SONO Hotels & Resorts Asia, a wholly owned subsidiary of SONO International, has signed SONO Moon Nagoya, marking the first hotel signing under SONO Hotels & Resorts Asia.
The lifestyle midscale hotel is located an eight-minute walk from Nagoya Station, one of Japan’s main transport hubs. The signing marks SONO Hotels & Resorts Asia’s entry into the Japanese market and supports its strategy to expand in gateway cities through well-positioned assets.
The hotel is owned by ESCON JAPAN REIT Investment Corporation. Polaris Holdings Co., Ltd. acts as master lessee. SONO Hotels & Resorts Asia operates the hotel.
The property is located between Nagoya Station’s high-rise redevelopment zone and the historic downtown area centered around Yanagibashi Central Market. The location connects the city’s modern business district with its traditional commercial area.
As the first SONO Moon property in Japan, the hotel draws inspiration from Nagoya’s history, food culture, seasonal festivals, and local stories. The brand concept is designed to reflect the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
“We are thrilled to have added this hotel, located in an excellent position close to Nagoya Station, to our portfolio. As we aim to further grow the hotel’s performance, we are delighted to have established a collaborative framework with SONO Group, which brings global expertise, and Polaris, which has a proven track record in Japan. Through the collaboration of our three companies, we strongly hope that SONO Group, which is opening its first hotel in Japan, will leverage its strong network to attract robust tourist demand from South Korea and drive significant growth for the hotel,” said Wataru Orii, president and representative Director of ES-CON ASSET MANAGEMENT Ltd., the asset manager of ESCON REIT.
“Polaris Group has been proactively undertaking new hotel management projects with a wide range of hotel owners to expand our operational platform. Through this new partnership with SONO Hotels & Resorts Asia, a member of the SONO Group, we are launching our first master lease business. With excellent access to JR Nagoya Station, one of Japan’s leading terminal stations, the hotel is well positioned to capture both business and leisure demand. Through close collaboration with SONO Group, we aim to maximize both earnings performance and customer value,” said Takahiro Tsujikawa, director and head of Development Division of Polaris.
“Japan is a strategic growth market for SONO, and this signing represents an important first step in building a long-term presence here. SONO Moon Nagoya reflects our approach to combining strong locations, flexible operating models, and brands that resonate with today’s travellers. With major demand drivers ahead, including the Asian Games in September, we see strong potential for Nagoya as a gateway city. By leveraging SONO’s hospitality platform, our growing international portfolio, and the wider ecosystem of the group, including our airline business, we aim to drive sustainable demand and create long-term value for our partners in Japan,” said Jihong An, SVP, SONO Hotels & Resorts Asia.
