As the number of visitors to Japan continues to grow, there is a segment of travellers who are looking for something different – a property to satisfy their senses of curiosity and creativity that delivers a memorable experience of a destination. 

Looking to meet this need, IHGA Hotels Group Japan, the joint venture between InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) and ANA, signed an agreement with GHS K.K. and Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. to launch IHG’s popular boutique brand Hotel Indigo® in Japan. 

The first property Hotel Indigo® Hakone Gora is scheduled to open in 2019, and will be a place where guests and locals alike can gather and enjoy the rich culture and history of Gora, with its famous, pastel coloured hot springs surrounded by majestic, green mountains and the charms of nature that change with the seasons. 

The Hotel Indigo brand is built around the authentic local neighbourhood story concept, so Gora is the ideal location for the first Hotel Indigo in Japan. The hot springs of Hakone first opened in the Nara period, approximately 1,200 years ago, and has been frequented by countless travellers and prominent figures from around the world who come to relax and treat themselves in its soothing waters. 

Hans Heijligers, Chief Executive Officer, IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan comments: “We are very excited to bring Hotel Indigo to Japan. One of Japan’s leading hot spring destinations, Hakone really is the perfect first location: with its stunning beauty around scenic Lake Ashi and its captivating history and museums, it exudes a local story which is what Hotel Indigo is all about. Just 90 minutes from the heart of Tokyo, Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora will add a new dimension to the neighbourhood that will resonate with Japanese and international travellers alike.”

As the world’s first branded boutique hotel, every Hotel Indigo property is unique, and the local neighbourhood is reflected in the architecture and design, choice of artwork and the restaurant menus, adding up to an intimate boutique hotel experience with the international standards, consistency and personal service promised by a leading global hotel company.

Satoru Kondo, President of GHS, K.K., which has leased the property from Daiwa House and engaged IHG ANA to manage the Hotel, added: “More and more visitors are exploring Japan, attracted by the country’s wealth of tourism assets. One of travellers’ favourites is the hot spring, and we saw an opportunity for a new hot spring accommodation in Hakone Gora, which also has a reputation for breathtaking nature, history and culture. We feel Hotel Indigo is the perfect match, with its commitment to giving guests a genuine, local experience.

We are proud to team up with IHG ANA to host Japan’s first Hotel Indigo, and our confidence is underscored by the success and close relationship we have built together with IHG ANA at its other hotel locations throughout Japan, such as ANA Crown Plaza Osaka.”

There are currently 80 Hotel Indigo properties worldwide, with an additional 83 properties in the pipeline including Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora. The total number of rooms opened and signed is 21,505.

When Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora opens in 2019, it will be 10 minutes’ walk from Gora terminus on the Hakone Tozan Train, or two minutes’ walk from Miyaginobashi bus stop on the Hakone Tozan Bus. The hotel will host approximately 100 guestrooms and suites, each with an open air onsen (natural hot spring) tub on the balcony, or an onsen tub with a view. The property will also have a restaurant “Neighbourhood café”, bar, spa treatment rooms and health club.

IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan currently has 33 hotels operating under five brands in Japan: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Resort and ANA Hotels International.

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