Singapore-based Frasers Hospitality has touched down in Tokyo with its first ground-up development in Japan. YOTEL Tokyo Ginza, a 244-room hotel, officially opened in June 2025 and marks a new chapter in the group’s asset-led strategy in Asia.
Frasers Hospitality teamed up with UK-based operator YOTEL to bring the tech-forward brand to Japan for the first time. Located in a high-footfall corner of Ginza near Shimbashi Station, the hotel sits on a once-underused plot now transformed into a compact lifestyle property with global appeal.
Guests started checking in from December 2024, with the build wrapped up ahead of schedule and under budget. The Tokyo opening marks Frasers Hospitality’s debut as both developer and investor on Japanese soil.
Big yield in small spaces
YOTEL’s signature cabins, clocking in at 14 to 18 square metres, proved tailor-made for Tokyo’s space-challenged, high-rent environment. The decision to go with YOTEL wasn’t about brand loyalty but performance fit. Frasers Hospitality’s model favours flexibility, with brand selection driven by what works for the site, not what’s already in the portfolio.
The hotel itself brings together YOTEL’s signature design elements with local flair. Rooms feature adjustable SmartBeds, mood lighting, and space-saving tech, while the communal areas—including a vibrant lobby and restaurant—offer guests a sleek, social environment in the heart of Tokyo.
So far, it’s working. Since its soft launch, YOTEL Tokyo Ginza has maintained occupancy above 70 per cent. With business travellers buzzing through nearby offices and shoppers hitting the Ginza strip, the hotel is well-placed to capture both foot traffic and room nights.
Building momentum in high-density Asia
YOTEL Tokyo Ginza is part of Frasers Hospitality’s “twin engines of growth” strategy, which balances operations with investment to scale up in key cities. And the group’s expansion isn’t stopping at Japan.
In China, Frasers is gearing up to fully open Modena by Fraser Shenzhen by late 2025. Located in Luohu District, the 325-unit premium rental apartment (PRA) targets cross-border professionals and expats. Co-developed with Tishman Speyer, the property blends long-stay convenience with lifestyle perks like a gym, yoga studio and pickleball court.
The Osaka pipeline is also growing. Frasers Hospitality added Estem Court Namba VII Beyond to its PRA portfolio in 2023, reflecting a calculated push into the long-stay segment across North Asia.
Playing the long game
Frasers Hospitality’s investment model is designed to adapt, whether it’s hotels in Ginza or PRAs in Osaka and Shenzhen. Executive Director and Head of Investment and Asset Management Jason Leong says that flexibility is the point.
“These projects showcase our capability and expertise to adapt investment models to local market dynamics with discipline and agility,” Leong said.
“From a lifestyle hotel in Tokyo to PRAs in Shenzhen and Osaka, we leverage our integrated, end-to-end investor-developer-operator platform to deliver bespoke hospitality and lodging solutions that maximise returns.”
CEO Eu Chin Fen echoed the sentiment, highlighting how the Tokyo project speaks to Frasers’ bigger strategy.
“This ground-up development exemplifies how we create and unlock value across the real estate cycle,” she said.
With more than 26 years in the game, Frasers Hospitality continues to shape its portfolio across greenfield builds, conversions and repositioned assets. The goal: future-focused properties with a strong business case. And if YOTEL Tokyo Ginza is anything to go by, the group is building more than rooms. It’s building long-term resilience.
KARRYON UNPACKS: YOTEL Tokyo Ginza is a case study in how flexible hotel investment models are reshaping supply in high-demand Asian cities. Expect more brand-agnostic builds and long-stay assets as operators and owners chase scale, yield and adaptability in the region’s busiest markets.
