The Fairfield by Marriott ‘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 and the latest openings unlock access to picturesque volcanic landscapes and historic gems of Japan’s southern regions…
Fairmont by Marriott has announced that it will open seven new properties by the end of the year. The anticipated openings will swell the ranks of the existing portfolio of 22 Fairfield by Marriott properties in Japan. The new 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, where travellers can discover hidden cultural and historical gems.
“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.”
Fairfield by Marriott was created on the principles of warmth, comfort and simplicity. The brand was inspired by the Fairfield Farm at the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia in the U.S. for its breath-taking natural sights and sounds, a restorative place that represents simplicity, balance and a comfortable way of life. The calm aesthetics, warm colour palettes and straightforward design philosophy uses a combination of natural materials and tones to represent the connection between the outdoors and indoors, paying tribute to the brand’s origins in the Fairfield Farm. Guestrooms range in size from 21 to 25 square metres and feature complimentary Wi-Fi and a space-saving shower booth.
Image credit: Marriott International
“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 travellers 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.”
The first to complete in this pipeline, Fairfield by Marriott Hyogo Tajima Yabu shelters 88 guestrooms and 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.
Fairfield by Marriott Hyogo Awaji Higashiura, with 87 guestrooms is slated to open in the summer, is located at the charming Awaji Islandwhic is 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.
Fairfield by Marriott Kagoshima Tarumizu with 95 guestrooms, will be in 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. 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.’
A further 78 guestrooms will be developed in Fairfield by Marriott Okayama Tsuyama, with an opening expected in Q2 of this year. 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 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.
Fairfield by Marriott Saga Ureshino Onsen will welcome guests to Ureshino Onsen, adding 84 guestrooms to the portfolio 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 waters is also used to make delicious local specialties such as hot tofu, and for preparing green teas.
Fairfield by Marriott Fukuoka Ukiha, with 51 guestrooms, will be 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.
Finally, scheduled to open in Q3, Fairfield by Marriott Kumamoto Aso will complete the portfolio, offering an additional 93 guestrooms, located at Kumamoto of southern Japan in the city of Aso 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.
Main image credit: Marriott International
