Marriott International has launched its City Express brand in the Asia Pacific region with the opening of two hotels in Osaka, Japan. The City Express by Marriott Shin-Imamiya and City Express by Marriott Osaka Namba South offer 243 rooms combined. These properties aim to provide affordable, high-quality stays for travelers. Located near major transport hubs, they offer easy access to Osaka’s famous shopping and dining districts.
M&G Real Estate has expanded its Japanese portfolio with a JPY 19.4 billion investment in six residential buildings across Tokyo. The deal, worth approximately USD 126 million, targets the city's high demand for rental housing. These assets will join the M&G Asia Property and Asia Living Property strategies, capitalising on Tokyo’s limited housing supply and steady population growth to provide reliable long term returns for global investors.
CapitaLand Ascott Trust has acquired three rental housing properties in Greater Tokyo for JPY4.6 billion. Located in Southern Kanagawa, the freehold assets boast occupancy rates above 95 per cent and offer stable, long-term returns. This move increases the trust’s living sector portfolio to 17.5 per cent of its total value. The acquisition aligns with a broader strategy to expand presence in key Japanese markets through resilient, income-generating assets.
Blackstone has finalised a deal to acquire Tokyo C-NX, a premier Grade A logistics facility, for more than JPY 100 billion. The transaction is the largest logistics deal in Japan for 2025 and involves a 1.6 million square foot warehouse in the strategic Tokyo Bay area. As Japan’s e-commerce market grows to become the world’s fourth largest, Blackstone is positioning itself as a key partner for local corporates.
Marriott International, Inc. has announced an agreement with Pacifica Hotels G.K. to introduce its midscale brand, City Express by Marriott, to Japan. The deal involves converting two existing hotels in Osaka, which are scheduled to reopen in 2026. The two properties will be named City Express by Marriott Osaka Namba South and City Express by Marriott Osaka Shin-Imamiya. The collaboration with Pacifica Hotels and AB Capital aims to capitalise on rising hotel rates and strong demand for quality, value-driven accommodation in Osaka. The properties are strategically located near major transit hubs for seamless travel across the Kansai region.
Japanese architectural company SOBOKUYA, specializing in traditional carpentry and sustainable design, will establish its first Middle East base in the Dubai Design District in November. The company is exhibiting at Dubai Design Week 2025 in collaboration with Nikken Sekkei Dubai FZ-LLC. From its new Dubai base, SOBOKUYA plans to expand into Europe, South Asia, and Africa, developing projects that combine Japanese minimalism, wabi-sabi aesthetics and modern functionality. The move follows the establishment of SOBOKUYA's bases in Vietnam, marking a key next step in its global expansion.
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