SAPPORO, Japan — IHG Hotels & Resorts has expanded its Holiday Inn Express footprint in Japan with the opening of Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino, marking the brand's first hotel in Hokkaido and its second Holiday Inn Express property in the country. The 223-room hotel also introduces the Holiday Inn Express Generation 5 (Gen 5) design concept to Japan for the first time, combining the brand's latest operational and guest experience model with a location in Sapporo's busiest commercial and entertainment district.
The opening strengthens IHG Hotels & Resorts' presence in one of Japan's most visited urban destinations while extending the Holiday Inn Express brand into Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. According to IHG Hotels & Resorts, the property is positioned in Susukino, a district known for its concentration of dining, nightlife, and commercial activity, placing the hotel within walking distance of major transportation links and city attractions.
Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino is located in the center of Susukino, the largest entertainment district in northern Japan. The hotel sits approximately five minutes on foot from Susukino Subway Station, providing access to the wider city. Nearby destinations include Odori Park, the Sapporo Clock Tower, and Nijo Market, while Sapporo also serves as a gateway to travel across Hokkaido throughout the year.
For IHG Hotels & Resorts, the opening represents another step in expanding the Holiday Inn Express brand in Japan. As the second Holiday Inn Express property in the country, the hotel extends the brand into a new regional market while supporting its presence in destinations that attract both business and leisure travel.
Kotake Seiichi, General Manager of Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino, said the property has been established in the center of one of Sapporo's most active districts, serving travelers visiting the city for business, exploration, and its well-known dining scene. He added that the hotel is designed to provide a smart and comfortable place for guests to rest during their stay.
A key element of the opening is the introduction of the Holiday Inn Express Generation 5 design concept to Japan. Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino becomes the first property in the country to implement the latest brand design, which has been developed around evolving travel patterns and operational functionality.
The Gen 5 concept focuses on flexible public spaces that accommodate different guest activities throughout the day. At the center of the design is the Express Café, intended as a shared environment where guests can gather, work, or relax while also serving the brand's complimentary Express Start Breakfast each morning.
IHG Hotels & Resorts describes the Generation 5 concept as reflecting the Holiday Inn Express brand's emphasis on smart simplicity, combining practical comfort, connectivity, and essential services in a streamlined operating model. The design is intended to provide the facilities travelers regularly use while maintaining an efficient guest experience.
The hotel offers 223 guestrooms equipped with the core amenities associated with the Holiday Inn Express brand. Rooms have been designed to support both restful overnight stays and productive business travel, aligning with the property's positioning in one of Sapporo's most active commercial districts.
Guests also have access to complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, enabling connectivity across guestrooms and public areas. The property additionally provides a fitness center and self-service guest laundry facilities, supporting travelers on both short and extended stays.
The Express Café serves the complimentary Express Start Breakfast daily, continuing one of the brand's standard offerings across its global portfolio. By integrating the café into the Generation 5 design concept, the hotel combines dining, social interaction, and shared workspace within a single central area.
The property's location provides direct access to Susukino's extensive concentration of restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues, including the well-known Susukino Intersection and Ramen Alley. The surrounding district remains one of Sapporo's primary commercial destinations and contributes to the city's role as a major tourism and business center in northern Japan.
Beyond the immediate neighborhood, the hotel's proximity to public transportation allows access to other parts of Sapporo, including civic landmarks and retail areas. Odori Park, the Sapporo Clock Tower, and Nijo Market are located nearby, while the city's transportation network also supports onward travel across Hokkaido.
Sapporo functions as an entry point to destinations throughout Hokkaido, including winter snow resorts and seasonal attractions during the warmer months. The location enables visitors to use the city as a base for travel across the island while remaining connected to urban amenities.
The opening also marks the first implementation of the Holiday Inn Express Gen 5 concept in Japan, introducing the latest version of the brand's design standards into the domestic market. Alongside expanding geographic coverage into Hokkaido, the project adds a new-generation property to IHG Hotels & Resorts' portfolio in the country.
By combining a new regional presence with the rollout of the Gen 5 concept, Holiday Inn Express Sapporo Susukino represents both a portfolio expansion and a brand development milestone for IHG Hotels & Resorts in Japan. The project adds capacity in one of the country's established visitor markets while extending the company's Holiday Inn Express network beyond its existing locations.