Royal Minor Hotels Co., Ltd. (Royal Minor) – a joint venture between Royal Holdings Co., Ltd. and Minor Hotels – proudly announces the first management contract signing of an Anantara project in Japan, partnering with List Development Co., Ltd. (LD) to develop Anantara Karuizawa Retreat. Slated to open in 2030, the new-build Anantara property will feature 51 keys, comprising suites and branded residences, on a serene 10-acre forested site facing Mount Asama in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Anantara Karuizawa Retreat will harness the region’s year-round natural beauty and connectivity to offer travellers nature-led escapes. The property’s strategic location near the Karuizawa Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train) Station provides convenient access from Tokyo, which is just over an hour away by train, as well as from nearby cities such as Nagano, Kanazawa and Maebashi. Karuizawa is a favoured weekend escape getaway, renowned for its cool climate in the summer and abundant year-round outdoor attractions, including the Karuizawa Kazakoshi Park, golf courses, forests, hiking trails, hot springs and skiing. The destination’s international appeal is on the rise, especially among Asian travellers, and it is within two to three hours by train from Tokyo’s Haneda and Narita international airports.
Anantara Karuizawa Retreat will provide its guests with highly personalised service and exclusive accommodations, offering 23 suites measuring 60 to 120 sqm and 18 luxury two- and three-bedroom villas, which are being considered for future branded residence offerings, with further details to be announced as plans progress, ranging in size from 70 to 270 sqm. The villas will provide an additional 28 keys to the hotel’s inventory, with select two-bedroom villas available as 70 sqm standard and 130 sqm one-bedroom villas, bringing the total key count to 51. Guests will enjoy three on-site food and beverage outlets, including an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty concept and a bar. Wellness will be a fundamental part of the resort’s offering, centred around an Anantara Spa and onsen, and with additional wellness programming across the property. Other leisure facilities will include a swimming pool, fitness centre, library and resident’s lounge. Additionally, the property will offer flexible meeting facilities to meet the growing demand for corporate gatherings in the region. The design of Anantara Karuizawa is anticipated to blend modern design with the site’s natural surroundings, utilising natural materials such as exposed timber peaks and large windows to create harmony with the environment and offer sweeping views of Mount Asama.
Royal Minor and LD held a signing ceremony of the HMA at the Tokyo American Club on 10 July 2025. Mr. Naoyuki Kitami, President and CEO of List Co., Ltd., and Mr. William E. Heinecke, Chairman and Founder of Minor International, the parent company of Minor Hotels, took the stage to speak about the agreement and its significance for both organisations. During the ceremony, Mr. Hiroyuki Kiuchi, President and COO of List Development Co., Ltd., and Mr. Kohei Motoyama, President and Representative Director of Royal Minor Hotels Co., Ltd., signed the agreement and officially announced the partnership.
The HMA signing of Anantara Karuizawa Retreat is the first signing following the establishment of the Royal Minor Hotels Co., Ltd. partnership in March 2025. Royal Minor plans to partner with leading Japanese real estate developers to operate hotels under three of Minor Hotels’ globally recognised brands – Anantara, Tivoli and Avani – and open 21 hotels in Japan by 2035.
Anantara Karuizawa Retreat
Karuizawa, Japan
