A luxury hotel run by Marriott International Inc. will open in the spring of 2020 in the ancient city of Nara, according to real estate developer Mori Trust Co.
The JW Marriott Hotel Nara will be the first foreign luxury hotel in Nara Prefecture, known for the world heritage sites of Todaiji Temple and Heijo Palace as well as Nara Park.
Mori Trust will build the seven-story hotel in an area near the Nara Municipal Office after acquiring the land for around ¥480 million ($4.2 million).
The 150-room hotel will have floor space of around 15,000 square meters and be built on a site of around 4,000 square meters.
"This is an important project for the development of the sightseeing industry," Mori Trust President Akira Mori said at a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday.
"The development of accommodation facilities (in Nara) has been slow, but once the high-ranked hotel is built, visitors will be able to enjoy the culture of Nara," said Nara Gov. Shogo Arai.
A convention center, multipurpose outdoor park, bus terminal and other facilities are also set to be built in the area to serve as a hub for tourism.