Accor has signed a management agreement with Kokyo Asset Management Group in partnership with PGIM Real Estate, for a new Novotel in Nara, Japan.

Scheduled to open in Q3 of 2024, Novotel Nara will invite guests to fully immerse themselves in a multi-sensory experience, with the local scents, sounds, sights and tastes of Nara.

Ideal for both business and leisure, the hotel will feature 264 beautifully-designed guestrooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant, four versatile function spaces, a wellness area and a premium lounge on the top floor with an expansive outdoor terrace and bar, offering beautiful views of Nara.

The wellness area located on the 2nd floor will include a wellness lounge, fitness center and luxurious communal indoor baths, where guests will be able to unwind after a long day of sightseeing.

Located 45-minutes south of Kyoto, Nara is known for its rich collection of traditional sites including some of the country’s best temples and shrines, gardens and museums. Must-visit sites include the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at Todai-ji Temple, the world’s largest wooden structure and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the beautiful Kasuga-Taisha Shrine and Nara-koen Park, a sacred deer sanctuary.

Additionally, the property is conveniently located at just a 3-minute walk from Nara Prefectural Convention Center, which houses Nara Prefecture’s largest convention hall, 14 conference rooms and indoor and outdoor multi-purpose spaces, making it the ideal venue for large international conferences, exhibitions and seminars.

“We are delighted to sign our second Novotel property in Japan and the first in the beautiful city of Nara. The partnership with Kokyo Asset Management and PGIM Real Estate is an important step for Accor and we are confident Novotel Nara will become a gathering place, attracting visitors as well as the local community,” said Garth Simmons, Chief Executive Officer for Accor’s Premium, Midscale & Economy Division in Asia.

Accor currently operates 20 properties (4,950 keys) in Japan, across several brands including Pullman, Swissôtel, Mercure, Novotel, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis Budget with 6 more properties (1,282 keys) in the pipeline.