Two New Holiday Inn Hotels Open in Kobe Sanda and Tosu
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Two New Holiday Inn Hotels Open in Kobe Sanda and Tosu

IHG expands its footprint in Japan with the opening of new Holiday Inn hotels in Kobe Sanda and Tosu, offering full-service stays for travelers.

Two New Holiday Inn Hotels Open in Kobe Sanda and Tosu

IHG has opened the ANA Holiday Inn Kobe Sanda and the ANA Holiday Inn Tosu in Japan. These openings mark the brand’s expansion into regional markets and represent the first international full-service Holiday Inn properties in these specific cities.

Expanding Mid-Scale Presence in Regional Japan

The addition of these new Holiday Inn hotels Japan locations provides mid-scale lodging options outside the primary Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto corridor. The first property, the ANA Holiday Inn Kobe Sanda, is in the Hyogo Prefecture. This area is a stop for people traveling between Osaka and western Japan. It also serves those visiting the Kobe Airport (UKB) area who do not want to stay in the central Kobe urban district.

The second property, the ANA Holiday Inn Tosu, is in the Saga Prefecture. This location is a base for travelers in the Kyushu region. It is particularly useful for people moving between Fukuoka and other major cities in southern Japan. Because these are the first international full-service hotels in these cities, they offer brand consistency. This is a notable change from the smaller regional towns in Japan where most accommodations are locally owned ryokans or small business hotels.

The ANA Partnership Context

A key feature of these new properties is the ANA branding. The “ANA Holiday Inn” designation indicates a partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline. While the specific terms of the alliance are not detailed in the announcement, this connection suggests integrated travel opportunities.

This partnership is important because it links air travel with land-based accommodations. Travelers booking flights through ANA may find these hotels to be a natural extension of their journey. This branding also provides a sense of familiarity for domestic travelers who frequently use ANA services. By aligning with a major national carrier, IHG positions these hotels as a primary choice for the airline’s passenger base in these regional hubs.

Full-Service vs. Express: What to Expect

There is a major difference between these new locations and the Holiday Inn Express model. The shift to “full-service” means these hotels provide more amenities than the streamlined Express properties.

Holiday Inn Express hotels focus on efficiency. They typically offer limited food and beverage options, such as a quick breakfast, and they do not have on-site restaurants. In contrast, these new full-service locations are designed for a more complete stay. Guests can expect on-site dining options, such as a dedicated restaurant, and more comprehensive service from hotel staff. This makes these hotels a practical option for leisure travelers who want to eat on-property or those who require more formal service during their stay. They also likely include expanded facilities for meetings or social gatherings, which are standard in full-service models but absent in Express locations.

Regional Access and Transportation

Both hotels are located to facilitate regional travel. In Kobe Sanda, the hotel provides access to the Hyogo Prefecture’s industrial and residential zones. It is reachable via major regional road networks, including the Hanshin Expressway, which connects the area to the broader Kansai region. This makes it an accessible choice for business travelers or families exploring the outskirts of Kobe.

Tosu is a significant transit point in Kyushu. The city is a junction for several major highways and rail lines that connect Fukuoka to Kumamoto and Nagasaki. Because of this, the ANA Holiday Inn Tosu is well-positioned for travelers who are driving or taking trains through the Saga Prefecture. Its location allows guests to move between major Kyushu cities without the need to stay in the more crowded centers of Fukuoka.

Maximizing IHG One Rewards in Regional Japan

These properties are useful for travelers who use the IHG One Rewards program. Guests earn and redeem points at both the Kobe Sanda and Tosu locations. The value of these points is typically 0.5 to 0.6 cents per point.

If you use an IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, you can use points to pay for stays or use the program’s certificate mechanics. A major benefit of the IHG ecosystem is the ability to perform unlimited point top-offs on Free Night Certificates. This is a distinct advantage over Marriott Bonvoy, which caps top-offs at 25,000 points. If your certificate is short of the required amount for a high-value stay, you can add as many points as needed to bridge the gap.

Another benefit is the 4th night free reward on award stays. This is a better value than the 5th night free models used by Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy. For a traveler staying a week in the Kyushu or Hyogo regions, using points for four nights at these new hotels reduces the average nightly cost. Additionally, Chase Ultimate Rewards holders can transfer points to IHG at a 1:1 ratio. This is a direct way to fund stays at these new Japanese locations.

Predictable Stays in Emerging Japanese Hubs

These new openings provide predictable, mid-scale international standards in regional Japan. While they do not compete with luxury brands like InterContinental, they offer a reliable alternative to the inconsistent service sometimes found in small regional business hotels. If you are traveling to Saga or the outskirts of Kobe, these hotels are practical options due to their brand reliability and the ability to use IHG One Rewards certificates efficiently.

Learn more in our Guide to IHG One Rewards.

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