Japan’s national government made public on Wednesday a draft Cabinet order setting out the likely date of the next application round for communities that wish to host an integrated resort (IR) with a casino.
The six-month-long application window is provisionally May 6, 2027, to November 5 that year. The update mentioned that the timetable for the application process is subject to a public-comment process that began on Wednesday (December 17) and will run until January 16 next year.
That is according to the draft order on behalf of the Japan Tourism Agency – the eventual application coordinator – a body under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
The order has been made under the terms of the country’s 2018 liberalisation measure known as the Integrated Resorts Act.
Hokkaido prefecture and Nagasaki prefecture have respectively been mentioned in Japanese media reports as likely to apply. Hokkaido’s governor Naomich Suzuki had said in late November that his priority was pressing ahead with preparations for application, even before any application date was announced.
Places in Japan categorised either as prefectures, or what are termed ordinance-designated cities, will be able to submit their individual IR District Development Plan for consideration by the national authorities.
In late October, Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, instructed her incoming Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, to “promote the development of IRs and realise attractive stay-type tourism which is highly competitive in the international market”.
Although up to three IRs were contemplated under the initial liberalisation process, Osaka is the only place so far to be building one, namely MGM Osaka, due to open in 2030.
The only other applicant in the first round – which was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and concluded in December 2023 – was Nagasaki prefecture. Its then-proposal was not adopted by the national authorities, citing uncertainty about funding.
