Hotel Urashima undergoes major renovation in Katsuura

Hotel Urashima, a major hot spring resort in Katsuura, Wakayama, has completed a significant renovation of its Nissho-kan building, including the main lobby, guest rooms, and restaurant. The project aims to modernize the facility through digital transformation (DX) and improved hospitality while preparing for the hotel's 70th anniversary in 2026.

A key feature of the renewal is the complete overhaul of the Nissho-kan restaurant, now named ‘Chef’s Live Kitchen URASHIMA’. The facility has appointed Katsuya Handa, a chef with experience at luxury hotels in Tokyo and Paris, as the new Executive Chef to lead the upgraded buffet service focusing on local ingredients like tuna and Wagyu beef.

Other updates include an automated check-in system to streamline operations and the transformation of the ‘Sea Tunnel’—a 90-meter walkway—into an experiential space featuring shopping, dining, and educational displays about local tuna.