IHG Hotels & Resorts announced an agreement with AXA Life Insurance Company to open InterContinental Sapporo in late 2025. InterContinental Sapporo will be IHG’s fifth hotel in Hokkaido, its first luxury hotel In Sapporo and its eleventh InterContinental-branded hotel in Japan.
InterContinental Sapporo will debut on the upper floors (9th to 14th floors) of a new building in the “AXA Sapporo Nakajima Park Project”, which was announced today by AXA. Alongside the hotel’s two dining venues, lounge, bar, function room, indoor pool and gym, the hotel will feature 149 spacious guest rooms that range from a spacious 42 square metre lead-in room all the way up to a 159 square metre suite.
The hotel will feature a high-end, residence-like offering, with color coordination reminiscent of the nature of Hokkaido. With floor-to-ceiling windows that afford views of Nakajima Park and Toyohira River, guests will experience the rich nature of Sapporo from the comfort of their room.
The hotel’s public space will include areas that bring different natural expressions to life: the front lobby with a water feature, the library lounge with a fireplace, and the lounge area surrounded by lush greenery.
Its food and beverage offering includes an all-day dining space that overlooks the Toyohira River, a show kitchen filled with vibrant ambience, and a kappo-style Japanese restaurant with counter seats where guests can enjoy some culinary theatre by the chefs. At the heart of the space is a comfortable lounge and bar where guests can enjoy tea time or evening cocktails, in a space that provides an authentic experiences through its forest theme and contemporary art.
Sapporo is a popular tourist destination that balances Hokkaido’s rich nature with the charm of the city. It is renowned for its beautiful seasonal scenery, food experiences, fresh seafood, and abundant events such as the “Sapporo Snow Festival”. InterContinental Sapporo will be the first international luxury hotel in Sapporo City, and it is expected that the power of the world’s largest luxury hotel brand will attract guests from Japan and overseas.
IHG Hotels & Resorts Japan & Micronesia Managing Director and CEO of IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan, Abhijay Sandilya said, “I am honored that AXA Life Insurance Company will introduce IHG’s flagship InterContinental brand to Hokkaido with the opening of InterContinental Sapporo. As the world’s largest luxury hotel brand, and one with a strong presence and heritage in Japan, we are confident that the InterContinental brand will attract both domestic and international tourists as it debuts in Sapporo as the first international luxury hotel in Sapporo City. Its prime location in Nakajima Park area, we expect it to quickly become a favourite destination for business, leisure and MICE tourists to the city.”
Seiji Yasubuchi , President and CEO of AXA Life Insurance Company said, “I am very happy that IHG Hotels & Resorts has partnered with us to operate its luxury hotel brand in the AXA Sapporo Nakajima Park Project, which will create the future of Sapporo City, Hokkaido, by introducing “InterContinental Sapporo” to debut as the first international luxury brand in Sapporo. We strongly hope that Nakajima Park with rich in nature and depth history will play a role in the development of the city by working together as a new landmark of Sapporo that brings bustle, hospitality, and well-being. ”
In Japan, IHG Hotels & Resorts operates 44 hotels under six brands: InterContinental, Kimpton, ANA Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Hotel Indigo. Eight more hotels are scheduled to open in the future, including Regent Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spa, voco Hotels and the Vignette Collection. IHG will continue to focus on business development in Japan and aim to further expand its portfolio.
