Tomakomai city, a port metropolis on the central south coast of Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture, has issued a public invitation to any parties interested in acting as its advisor to update the city’s concept for an integrated resort (IR) with casino.
That might form a step on the road to Tomakomai (pictured) actually submitting a proposal to the national authorities to host an IR. The final say on the prefecture’s candidate-location for a casino resort will rest at prefectural-government level.
The updating effort for the city-level push relates to the “Hokkaido Tomakomai International Resort Concept”, according to a review by GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent of the city’s statement.
The advisory fee payable will be up to JPY8 million (circa US$50,200) according to previous announcements by Tomakomai, which has earmarked budget for the work.
According to a Wednesday statement by Tomakomai, the advisory work includes: “research regarding IR industry trends around the world”; “analysis regarding the possible investment and earnings size for a Tomakomai IR; and “the economic effect on the city and on Hokkaido prefecture”.
The party acting as advisor would also be required to conduct an expression-of-interest process, among potential developers. The result of Tomakomai’s selection process for an advisor will be announced on April 17.
The city has been the only place in Hokkaido so far publicly to affirm its interest in hosting an IR.
Hokkaido prefecture plans to revise its own ‘basic stance on IR of Hokkaido prefecture’ by the autumn this year. That would mention the recommended location for a casino complex within Hokkaido.
In February, Hokkaido earmarked JPY9.98 million for research and a review on having an IR, as part of the prefecture’s fiscal-year 2026 draft budget.
A national-level Cabinet Order confirmed on March 10 that the application period for a second round of bids by local governments will run in a May to November, 2027 window.
Local authorities will need to partner with the commercial sector when they present their ‘IR District Development Plan’ for consideration by Japan’s central authorities.
Hokkaido prefecture as a whole, had expressed interest prior to the first IR-application round, but eventually dropped out of contention in late 2019, before the first round began.
Up to that point, professional services firm KPMG had been advising the prefecture on the IR topic, according to GGRAsia’s Japan correspondent.
The sole fruit of the first-round process, concluded in December 2023, was the JPY1.51-trillion MGM Osaka, due to launch at the end of 2030.
