Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama, near JR Okayama Station, reopens on Sunday, August 9, 2026, after completing a full renovation under the design concept "Blooming." The renewal draws on the nature and culture of Okayama — known as the "Land of Sunshine" — through art and design placed throughout the hotel, while significantly increasing the number of three-person rooms for groups and families and refreshing the guest rooms, entrance, lobby, large communal bath, and restaurant.
Renovation Highlights
- Under the design concept "Blooming," art and design inspired by the nature and culture of Okayama, the "Land of Sunshine," appear throughout the hotel.
- The lobby and elevator hall display works by artists connected to Okayama Prefecture, creating a space that reflects the region's nature and culture.
- Rooms for up to three guests, suited to groups and families, have been expanded from 8 to 51 rooms. All guest rooms have also been refreshed with new interiors, furniture, and amenities, plus updated bathroom fixtures.
- The large communal bath has been fully redesigned, with more washing stations for both men and women, and an expanded women's changing room with a new powder space.
- The restaurant "GARDEN CAFE" has a renewed interior and breakfast menu. After breakfast service, it continues to serve as a guest lounge, now with new furniture for added comfort.
Design Concept: "Blooming"
The renovation's design concept, "Blooming," aims to realize the "rich and comfortable stay experience" behind the Mitsui Garden Hotels tagline "Stay in the Garden," in a vibrant, welcoming space that lets guests feel the region's expansive nature. Works by artists connected to Okayama Prefecture are placed throughout the hotel, offering a space where the stay itself becomes a travel memory as guests take in the prefecture's natural beauty and craftsmanship.
Lobby and Elevator Hall
The lobby that welcomes guests has been transformed into a space that reflects the nature and culture of Okayama Prefecture, with plantings placed throughout the hotel and the lobby's interior and furniture refreshed. Beyond the lobby stands an art piece by 小沢淳志, made from iron gathered from locations around the prefecture — including the property itself before renovation — shaped into a motif of peach blossoms. The elevator hall features an indigo-dyed noren curtain by 山㟁卓 (Yamagishi Suguru), a dye craftsman based in Okayama Prefecture. Placing works by locally connected artists throughout the hotel lets guests experience the region's culture and craftsmanship.
Guest Rooms
The guest rooms have been reorganized from 5 room types across 352 rooms to 4 room types across 297 rooms, suited to stays ranging from business to leisure. By combining pairs of existing rooms into one, rooms accommodating up to three guests — well suited to groups and families — have been expanded from 8 to 51. All guest rooms have also had their interiors, furniture, and amenities refreshed, along with updated bathroom fixtures, improving both functionality and cleanliness. Each guest room floor features art by Hirata Shino, an artist from Okayama Prefecture, with a motif of flowers nourished by the abundant sun of the "Land of Sunshine." The guest room signage was also designed around a denim motif, referencing Okayama Prefecture's renown as a center of jeans making.
Guest Room Types
| Room Type | Number of Rooms | Size | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Double | 118 rooms | 14.2㎡ | 2 guests |
| Standard Queen | 56 rooms | 17.1㎡ | 2 guests |
| Standard Twin | 72 rooms | 20.0㎡ | 2 guests |
| Superior Twin (with 1 sofa bed) | 51 rooms | 26.4–28.4㎡ | 3 guests |
| Total | 297 rooms |
Large Communal Bath and Laundry Room
The large communal bath has had its design and layout fully redesigned for greater comfort. Washing stations for both men and women have been increased from 6 to 9, and the women's changing room has been expanded with a newly added powder space. Refa hair dryers have also been introduced for both men and women, further enhancing the relaxing environment. The bath area displays two works themed on Kanba-no-taki, one of Okayama's well-known scenic waterfalls: a piece by 増田沙織, a Nihonga (Japanese-style painting) artist, depicting the contrast between the falls' powerful flow and its delicate spray, on the staircase leading to the bath, and a work by 山田茂, an artist from Okayama Prefecture, at the bath's entrance — together creating a refined, calming space for guests to unwind.
The laundry room has also had its washing machines increased from 3 to 6, with a trouser press added, enhancing convenience for guests staying multiple nights.
Restaurant "GARDEN CAFE"
The 1st-floor restaurant "GARDEN CAFE" keeps its role as a daytime lounge while renewing its interior and breakfast buffet menu. The walls now carry a design inspired by the prefecture's terraced rice fields, for a bright, lively space. The breakfast buffet is built around the theme "the best breakfast to nourish your body and fuel your day," featuring a wide range of dishes made with local ingredients. The main dish is porchetta, a traditional Italian preparation of pork belly rolled with seasonal ingredients and slow-roasted in the oven. Guests can also enjoy freshly baked croissants and other daily breads, alongside returning local favorites such as ki-nira zosui (a rice porridge with yellow chives), ebimeshi (Okayama's shrimp fried rice), and mamakari (a marinated local fish).
After breakfast service, the restaurant continues to operate as a guest-only lounge as before, now offering an even more comfortable, convenient space.
Hours
- Restaurant: 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM (last entry 9:30 AM)
- Lounge: 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Mitsui Garden Hotel Okayama Facility Overview
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-7 Ekimotomachi, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Site Area | 1,547㎡ (467.96 tsubo) |
| Total Floor Area | 10,086㎡ (3,051.02 tsubo) |
| Structure/Scale | Steel-frame reinforced concrete (SRC), 10 stories above ground |
| Number of Rooms | 297 rooms |
| Renewal Opening Date | August 9, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Facilities | Restaurant (1st floor) / Large communal bath (10th floor) |
| Phone | 086-235-1131 |
| Official Website | https://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/okayama/ |
Location Map
For more on getting to the hotel, see the official access page: https://www.gardenhotels.co.jp/okayama/access/
