Overview
A large-scale hotel development project, “Osaka Sakurajima Resort,” is now officially underway in the Sakurajima area of Konohana Ward, Osaka City, at a site adjacent to Universal Studios Japan (USJ). The project is being developed by a consortium led by Kajima Corporation and will be operated by IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel groups. The resort is planned as one of the largest tourism hubs in the Kansai region.
The project’s most distinctive feature is its unprecedented “triple-brand” configuration—the first of its kind in Japan—bringing together three different hotel brands within a single building: InterContinental, Kimpton, and Holiday Inn Resort. By integrating a luxury hotel, a lifestyle hotel, and a resort hotel into one structure, the development aims to comprehensively meet a wide range of accommodation needs, from high-end travelers to families and international visitors.
This project represents IHG’s largest new-build hotel development in Japan and is also expected to serve as an official Universal Studios Japan hotel. In conjunction with broader urban and tourism initiatives in the Kansai region—such as the Osaka-Kansai Expo and the Integrated Resort (IR) development—the project is positioned as a long-term investment aimed at enhancing the area’s overall value.
Key Highlights
- A large-scale resort hotel development located next to Universal Studios Japan, one of Japan’s premier tourist destinations.
- Japan’s first triple-brand hotel, integrating InterContinental, Kimpton, and Holiday Inn Resort within a single building.
- A total of 817 guest rooms planned, accommodating diverse demand from luxury travelers to families and group guests.
- Positioned as IHG Hotels & Resorts’ largest new-build hotel project in Japan.
- Designed not only as a base for USJ visitors, but also as a core facility supporting tourism circulation across the wider Kansai Bay Area.
Surrounding Area
The Sakurajima area of Konohana Ward, Osaka City—where the project is being developed—serves as the gateway to Universal Studios Japan and attracts large numbers of visitors from Japan and abroad. While adjacent to the theme park, the site also features a waterfront setting along the Ajigawa River, offering a rare combination of urban tourism and resort-like atmosphere.
Major developments are underway in the surrounding area, including the Osaka Integrated Resort project, large-scale redevelopment on Yumeshima Island, and upgrades to transportation infrastructure such as railways and roads. Against this backdrop, Konohana Ward is expected to strengthen its role as an international tourism destination, with this project positioned as a core accommodation facility within the broader urban transformation.
As the resort is planned to operate as an official USJ hotel, it is expected not only to enhance convenience for theme park visitors but also to generate broader economic benefits, such as longer visitor stays and increased local spending.
Access
- Location: 1-506 and 1-507 Sakurajima, Konohana Ward, Osaka City (planned)
- Approximately a 6-minute walk from Universal City Station on the JR Yumesaki Line.
- Approximately 20 minutes from JR Osaka Station, providing convenient access from central Osaka.
- Access from Itami Airport and Kansai International Airport is also anticipated, accommodating both domestic and international travelers.
