Marriott International, Inc., has announced the signing of 12 Fairfield by Marriott hotels across five prefectures in Japan – Kyoto, Wakayama, Mie, Gifu and Tochigi – in a long-standing collaboration with Japanese real estate developer, Sekisui House; in total, an anticipated 15 hotels will be signed by next year. All properties are expected to open by 2021, with the first dozen hotels scheduled to open in late 2020. All properties are expected to open by 2021, with the first dozen hotels scheduled to open in late 2020.
The upcoming Fairfield by Marriott hotels will be situated in convenient locations near popular roadside rest stations called “Michi-no-Eki” in Japan. The Michi-no-Eki system was launched 20 years ago by the Japanese government to create a safe and comfortable roadside stop-over for road trip travelers, which also feature unique attributes of each region.
There are currently more than 1,000 stations along popular motorways that provide convenient services for travelers, including locally-inspired dining venues, farm-fresh produce and traditional handicrafts. Many rest stops also have a tourist information center that guide visitors to nearby attractions, since many Michi-no-Eki stations are located near national parks and historic UNESCO World Heritage Sites.