Japan’s second Hotel Indigo to bring the story of historic Inuyama to life

Inuyama, in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, will get its first internationally-branded hotel, with IHG® and Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu) signing an agreement to open Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen in the second half of 2021.

No two Hotel Indigo properties are the same, with each drawing on the story of its local area to inspire every aspect of the hotel to help guests feel part of the destination. That’s why Inuyama, with its rich history, castle, museums and teahouses, is the perfect fit for the brand.

The 150-room hotel originally opened in 1965 and currently operates as the Meitetsu Inuyama Hotel, the leading hotel in the area. Building on that success, the property will be rebuilt with a striking modern design and reopened as Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen, taking advantage of IHG’s global reputation and systems. When it opens its doors, it will feature a neighbourhood café and bar, meeting rooms, a spa, health club, resort centre and retail outlet.

The design will ensure the hotel fits naturally into the neighbourhood, telling stories of the local culture by weaving together rich materials, colour palette and custom pieces from local artists and furniture makers.

Hans Heijligers, IHG’s Head of Japan, said: “nuyama has been a popular destination for residents of Nagoya and throughout Japan for many years, but there is an opportunity in the market for a great global branded hotel. Inuyama, with its rich story and heritage, is the perfect location for a Hotel Indigo, and from 2021 we will deliver an amazing product that meets the needs of those travellers who are looking for the winning mix of international brand and local experience.”

““global momentum behind the Hotel Indigo is accelerating, and this is the second Hotel Indigo planned for Japan, following the signing of Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora in 2017”, he added.

Inuyama is well known for its 16th-century Castle as well as Urakuen, a peaceful garden with the centuries-old Jo-an teahouse, the Meiji-mura Museum which features restored 19th-century buildings from the Meiji era, and Little World, an open-air museum with traditional houses from across the globe. These attractions make it the perfect escape for guests who are looking beyond bigger cities like Kyoto or Osaka, as well as business and events travellers. 

The owner, Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu), will take advantage of its transportation connections to develop a tourism route from Nagoya to Kanazawa, revitalising the destination and attracting visitors from around Japan, and the world. 

Takashi Ando, President of Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu), said: “We are delighted to be able to bring the world-class Hotel Indigo lifestyle brand to Inuyama. We have worked on revitalizing the area for many years, including the development of several leisure businesses. Through the opening of Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen we can highlight the charm of Inuyama, with its rich history and culture, to both domestic and overseas visitors. As a tourist destination, we will contribute to further development and appeal of the whole region.”

Launched in 2004, Hotel Indigo is the world’s first globally branded boutique hotel brand. It launched in Asia Pacific in January 2015 with the opening of Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road, Thailand, followed by the opening of Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong, Singapore in July 2016 and then Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach in late 2017. There are currently 88 Hotel Indigo properties (10,888 rooms) in the global pipeline. 

IHG currently has 33 hotels operating under three brands in Japan, including: InterContinental, ANA Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, with another 2 in the pipeline, including ANA InterContinental Beppu Resort & Spa and Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora.