Accor has announced the opening of 22 hotels and over 6,000 rooms in Japan, which will double its footprint in the country by increasing Accor’s portfolio of hotels in Japan to 46 properties.
The hotels, comprising twelve Grand Mercure and ten Mercure hotels, range in location from the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido to the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa and are located close to local hidden gems such as Cape Zanpa in Okinawa, Asuka village in Nara, Shiroi Koibito Park in Hokkaido and Senri Beach in Wakayama. Each hotel offers a range of guestrooms, restaurants, and wellness facilities such as onsen (hot springs), saunas, and swimming pools, with select hotels also offering stunning views of the local landscape.
Grand Mercure Hotels & Resorts, a premium brand of Accor, aims to offer an immersive experience that celebrates national culture and stimulates the senses. Each hotel is unique and authentically reflects its destination by embracing the local way of life, infusing age-old traditions with modern flair. Grand Mercure makes its debut in Japan offering “Proudly Local” premium hotels, inspiring guests to experience their destination through local celebrations and multi-sensory experiences crafted by local hosts.
Mercure Hotels & Resorts, is positioned within the mid-scale segment and focuses on unveiling the local neighbourhood treasures surrounding each address. Inspired by Mercury, the Roman god of travellers, Mercure hotels posit themselves as more than just a place to sleep, but rather, as a “portal to the destination, a warm invitation to discover and explore the locale”.
Accor’s 22 new properties in Japan include the following:
Grand Mercure Sapporo Odori Park
Grand Mercure Nasu Highlands Resort & Spa
Grand Mercure Yatsugatake Resort & Spa
Grand Mercure Minamiboso Resort & Spa
Grand Mercure Lake Hamana Resort & Spa
Grand Mercure Ise-shima Resort & Spa
Grand Mercure Lake Biwa Resort & Spa
Grand Mercure Nara Kashihara
Grand Mercure Wakayama Minabe Resort & Spa
Grand Mercure Awaji Island Resort & Spa
Grand Mercure Beppu Bay Resort & Spa
Grand Mercure Okinawa Cape Zanpa Resort
Mercure Miyagi Zao Resort & Spa
Mercure Urabandai Resort & Spa
Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa
Mercure Toyama Tonami Resort & Spa
Mercure Wakayama Kushimoto Resort & Spa
Mercure Kyoto Miyazu Resort & Spa
Mercure Tottori Daisen Resort & Spa
Mercure Kochi Tosa Resort & Spa
Mercure Fukuoka Munakata Resort & Spa
Mercure Saga Karatsu Resort
Two of the most notable are the Grand Mercure Okinawa Cape Zanpa Resort and Grand Mercure Wakayama Minabe Resort & Spa. The former, located on Zanpa Beach in Okinawa, boasts ocean views with a series of recreational activities such as water sports, one of the largest pool areas in Okinawa, with a river pool, an adults-only pool, water slides, and a children’s pool area. The resort-style property has 465 guest rooms and suites, dining options, a large public bath, and event space.
Grand Mercure Wakayama Minabe Resort & Spa, located in Wakayama Minabe and surrounded by the scenic beauty of southern Wakayama Prefecture, offers a sophisticated getaway for travellers seeking comfort amidst natural beauty. There are 323 spacious rooms and suites, all equipped with modern amenities and sea views, with dining offerings that showcase Wakayama’s rich culinary traditions.
“As Japan continues to welcome back international travel and experiences a steady recovery of the tourism industry, we are excited to add these great hotels to our portfolio and in doing so we are doubling our Group’s presence in Japan. As the desire to connect with local culture and nature is increasingly in demand amongst travellers today, we offer our loyal guests just that; a range of local experiences offered in charming coastal towns and amongst nature. Popular destinations such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto will always remain in high demand, however if you want to truly immerse yourself in the authentic culture of a country, sometimes you need to escape the big cities and head off the beaten path,” said Garth Simmons, chief operating officer, premium, midscale, and economy Division for Accor in Asia.
Prior to the addition of these new hotels, Accor was operating 24 hotels (5,741 keys) in Japan, under eight brands: MGallery; Pullman; Swissôtel; Mercure; Novotel; ibis; ibis Styles and ibis budget. In addition to the 22 Grand Mercure and Mercure hotels joining Accor’s network from April 2024, there are two more properties currently in the group’s pipeline.
