japanese omotenashi hospitality, and prime connectivity to create an exceptional destination for both travelers and locals.
JW Marriott Tokyo
JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo will open on October 2 in the Takanawa Gateway City development, marking the brand’s debut in Tokyo and its second location in Japan after the JW Marriott Hotel Nara opened its doors in 2020. Occupying floors 23 to 30 of the South Tower, the 200-room luxury property features interiors by Canadian design studio Yabu Pushelberg, inspired by Zen gardens and traditional Japanese scenery. Guests can enjoy seven dining options, including Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine, a bar, and a lobby lounge with a croissant bar, as well as the world’s first JW Mindfulness Floor, which includes nine Mindful Rooms, the Spa by JW, a pool, fitness center, and curated wellness programs. Additional amenities include an Executive Lounge for select rooms, a swimming pool, and convenient access to Takanawa Gateway Station and Shinagawa’s Shinkansen terminal, just 20 minutes from Haneda Airport. Designed to provide a tranquil escape from the city’s bustle, the hotel aims to welcome both domestic and international guests with a blend of luxury, wellness, and thoughtful design.
1 Hotel Tokyo
1 Hotels is set to debut in Japan this winter with 1 Hotel Tokyo, part of Mori Trust’s Tokyo World Gate Akasaka project, introducing 1 Hotels’ signature blend of sustainable luxury to the heart of the city. This 211-room property will feature biophilic design inspired by Japan’s natural landscapes, CASBEE Rank S certification for top-tier environmental performance, and thoughtful touches like moss-lined walls, natural stone, and Zen-garden-inspired décor. Guests can enjoy a tranquil 38th-floor lobby with city views, locally inspired dining, a spa and hammams, an indoor pool, and lush outdoor terrace. With approximately 473 square meters of event space and a prime location in vibrant Akasaka, 1 Hotel Tokyo is positioned as both a serene urban retreat and a world-class venue for business meetings and special events.
Imperial Hotel, Kyoto
The Imperial Hotel, Kyoto will officially open its doors in Spring 2026, marking a historic moment for one of Japan’s most prestigious hospitality brands. Located in Kyoto’s Gion district, the new boutique hotel is housed in the restored Yasaka Kaikan—a nationally registered tangible cultural property originally constructed in 1936. The 55-room property will begin accepting reservations in Autumn 2025. The property will present guests with three architecturally distinct accommodation styles: Extension, Preservation, and Renovation. These spatial concepts reflect the historical evolution of the Yasaka Kaikan and are brought to life by two architectural partners: Obayashi Corporation, leading exterior restoration, and architect Mr. Tomoyuki Sakakida of New Material Research Laboratory, responsible for the project’s interiors.
Coming Soon in 2026 and Beyond
Hyatt Atona (2026)
Mandarin Oriental, Setouchi at Takamatsu (2027)
Mandarin Oriental, Setouchi at Naoshima (2027)
Aman Niseko (2030)
