Japanese hotel operators are rushing to develop new types of accommodations from historical buildings in the Kansai region in anticipation of more foreign tourists.

The Kansai region in western Japan, which includes Osaka, Kyoto and several other prefectures, is rich in historically important buildings.

Foreign tourists visiting the region are expected to grow thanks to the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka and the planned opening of a casino resort in 2030.

The trend to use historical buildings for overseas tourists comes as domestic hotel operators face increased competition from foreign rivals in the local market.

Candeo Hospitality Management, a hotel operator based in Tokyo's Minato Ward, opened its Candeo Hotels Osaka Shinsaibashi in Osaka on Nov. 26.

Candeo Hotels is a unique facility that integrates a historical Buddhist temple into the premises. It was conceived to service inbound tourists to Shinsaibashi, a district widely known as a battleground among hotel operators in the city.

Candeo Hospitality Management CEO Teruaki Hozumi stressed the need for "charm that rival hotels don't have."

The hotel is housed in a commercial complex with one basement floor and 15 above-ground floors. The site was built on the grounds of Mitsutera temple and covers the Buddhist temple's main hall.

The 180-room hotel occupies the fourth and higher floors and features a sauna and open-air bath on the top floor.

The hotel and temple are partnering to offer hotel guests an "eshakyo" experience, which combines transcriptions of sutra with the coloring of Buddha illustrations, along with morning prayers.

Housing the hotel on its grounds is hugely beneficial to Mitsutera temple.

Read the full article at Nikkei English News