Hop Inn Hotel Plc: Launch of the Hop Inn hotel brand in Japan

Mori Hamada acted for Hop Inn Hotel Plc., a subsidiary of The Erawan Group PCL and owner and operator of the Hop Inn hotel chain, in connection with the launch of its Hop Inn brand in Japan. Our support covered all Japanese legal and tax aspects of the project, including deal structuring, incorporation of the Japanese entities, regulatory advice, acquisition of hotel properties in Kyoto and Tokyo. This transaction forms part of the client's JPY 60 billion regional investment strategy, under which Hop Inn opened four hotels in Japan in 2024 as the initial step toward its APAC growth plan.

The matter was led by Naoki Ishikawa, who had overall responsibility for the engagement. The legal aspects were handled by a core team comprising Fuyuki Uchitsu, Mariko Morita, and Ayako Nakamura, while the tax aspects were primarily handled by Hiroshi Oyama and Yoshiko Yamakawa, together with certified tax accountant Yuko Maruyama.