Atami’s Hotel New Akao closed its doors for good on December 17, 2021 ending 48 years of operations. With demand not expected to return in the near future and an aging building, the decision was made to shut down.

The 20-story, 250 room hotel opened in 1973. At one time the main hotel guests were corporate group travelers, but the demographic later shifted to families and individual guests. Since the pandemic, however, occupancy rates had dropped to 30 percent. In 2021, the hotel only opened during the peak holiday periods. Future plans for the building have yet to be decided.

Royal Wing (now called Hotel Asao) and the Akao Herb & Rose Garden, also located within the expansive grounds, will continue to operate. 

For more on this story, go to Japan Property Central.