Hilton Hotels is to add another Hilton branded hotel to its portfolio in Japan, with the signing of the upcoming Hilton Takayama Resort.

The property will be born from the rebranding of an existing hotel, the Hotel Associa Takayama Resort, which is located in the tourist destination of Takayama, not far north of Nagoya in Gifu Prefecture. The international flag will be a welcoming beacon for visitors to Takayama, known for its traditional streets, and its offering of local food, drink and crafts.

Working with a Japanese partner

The hotel is currently owned and operated by affiliates of the Central Japan Railway Company. The plans are for the same operator, JR Tokay Hotels Co, to continue to manage the property, under its new branding.

A renovation of the hotel will be led by the Hashimoto Yukio Design Studio, with designs inspired by local nature and landscapes. Alongside a subtle alignment with Hilton brand standards, the 238 room hotel will also have new rooms added, with larger suites complementing the existing standard rooms.

There will also be a new executive lounge created, a welcoming haven for Diamond members of the Hilton Honors loyalty programme. And, in line with other Hilton hotels, a state of the art fitness centre will be added.

The hotel joins a growing pipeline of Hilton hotel developments in Japan. In April 2025, the group launched its luxury Waldorf Astoria brand in the country, with the opening of Waldorf Astoria Osaka. The 252 room hotel occupies the top floors of a skyscraper in the city’s Umekita district. Aside from the usual amenities of a luxury branded hotel, it also has a chapel, ideal for ceremonies.

The same month, Hilton signed its third Canopy by Hilton branded hotel in the country. The Canopy by Hilton Tokyo Akasaka will be part of a mixed use development planned for a site adjacent to Tokyo Metro’s Akasaka station. The 174 room property will occupy the seventh to eighteenth floors of a new tower, opening in 2028.

Joining that first Waldorf Astoria, there will soon be a second hotel under the brand in Japan, as Hilton works to grow its luxury hotel brands in the country. Waldorf Astoria Tokyo Nihonbashi is under construction, and will feature 197 rooms in a new build tower expected to complete in the second half of 2026.

Hilton’s growing luxury presence in Japan

Also coming are hotels under Hilton’s Conrad and LXR luxury brands. Conrad Nagoya will be another skyscraper hotel, opening in late 2026. Interiors will feature the craftsmanship that the Aichi Prefecture is famous for, with 170 guest rooms, four restaurants and a 180 capacity ballroom.

Still at the planning stage is LXR Miyajimaguchi, a 60 room hotel that will feature great ocean views from its guest rooms. Close to railway connections, and the ferry terminal, the hotel will be an ideal stopping off point for those visiting shrines on the island of Miyajima.