The Japanese government has set an aspirational target to double the number of annual inbound tourists from 19.7 million in 2015 to 40 million in 2020.
SINGAPORE – RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange, welcomed six new resorts in Japan to its vacation exchange network through an affiliation agreement with Sundance Resort Club Japan, bringing exciting new destination options in Japan to its 3.8 million global exchange members. These six properties are located across the country in popular tourist destinations including the Kanagawa Prefecture, the Yamanashi Prefecture, the Chiba Prefecture, the Shizuoka Prefecture and the Nagano Prefecture.
“Japan’s tourism industry is set to attract 20 million tourists by the year 2020 when Japan will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games and further propel the country as a holiday destination, promoting their culture and landmarks to a large international audience,” said Jonathan Mills, managing director of RCI Asia Pacific. “To date, Japan remains one of the top travel destinations among our RCI members and we are delighted to welcome Sundance Resort Club as an RCI affiliate, and thrilled to add six new resorts located at key destinations in Japan to our exchange network, growing RCI’s network in the country to a total of 15 affiliated resorts.”
“Japan is a unique blend of historical, traditional and modern, and with the next generation of travelers craving new adventure, authentic, and unexpected experiences that are one-of-a-kind discoveries. Adding to our 35,000 exchange options underscores our strategy to grow and value-add with innovative products so our members can meaningfully engage in destination discovery,” said Jonathan Mills, managing director of RCI Asia Pacific. “This new affiliation agreement with Sundance Resort Club affirms how more Japanese developers are seeing the benefits of vacation ownership as a business model, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with Sundance Resort Club.“
The Japanese government has set an aspirational target to double the number of annual inbound tourists from 19.7 million in 2015 to 40 million in 2020. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the estimated number of international travelers to Japan in May 2017 reached 2.3 million and the growth rate was 21.2 percent compared to May 2016, recording the highest figure for May.
“We are proud to announce our affiliation with RCI because RCI brings innovative solutions to the table during every step in our business cycle,” said Koki Kubota, CEO Resort Frontier Co., Ltd., a management company of Sundance Resort Club. “We look forward to many more years working with RCI.”
The six new properties from Sundance Resort Club that join the RCI exchange network include:
1. Sundance Resort Hakone Gora
The Sundance Resort Hakone Gora is located in Hakone, part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, less than one hundred kilometers from Tokyo. Famous for hot springs, nature and scenic views of Lake Ashinoko of nearby Mount Fuji, Hakone is one of the most popular destinations among Japanese and international tourists looking for a break from Tokyo. Easily accessible from the center of Tokyo, the resort features studio units that can accommodate up to three people with a full bathroom. The resort boasts a hot spring for guests on-site and is well-appointed with a kid’s room, laundry room and massage chairs on property. The resort is situated in a prime location near the Hakone Tozan Railway offering convenient train access and picturesque views from Hakone Yumoto to Gora station.
2. Sundance Resort Izukogen
The Sundance Resort Izukogen is located in the Izukogen Highlands in the city of Ito, known as a summer resort area with plenty of nature to enjoy in the mountains or along the sea. In addition to its beautiful natural surroundings, another charm of the Izukogen Highlands is its numerous art and history museums. The resort features traditional Japanese architecture that boasts hot springs on-site in lush, spacious gardens. The resort also has a sauna, barbequing area, laundry services, kid’s room, spaces to play Mahjong and table tennis, and large family-friendly studio units that can accommodate up to three people with a full bathroom.
3. Sundance Resort Karuizawa
The Sundance Resort Karuizawa is situated in an upmarket mountain resort at the foot of the active volcano Mount Asama in Nagano Prefecture, an area known for outdoor activities such as tennis, hiking, cycling, horseback riding and golfing in summer. Skiing and ice skating in winter can also be enjoyed in Karuizawa. With the Hokuriku Shinkansen, a high-speed train line, it only takes slightly more than an hour to reach Karuizawa from central Tokyo. The resort features studio units with modern furnishings that can accommodate up to three people with a full bathroom and boasts an on-site restaurant, bicycle rentals and more.
4. Sundance Resort Kawaguchiko
The Sundance Resort Kawaguchiko is situated next to Lake Kawaguchi, the most accessible of the Fuji Five Lakes via train and direct bus connections from Tokyo. A hot spring resort town with various tourist attractions and views of Mount Fuji, the resort is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and features well-appointed one-bedroom units that can accommodate up to five people with a full bathroom. The resort also features a kid’s room, barbeque area, garden, bicycle rentals, restaurant and an on-site hot spring.
5. Sundance Resort Onjuku
Onjuku is a town located in the Isumi District of Chiba. Nestled along a sweeping bay, Onjuku is a sleepy surfer’s town famed for its history in abalone, lobster fishing, breathtaking views, and surfing. The Sundance Resort Onjuku is a beachfront property with arresting scenery, and well-appointed studio units that can accommodate up to four people with a full bathroom. The resort also features a barbeque area, a garden and bicycle rentals for guests’ convenience and is also within driving distance to popular theme parks like the Kamogawa Sea World and Mother Farm.
6. Sundance Resort Yamanakako
The Sundance Resort Yamanakako is located on Lake Yamanakako at the Yamanashi Prefecture, and is the largest of the Fuji Five Lakes, boasting plenty of outdoor activities including fishing, hiking and water activities. A villa-styled resort that features a barbeque area, a kid’s room, laundry facilities and bicycle rentals for guests’ convenience, the resort features one-bedroom units that can accommodate up to three people with a full bathroom.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales. She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
