Marriott has unveiled plans to expand its
current portfolio of 22 Fairfield properties in Japan with a
further seven scheduled to open this year alone.
The new Fairfield by Marriott hotels will be
located along national roadside rest areas in the prefectures of
Hyogo, Kagoshima, Okayama, Saga, Kumamoto and Fukuoka in the
southern region of Japan.
The brand’s ‘Michi-no-Eki’ project aims to
facilitate access to many of Japan’s off-the-beaten-path
attractions, offering a comforting hotel experience along the
country’s expressways.
“We are thrilled to expand the brand in Asia with
seven new Fairfield hotels expected to open in Japan this year,”
said Diane Mayer, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, Classic
Select Brands, Marriott International. “Fairfield is celebrated
with a unique legacy in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio and we look
forward to delivering the promise of warm hospitality and inviting
experiences for guests who are discovering up-and-coming
destinations across Japan.”
The brand was
inspired by the Fairfield Farm at the Blue Ridge Mountains of
Virginia in the US, an area known for its outstanding natural beauty. Guestrooms range in size from 21 to
25 square meters and feature complimentary Wi-Fi and a
space-saving shower booth.
The seven new Fairfield by Marriott hotels in
Japan, scheduled to open in 2023, are:
Fairfield by Marriott Hyogo Tajima Yabu (88 rooms,
opened 24 January 2023)
Fairfield by Marriott Hyogo Tajima Yabu is located
next to Michi-no-Eki Yoka Tajimanokura in Yabu city, in Japan’s
southwestern Hyogo Prefecture. The area is home to the picturesque
rice fields of Bekku no Tanada and the beautiful Tendaki Falls,
set against the backdrop of the highest mountain in Hyogo, Mount
Hyonosen. The mountainous countryside is full of natural scenery
with flowing rivers in the summer and snowy landscapes in the
winter, a must-visit for outdoor enthusiasts.
Fairfield by Marriott Hyogo Awaji Higashiura (87
rooms, expected opening summer 2023)
Fairfield by Marriott Hyogo Awaji Higashiura is
located at the charming Awaji Island, connected to the main island
of Honshu by the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, one of the longest
suspension bridges in the world. Visitors can also enjoy one of
Japan’s best beaches, Ura Kenmin Sun Beach, as well as the
picturesque Awaji Hanasajiki Park where there are sweeping fields
of flowers against the backdrop of Osaka Bay.
Fairfield by Marriott Kagoshima Tarumizu (95
rooms, expected opening spring 2023)
The new hotel will be located at Tarumizu city in
Kagoshima at the southernmost part of Kyushu Island. Kagoshima
city is known as “Naples of the East” for its location on a bay
facing the famous Sakurajima volcano. Nearby is also Tarumizu
Marine Park, where guests can enjoy watersports activities in
Kinko Bay’s warm subtropical waters. Adventurous travelers can
also try canyoning in Sarugajo Gorge. Accessible by ferry from
Kagoshima is the island of Yakushima, where the ancient cedar
forests and natural landscapes inspired the Studio Ghibli animated
film ‘Princess Mononoke.’
Fairfield by Marriott Okayama Tsuyama (78 rooms,
expected opening spring 2023)
Located in Okayama, Tsuyama is a town full of
history and culture known for the 17th century Tsuyama Castle, one
of Japan’s three historic hilltop-style castles. Guests staying at
Fairfield by Marriott Okayama Tsuyama can catch Tsuyama’s annual
Cherry Blossom Festival every spring in Kakuzan Park, home to
about 5,000 cherry blossom trees. Other lively festivals
throughout the year include the Gongo Festival, Tsuyama Autumn
Festival and Old Izumo Street Festival, where local residents wear
traditional costumes and put on theater shows. Okayama is famous
for its high number of sunny days and abundance of sweet fruit
produced in the region.
Fairfield by Marriott Saga Ureshino Onsen (84
rooms, expected opening summer 2023)
Fairfield by Marriott Saga Ureshino Onsen will
welcome guests to Ureshino Onsen, a hot spring town in the
southwestern Saga Prefecture. Its natural hot spring onsens and
bathhouses invite visitors to relax and unwind in soothing
alkaline waters. The hot spring water is also used to make
delicious local specialties such as hot tofu, and for preparing
green teas. Travelers can also visit Hizen Yumekaido Ninja Village
theme park and the 17th-century Yutoku Inari Shrine. The hotel is
accessible by the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen bullet
train, which began service in September 2022.
Fairfield by Marriott Fukuoka Ukiha (51 rooms,
expected opening summer 2023)
Fairfield by Marriott Fukuoka Ukiha is located
close to Chikugo Plain, an important farming region in Japan. The
rural landscapes are home to rice fields and fruit farms, along
with ancient ruins, temples, castles, sake breweries and hot
spring onsens. In Ukiha, guests can pick fruits and sample sweets
and desserts made with locally grown fruit. Another must-visit in
the area is the Ukiha Inari Shrine at the foot of the Mino
mountain range. Walk through 90 stunning vermilion torii gates
that lead a path to the shrine.
Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto Aso (93 rooms,
expected opening autumn 2023)
The hotel will be located at Kumamoto of southern
Japan in the city of Aso, nestled within one of the world’s
largest volcanic calderas. The area is part of a fabulous
landscape of mountains and valleys, with breathtaking sights of
the Aso-Nakadake crater and its dynamic volcanic plumes, as well
as the Kusasenri-ga-hama plain. The area offers activities to
immerse with the natural landscapes, including hot air ballooning,
canoeing and horse riding. Guests can also take a ride up the
Mount Aso by car and visit Aso Shrine, one of the oldest shrines
in Japan.
“The Fairfield by Marriott Michi-no-Eki project is
aimed at creating a footprint of hotels that stretch from Japan’s
snowy northernmost regions to its southern prefectures, where
travelers can stop and get a good night’s rest as they explore the
many historical and cultural attractions, culinary experiences,
and natural sites across each region,” said Masahiro Taguchi,
Project Director of Fairfield by Marriott’s Michi-no-Eki
portfolio. “Guests can look forward to a pleasant and effortless
experience every time they check in at a Fairfield hotel.”
