YAMATO Hotel & Residence Accelerates Development with New Funding for Luxury Lifestyle Experience

YAMATO Hotel & Residence's Ambitious Funding Initiative

YAMATO Hotel & Residence, headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, has successfully secured funding from various investors, including Sea Technologies and GMO OMAKASE. This financial backing is aimed at expediting the development of a unique membership-based hotel residence that emphasizes culinary experiences at its core. Through this initiative, YAMATO seeks to establish a new luxury lifestyle that resonates globally.

Vision and Mission

The fundamental philosophy of YAMATO is to enhance the richness of time that fundamentally belongs to people. By redefining lodgings, vacation homes, and experiences, the company aims to transcend mere functionality and convenience. The goal is to provide times where individuality flourishes, and profound connections between people are formed. By intertwining these values with delicate culinary traditions and the charm of local areas, YAMATO Hotel & Residence is committed to offering sustainable, enriching experiences.

As the luxury entertainment market remains largely untapped in Japan, YAMATO intends to weave values that address both cultural and economic aspects, thereby crafting a next-generation model of luxury living.

Business Overview and Expansion

YAMATO operates on the principle of redefining the value of travel and vacation homes through culinary experiences. The company has introduced three distinct collections:

1. L’Auberge Collection (e.g. Kawakyu Auberge Nanki)
- This collection represents a culmination of hospitality and culinary experiences, comprising private villas and restaurants designed for hosting special guests.

2. Escape Collection (e.g. Signature Series "YAMATO", The Series, Partner Hotels)
- It features private resort clubs that serve as secret retreats by the sea or in the forest, where adults can truly unwind and indulge.

3. Village Collection (e.g. Village X)
- Positioned as a secondary home between the everyday and the extraordinary, this model allows members to travel across Japan while enjoying smart villas.

Currently, YAMATO has expanded its locations threefold within the last three years, boasting over 20 sites nationwide. Each collection operates under a membership model, allowing users to fully enjoy all locations within their chosen collection by purchasing a membership. Certain memberships even include ownership rights, enhancing their appeal from both lifestyle and asset perspectives.

Beyond the individual collections, YAMATO's dual approach—operating both a membership-based hotel residence and hotel management—aims to build a comprehensive loyalty program. A single membership grants access to various group hotels with privileges such as discounts and tier promotions.

Unique Hospitality Model

Leveraging its expansive hotel assets and experience design driven by food, YAMATO creates exceptional value for luxurious stays. Highlighted by architectural gems such as the iconic Hotel Kawakyu in Wakayama and the award-winning French restaurant Aoi in Tokyo, YAMATO aims to fuse food, travel, and entertainment into compelling experiences that inspire people to visit.

Future Improvements through Funding

With the recently acquired funding, YAMATO plans to achieve the following:

- Further expand the base of the Escape Collection.
- Launch the L’Auberge Collection aimed for Autumn 2025.
- Strengthen experience-driven content and the private membership community.
- Create exclusive experiences themed around destination hotels.

CEO Comments

YAMATO CEO Yamataka Karakami expressed gratitude towards Sea Technologies, GMO OMAKASE, and individual investors for their support. He emphasized a commitment to redefining the value of travel and vacation properties through food experiences, while proposing a distinctive Japanese luxury entertainment market and lifestyle for the future. He articulated a desire to cultivate enriching moments where individuals can truly feel their lives matter, carefully crafted through Japan’s rich traditions and cultures.

Investor Insights

CEO of Sea Technologies, Hiroyuki Sugimoto, shared his enthusiasm for the project after visiting Hotel Kawakyu and YAMATO's strategic developments. He noted the exceptional culinary offerings and heartfelt hospitality, highlighting his decision to participate as both an investor and a long-term supporter.

Similarly, GMO OMAKASE's Toshihei Asai expressed his resonance with YAMATO's mission to cherish time's richness and stated his commitment to support the evolving luxury indoor and dining entertainment domains alongside YAMATO Hotel & Residence.

About YAMATO Hotel & Residence

Founded in 2021, YAMATO Hotel & Residence is dedicated to redefining luxury hospitality centered around food experiences. The corporate office is located at Miyamasuzaka Place Shibuya, 10F, 2-16-5 Shibuya, Tokyo. The collections include:

- L’Auberge Collection (Destination Auberge)
- Escape Collection (Private Resort Club "YAMATO")
- Village Collection (Smart Villa "Village X")

For More Details: Official Website

Future Vision

With a vision to produce moments of fulfillment worldwide, YAMATO aims to expand its locations rooted in Japan's rich landscape and culinary culture, promoting a novel form of luxury between the ordinary and extraordinary.