Photo/Illutration An artist’s rendition of a possible Marriott hotel in Tottori (Provided by Institute of New Architecture Inc.)

TOTTORI—The Sanin region’s first five-star resort hotel, expected to open in 2026, will offer views of the Sea of Japan behind the Tottori Sand Dunes from all guest rooms, project planners said.

U.S.-based hotel giant Marriott International Inc., Tottori city and a group of developers have reached an agreement to set up the luxury hotel near the Tottori Sand Dunes.

Details were revealed at a news conference on Oct. 30 at the municipality’s office.

Marriott and dhp Urban Development in Osaka, which heads the developer group, said the four-story building will have 100 to 110 guest rooms.

The first floor will be at a semi-basement level, while the top floor will feature a spa and a swimming pool.

Meals using mainly local ingredients will be served there.

Room charges will range from 60,000 yen ($396) to 100,000 yen per night.

Construction costs are estimated at around 15 billion yen, and 180 or so residents are expected to be employed as hotel staff.

Tottori city is considering covering some of the expenses as part of its efforts to revitalize the local economy and tourism.

“We will be taking advantage of the subsidy system and the financing mechanism, with the aim of extending as much support as possible,” Tottori Mayor Yoshihiko Fukazawa said at an Oct. 27 news conference.

The hotel, as yet unnamed, will operate under Marriott’s upscale Luxury Collection line.

Construction will start next spring at an 18,000-square-meter site on the west side of the sand dunes in Tottori’s Hamasaka district. The Chubu Tottori Sakyu Kodomonokuni amusement park sits nearby.

The land was formerly owned by Tottori city.

During the Oct. 30 news conference, Karl Hudson, a Marriott area vice president responsible for Japan and Guam, said Japan is crucial for the hotel operator because it is the most preferred tourist destination in the Asia-Pacific region.

Data presented by Hudson showed 40 percent of foreign travelers would like to stay in Tottori and other rural areas on their second visits to Japan.

He said the new Marriott hotel will cater mainly to non-Japanese guests, who are projected to stay 2.0 to 2.2 nights on average. He added that the warm hospitality of locals will motivate tourists to return there.

Hudson said the shining smiles of people in Tottori city is something that cannot be found in major cities.

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