Tomakomai city (pictured) on the central south coast of Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture has affirmed its wish to tilt for an integrated resort (IR) with casino in an anticipated new national round of applications, and some neighbouring communities would back such a move.
Another Hokkaido location, Chitose city – inland to the north, and a 30-minute drive from Tomakomai – said it would expect an IR in the prefecture to be located near the New Chitose Airport. The international airport – the largest in Hokkaido – is the main air hub serving Tomakomai and the Sapporo metropolitan area.
That is according to a Saturday report by the news outlet Yomiuri Shimbun, based on an information-disclosure request it made to Hokkaido prefecture. The request was regarding an IR survey the Hokkaido prefectural government had sent in August, to all 179 local governments in the prefecture.
The news outlet said it had learned Tomakomai wished to apply for several reasons. They included that: the port is already a transportation hub; and it is home to a cluster of new industries, including in the field of semiconductors. Having an IR could further contribute to economic development and promotion of Tomakomai’s industries, according to the city’s authorities.
Kushiro city on the central east coast of Hokkaido – which back in 2018 had been identified as a possible site for an IR – is now backing Tomakomai, as per the report.
Reasons include its view that Tomakomai city’s development plan is the most promising within the prefecture; and that Kushiro city would like to cooperate with the marketing of any IR there, in order to send IR customers on sightseeing trips to Kushiro. The latter offers bird watching via Japan’s largest marshland area, as well as museums and seafood.
Shiraoi town, southwest of Tomakomai, has lakes and hot springs, and a museum about the island’s indigenous Ainu culture.
In September the mayor of Hokkaido’s Hakodate city was reported as saying his community was in “no position” currently to work toward hosting an IR. In August it had been reported Hakodate had said in its response to the Hokkaido survey, that it was interested.
Hakodate, a city at the southern tip of Hokkaido, is served by high-speed trains from Japan’s main island of Honshu, via undersea tunnel.
Hokkaido had mulled making a bid to host a casino resort prior to the opening of a first round of applications. But in November 2019, the prefectural governor Naomichi Suzuki – who still holds the post – said the prefecture would not put itself forward in the first phase.
This November however, Hokkaido’s prefectural assembly will be asked to consider a revised version of a public-policy position known as “The basic stance on IR of Hokkaido prefecture”. The original dates from calendar-year 2019.
Even prior to Sanae Takaichi – on record as pro-IR – being appointed as Japan’s prime minister last month, the Japanese national authorities were said to be considering launching a new round of applications for local governments hoping to host a casino resort.
The only Japanese community approved during the first-round application process, which concluded in December 2023, was Osaka prefecture and city, on the southern central coast of Honshu.
MGM Osaka, a venture between MGM Resorts International and Japan’s Orix Corp – with smaller investment from other Japanese corporations – is due to open at the end of 2030.
A ground-breaking ceremony for MGM Osaka was held in April this year. Total investment in the project is now expected to reach JPY1.51 trillion (circa US$10.0 billion currently).
