Plans have just been announced for yet another Park Hyatt location, and it’s one I’m very excited about. However, we’ll have to be very patient…
In this post:
Park Hyatt Sapporo opening 2029
Hyatt has entered into a management agreement with Heiwa Real Estate Co. Ltd., for the opening of the Park Hyatt Sapporo in 2029. The 157-key property will feature culinary and wellness experiences, an indoor swimming pool, and space for meetings and events.
The hotel will be located in a mixed-user tower, at the intersection of the Odori Park and the Sapporo Ekimae-dori, the city’s main commercial and business thoroughfare. The hotel will be located on levels 27 through 35, so it should feature great views of the park and city (it’s so nice to see a development where the hotel is on the top floors of the building, rather than on the bottom floors).
Sapporo is the economic and cultural center of the Hokkaido Prefecture in northern Japan. It’s the fifth largest city in Japan, and accessible from Tokyo via a 90-minute flight.
This will be the fourth Park Hyatt property in Japan, after the Park Hyatt Kyoto, Park Hyatt Niseko, and Park Hyatt Tokyo. Of particular note, this hotel will be located not far from the Park Hyatt Niseko, which is in Hokkaido’s most high-end ski resort area.
I’m excited about this Park Hyatt, sort of!
I adore Japan. It’s probably my favorite place in the world to visit, so I’m always excited when there are new luxury points hotels to stay at. In particular, it’s nice to see the amount of international hotel growth we’ve seen in recent years, beyond just Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto.
This will represent a new hotel standard in Sapporo. It’s not just that the city lacks luxury hotels, but it has almost no presence from international hotel groups, aside from a few limited service properties from Marriott.
Now, while I’m looking forward to this hotel opening, unfortunately we’re going to have to be really patient, since best case scenario, this hotel is five years from welcoming its first guests. When hotels are announced this far out, I really think it’s 50/50 as to whether something like this opens, especially within a reasonable timeframe.
Projects sometimes get scrapped when there are changes in economic conditions (then again, right now Japan’s economic situation is pretty bad to begin with). On top of that, so often we see hotel owners change the branding of properties before a hotel actually opens.
So I do hope this becomes a Park Hyatt, because the brand has a great presence in Japan. That being said, I think it’s pretty likely that this property actually opens in 2030 or beyond, since rarely do projects like this run on schedule… even in a place that values punctuality as much as Japan.
Bottom line
A 157-room Park Hyatt is coming to Sapporo, which is Japan’s fifth largest city. The hotel will be located at the top of a mixed-use building, so should have great views. This is an exciting addition to Hyatt’s portfolio, and I can’t wait to stay here if/when it opens.
What do you make of the Park Hyatt Sapporo?
I lived for a period in Sapporo in the early 2000’s. For Americans it’s actually a city that feels the most comfortable given it was designed by an American in the classic grid style with wide avenues. It’s a joy to walk around. With that it’s not one of the most beautiful or exciting cities in Japan. Yet it’s a great base for the rest of Hokkaido which is stunning. As well, in my opinion,...
I lived for a period in Sapporo in the early 2000’s. For Americans it’s actually a city that feels the most comfortable given it was designed by an American in the classic grid style with wide avenues. It’s a joy to walk around. With that it’s not one of the most beautiful or exciting cities in Japan. Yet it’s a great base for the rest of Hokkaido which is stunning. As well, in my opinion, the best food in the country. The ramen there is truly a religious experience.
"It has almost no presence from international hotel groups, aside from a few limited service properties from Marriott." Lucky please make a correction to the post. This is yet another example of your strong bias against IHG, which has two properties in Sapporo, including a Holiday Inn right in the center of town that I've stayed at. Yes, IHG used to be the weakest, but now it has far surpassed Marriott Bonvoy (I stay a...
"It has almost no presence from international hotel groups, aside from a few limited service properties from Marriott." Lucky please make a correction to the post. This is yet another example of your strong bias against IHG, which has two properties in Sapporo, including a Holiday Inn right in the center of town that I've stayed at. Yes, IHG used to be the weakest, but now it has far surpassed Marriott Bonvoy (I stay a ton with both chains) and should get some respect from bloggers. Just because it's not as lucrative Hyatt doesn't mean it should be ignored.
You’d think IHG loyalists would want travel bloggers to continue to overlook IHG… oh what I would give to be in the golden days of Hyatt Gold Passport before travel bloggers taught the whole world about it.
What would one even do for, say, 3 nights staying at a property like this
The opening ETA is timely--just before the completion of the Shinkansen (high-speed bullet train) extension to Sapporo in 2030.
Unfortunately the shinkansen extension is delayed :(
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/25/japan/hokkaido-shinkansen-plan-delay/
Oooof. Thanks for that update.
Also the Crowne Plaza and the Holiday Inn. The Holiday Inn has better location for us (entertainment area vs corporate and train station), many more Hokkaido items at the excellent breakfast, and windows open, so we stay there rather than Crowne Plaza on our annual visits. Our favorite city in Japan to visit. There is also a Mercure. Marriott just opened a Courtyard that has more service than the no complimentary breakfast for anyone Fairfield...
Also the Crowne Plaza and the Holiday Inn. The Holiday Inn has better location for us (entertainment area vs corporate and train station), many more Hokkaido items at the excellent breakfast, and windows open, so we stay there rather than Crowne Plaza on our annual visits. Our favorite city in Japan to visit. There is also a Mercure. Marriott just opened a Courtyard that has more service than the no complimentary breakfast for anyone Fairfield Inn. Choice also has a budget property.
Park Hyatt will bring the travel complainers, lounge squatters, and selfie takers. and probably high award prices, so I'll likely stick to Holiday Inn and the ideal location and onsen of Dormy Inn PREMIUM Sapporo and linked Dormy Inn Sapporo ANNEX.
Crowne Plaza in Chitose is convenient for the airport and itineraries that bypass going in to Sapporo.
"Park Hyatt will bring the travel complainers..." sounds like it already has, wow.
Any chance we will see a Park Hyatt Niseko review in the near future?
@ DC_Nomad -- I'm hoping to visit the property this winter. Fingers crossed!