Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites has entered Japan with two Kyoto hotels, bringing 47 rooms to Minor Hotels’ portfolio in the city. Oaks Vacation Club Kyoto Gojo and Oaks Vacation Club Kyoto Shijo opened on 1 October 2026, giving the brand its first Japanese addresses.
The launch puts Oaks into a second Asian country after China. Both hotels are operating properties rather than future signings, with accommodation aimed at independent city visits, couples and families.
Oaks enters Japan through two compact Kyoto hotels
- Oaks Vacation Club Kyoto Shijo: 27 rooms, with a kitchenette in every unit. The hotel is around ten minutes’ walk from Karasuma Station.
- Oaks Vacation Club Kyoto Gojo: 20 rooms, including Japanese-style accommodation, with Shijo Station around eight minutes away on foot.
Announcing the openings, Dillip Rajakarier, group chief executive of Minor International, said: “Kyoto draws travellers who want to explore at their own pace, and the Oaks brand is built for that.”
Room choice supports different travelling groups
Shijo’s published accommodation range shows how that positioning translates into the product. Deluxe Double, Family Bunk, Deluxe Triple and Deluxe Quadruple rooms are listed at 30 square metres. The Family Suite and Japanese King Suite extend to 35 square metres.
The room categories have different occupancy limits, with the Japanese King Suite listed for up to five adults. Kitchens and bathing facilities are part of the offer, while several categories also include a living area. For reservations teams and travel partners, the distinction between room names, bed arrangements and permitted occupancy is more useful than a single broad claim that the hotel is family friendly.
Gojo offers a separate option for guests seeking Japanese-style rooms in a smaller property. Its official website describes a central neighbourhood combining shops, local dining and historic sights, with rail connections that also support trips beyond Kyoto. Both hotels publish a 3pm check-in and noon check-out, alongside complimentary Wi-Fi.
A new market for Oaks, not a new group strategy
The two openings extend an established accommodation brand rather than introducing a new Minor Hotels concept. Oaks already operates across Australia, New Zealand, China and the Middle East, combining city locations with resort destinations.
Its Japanese arrival sits alongside the separate Oaks Auckland brand refresh. That programme began with the New Zealand hotel and envisages further changes across Australia and New Zealand from 2027.
What the opening establishes
For hospitality operators, this is a small-scale entry into a major cultural destination, built around room flexibility and neighbourhood access rather than the facilities of a large resort. The two addresses allow Oaks to serve different travelling groups while maintaining a relatively compact combined inventory.
Minor’s opening announcement does not set out a wider Japanese development schedule or a recruitment target.
Related coverage: IHG’s Noted Collection plans for Tokyo.
Source notes: Minor Hotels opening announcement, 1 October 2026; official Shijo hotel information and room specifications; official Gojo hotel information. Property details checked 25 October 2026.
