Marriott Is Moving In Next To Mount Fuji

Above, a view of Mount Fuji from the shinkansen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since foreign tourism to Japan has been surging for the past several years, the strain on existing accommodations has been noticeable.

However, there's good news as Marriott International is expanding its presence in Japan.

Nikkei Asian Review reported:

TOKYO -- Marriott International is expanding in Japan, targeting tourist destinations where global hotel chains are few and far between. 

     The U.S. company on Monday said it plans to open five hotels in Japan under its flagship Marriott Hotels brand -- all of them in rural locations. It has struck a franchising deal with Japan's Mori Trust Hotels & Resorts, which will renovate five existing facilities and rebrand them.  

     One is by Lake Yamanaka, at the foot of Mount Fuji. Another is near Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, not far from Kyoto. The remaining three locations are Karuizawa, a summer resort close to Tokyo; Shuzenji, a hot spring spot near the capital; and Nanki-Shirahama, a hot spring and beach resort near Osaka. Japanese hospitality companies dominate the accommodation markets in these places, which have been popular with domestic tourists for years.

Although Marriott International is taking over existing hotels, if the projects prove successful, they are sure to build more hotels in Japan.

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