#Inbound Tourism #Yamashita #Linen Supply

Yamashita's New Linen Supply Facility: A Step Forward for Inbound Tourism

Yamashita Co., Ltd. has announced the establishment of a new linen supply factory, the Yamashita Nara Hotel-Related Facility, located in Ikoma-gun, Nara Prefecture. This move is designed to respond to the rapid growth of inbound demand in the Kansai region. The new facility is set to be the largest of its kind for Yamashita, with a total construction cost of approximately 5.4 billion yen. Construction is scheduled to begin on July 15, 2025, with operations expected to start in September 2026. By 2030, the company aims to maximize the production capacity of the facility.

As the inbound demand for tourism in Japan rebounds post-pandemic, with projections indicating over 36.8 million inbound visitors in 2024, the government has set a target of 60 million visitors by 2030. This growth positions tourism as a critical sector for Japan's economic future. To ensure hotels can deliver a consistently pristine and comfortable experience for guests, a robust linen supply service is essential. Behind the scenes in the hospitality industry, clean linens and a reliable supply system play a pivotal role in creating a compelling guest experience.

Addressing the Needs of the Kansai Region

Yamashita's new Nara facility is a strategic response to the growing demand in the hotel linen sector, particularly in the bustling Kansai area where inbound travelers abound. Currently, Yamashita operates three sites supplying the Kanto region but has only one site in Kansai, located in Mie Prefecture, highlighting the need for enhanced capacity and reduced logistical risks. The new factory is designed as a next-generation facility that balances quality and efficiency, thus facilitating future demand increases. Additionally, establishing multiple sites improves the company's business continuity plan (BCP), ensuring smoother and more reliable service delivery.

Target Supply Areas

The new facility will support a wide area including Osaka Prefecture, all of Nara Prefecture, southern Kyoto Prefecture, northern Wakayama Prefecture, and eastern Hyogo, including Kobe City.

Achieving Operational Excellence

The linen supply industry faces significant time constraints and labor-intensive operations, making workforce efficiency and cost management paramount. In light of structural challenges such as labor shortages and rising energy costs, Yamashita is committed to achieving operational excellence through simultaneous fulfillment of suitable quality, supply capacity, and efficiency. The company is leveraging technologies like simulators for optimizing delivery routes and IoT for equipment management and quality control.

The focus also extends to human resources, where strengthening systems to enhance productivity remains a priority. By concentrating these efforts at the new facility, Yamashita aims to lead cost competitiveness in the Kansai area and seeks to shorten the investment recovery period for the new plant.

Overview of the Yamashita Nara Hotel-Related Facility

• - Name: Yamashita Kansai Project Nara Hotel-Related Facility
• - Address: 1660-12 Higashian-do, Ando-cho, Ikoma-gun, Nara Prefecture
• - Land Area: Approximately 3,000 tsubo
• - Building Area: Approximately 2,000 tsubo
• - Production Capacity: 40 tons/day at launch, with plans to expand to 86 tons/day by 2030
• - Construction Start Date: July 15, 2025
• - Employee Count at Start-up: 70
• - Operational Commencement: September 2026

Key Features

• - Largest production capacity for Yamashita covering the Kansai area
• - Responsive to increasing inbound tourism demand
• - Installation of inspection devices to ensure consistent quality
• - Automation of processes to reduce human labor and lower costs
• - Implementation of energy-saving systems, including heat recovery systems

About Yamashita Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1963, Yamashita Co., Ltd. carries the corporate philosophy of “Living Correctly and Living Richly.” The company has established a strong position in both linen supply and caregiving product rental and sales, aiming to foster a positive cycle between enhancing employee fulfillment and customer value. With a sales target of 85 billion yen by 2030, Yamashita is also focusing on digital transformation (DX) to enhance service quality and productivity through technology integration, aiming for non-linear growth towards a 1 trillion yen revenue by 2050.

• - Headquarters Location: 737 Nakakawa, Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture
• - Tokyo Headquarters: 8F, Shinagawa Intercity C, 2-15-3 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo
• - Established: March 6, 1963
• - CEO: Kazuhira Yamashita
• - Business Areas: Caregiving product rental, linen supply, and more
• - Sales Revenue: 33.66 billion yen (for the fiscal year ending March 2025)
• - Employee Count: 2,829 (as of March 2025)

For more information, visit: Yamashita Corporate Website
Yamashita Hotel Linen Supply
[Caregiving Product and Welfare Equipment Site