IHG breaks ground on triple-branded hotel near Universal Studios Japan

IHG signs triple-branded hotel development near Universal Studios Japan in Osaka

IHG Hotels & Resorts has announced its largest new-build hotel agreement in Japan, in partnership with Sakurajima Kaihatsu LLC, for a hotel near Universal Studios Japan (USJ). The development consortium comprises Kajima Corporation, JAPAN POST REAL ESTATE Co., Ltd., SMFL MIRAI Partners Company, Limited, and Keihanshin Building Co., Ltd.

The agreement was marked by a recent groundbreaking ceremony in Konohana-ku, Osaka, and represents IHG’s first triple-branded hotel in Japan.

The riverside development will introduce three adjoining hotels operating under the InterContinental, Kimpton, and Holiday Inn Resort brands. The site is near Universal Studios Japan and is a 10-minute boat ride or drive from the integrated resort development at Yumeshima.

Together, the three hotels will comprise 817 rooms and are planned to operate as official partner hotels of Universal Studios Japan. The properties are scheduled to open in 2029.

Abhijay Sandilya, Managing Director, Japan & Micronesia, IHG Hotels & Resorts and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, said the project marks two key milestones for the company in the country: its largest new-build agreement to date in Japan and its first multi-brand development involving three brands.

He added that the project will expand IHG’s presence in Osaka, where the group already operates several hotels, and support its continued growth across Japan. IHG currently has 57 hotels open across 10 brands in the country, along with 20 properties in its development pipeline.

Katsunori Ichihashi, Senior Executive Officer and General Manager of the Real Estate Development Division at Kajima Corporation, said the partnership with IHG is part of the broader development of the Sakurajima area. He noted that the inclusion of three distinct hotel brands is intended to provide a range of accommodation options for visitors to the area, alongside new dining, leisure, and infrastructure projects on the Osaka riverfront.

The InterContinental hotel will feature 244 rooms, dining and lounge spaces, meeting and event facilities, a gym, a rooftop swimming pool, and a Japanese-style bathing area. The Kimpton hotel will offer 246 rooms, dining venues, including a rooftop restaurant, meeting spaces, a gym, and an indoor swimming pool. The Holiday Inn Resort will comprise 327 rooms, with family-oriented facilities including a kids’ club, a games room, and indoor pools.

The hotels will complement IHG’s existing Osaka portfolio, which comprises InterContinental Osaka, voco Osaka Central, RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka, and Vignette Collection. Ongoing infrastructure upgrades in the area include the extension of the JR Sakurajima Line, new ferry terminals, and increased capacity at Kansai International Airport.

Universal Studios Japan, opened in 2001 and owned by Comcast NBCUniversal, continues to attract domestic and international visitors with themed attractions based on film, animation, and gaming franchises, including SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Minion Park.