A Warm Welcome, Twice Over: ANA Holiday Inn Opens in Two New Japanese Cities

IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, announces the back-to-back opening of two ANA Holiday Inn properties in Japan: ANA Holiday Inn Kobe Sanda, which welcomed its first guests on 27 April 2026, and ANA Holiday Inn Tosu, which opened on 28 April 2026. Both properties, operated by Select Hotels Group, mark a significant milestone for the Holiday Inn brand in Japan. Each becoming the first international full-service hotel in their respective cities, bringing Holiday Inn’s signature warm and welcoming service to Sanda City in Hyogo Prefecture and Tosu City in Saga Prefecture.

SANDA: WHERE NATURE MEETS WARM HOSPITALITY

Located within the hillside setting of Sanda, a city celebrated for the harmony of its natural surroundings and modern life, ANA Holiday Inn Kobe Sanda is just one minute’s walk from Woody Town Chuo Station on the Kobe Electric Railway, and less than ten minutes’ drive from the Kobe-Sanda Interchange. Positioned between Kobe and Osaka, the hotel is a natural base for business travellers and those exploring the broader Kansai region. The surrounding area offers genuine variety, from the Hokusettsu Sanda Technopark and Kobe Sanda Premium Outlet, to the riverside paths of the Hiratanigawa Greenway, where guests can experience the quiet beauty of the changing seasons.

The hotel features 130 guestrooms, from cosy doubles to spacious twin layouts and a distinctive Japanese-style room, featuring traditional tatami flooring and a low-set layout that offers a more locally inspired stay experience. At its heart, Holiday Inn’s open lobby layout creates a relaxed, flexible space where guests can work, dine, or unwind throughout the day.

Mr. Eiji Baba, General Manager of ANA Holiday Inn Kobe Sanda, said: “Sanda is a place where a deep connection with nature and the warmth of community life come together in a very special way. It is our privilege to bring the warm, genuine hospitality that defines Holiday Inn to this city, and we look forward to welcoming guests – whether here for business, leisure, or simply a moment of calm – and making them feel genuinely at home.”

TOSU: YOUR BASE FOR KYUSHU

ANA Holiday Inn Tosu opens at the crossroads of Kyushu, where the Kyushu, Nagasaki and Oita expressways converge at Tosu Junction. The hotel is five minutes by car from JR Tosu Station and approximately 40 minutes from Fukuoka Airport, offering seamless connectivity to destinations across the island. Beyond its strategic location, Tosu is a city rich in history and character: guests can explore the ancient Nagasaki Kaido post road, discover lush natural landscapes, or visit the Tosu Premium Outlet, all within easy reach.

Each of the hotel’s 127 modern guestrooms and suites offer thoughtful design and amenities, with flexible configurations for families and solo travellers, including single, twin and suite options.

Mr. Hiroyuki Eguchi, General Manager of ANA Holiday Inn Tosu, said: “Opening as the first international full-service hotel in Tosu City is a true privilege, and one we are deeply committed to honouring. Tosu sits at the centre of Kyushu’s network of roads and railways, and we see ourselves not just as a hotel but as a warm point of arrival for everyone setting out to explore this remarkable island.”

Apple Road is the name of the signature restaurant at each hotel, a dining destination featuring a variety of freshly sourced local and international dishes for daily buffet breakfast, as well as space for guests to unwind for lunch and dinner. Meetings & Events capabilities are also on offer for guests and locals, with each hotel featuring six flexible spaces accommodating up to 250 guests.

True to the brand’s global promise, kids aged 12 and under enjoy the Kids Stay & Eat Free program, providing great value and reliability for travelling families.

Both hotels join Holiday Inn’s growing global portfolio, reinforcing IHG’s continued commitment to expanding one of the world’s most trusted and recognised brands across new destinations in Japan and the Asia Pacific region. Following the brand’s recent debut in Sapporo and Karuizawa, the openings continue Holiday Inn’s more than 70-year legacy of bringing the joy of travel to guests around the world.

For reservations at ANA Holiday Inn Kobe Sanda, visit here.

For reservations at ANA Holiday Inn Tosu, visit here.

High res images can be downloaded here.

IHG Hotels & Resorts (tickers: LON:IHG for Ordinary Shares; NYSE: IHG for ADRs) is a global hospitality company, with a purpose to provide True Hospitality for Good.

With a family of 21 hotel brands and IHG One Rewards, one of the world’s largest hotel loyalty programmes with over 160 million members, IHG has more than one million rooms across 7,000 hotels in over 100 countries, and a development pipeline of a further 2,300 properties.

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Whether it’s with friends, family or coworkers, Holiday Inn makes it easy for travelers to be there together for any moment, big or small. With thousands of locations around the world, Holiday Inn hotels deliver memorable experiences for business and leisure travelers through warm and welcoming service, contemporary design that blends the familiar with the new, and a sense of comfort unique to the brand and its iconic green sign. At Holiday Inn hotels, guests can find amenities to help them stay connected while making memories that matter. The full-service restaurants where Kids Eat Free, convenient meeting facilities, bright swimming pools and flexible spaces that add up to exceptional value. For more information about the Holiday Inn brand, visit www.holidayinn.com or call 1-888-HOLIDAY. Find us on Facebook or Instagram.