IHG Hotels & Resorts operates 19 hotel brands with more than 6,300 hotels in over 100 countries. In Japan, IHG Hotels & Resorts currently operates about 47 hotels under seven brands from Hokkaido to Okinawa (as of March 2024). For this interview, we asked Kazuo Yasui, general manager of ANA Holiday Inn Kanazawa Sky, about the attractions around the hotel.
Name: ANA Holiday Inn Kanazawa Sky
Location: 15-1 Musashi-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture
–How did you come to work at ANA Holiday Inn Kanazawa Sky?
I did not have a clear idea of what I wanted to do during my job hunting period in my fourth year of college, but when I saw a video on the news about the opening preparation room of Hotel Nikko Fukuoka, I thought that I might be able to work overseas and become a general manager, so I did not hesitate to join the company. I started my hotel career as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant and worked there for 12 years, then worked in restaurants, banquets, sales, and weddings, followed by 3 years at Grand Hyatt Fukuoka, 3 years at Nagoya Marriott, and 13 years at Grand Hyatt Tokyo. In September 2018, he joined the Crowne Plaza Hotel Hiroshima as the Food & Beverage Manager, and after serving as the Assistant General Manager overseeing the entire operation, he has been in his current position since August 2023.
–What kind of hotel is it?
It has been one of the oldest hotels in Kanazawa for 50 years counting from the days of its predecessor, Kanazawa Sky Hotel, but since March 2014, it has belonged to “IHG Hotels & Resorts” as ANA Holiday Inn Kanazawa Sky, and 10 years have passed. Located in the center of Kanazawa, the hotel is convenient for business and within walking distance of many tourist attractions, making it a popular choice for many domestic and international guests. The hotel has a total of 101 guest rooms, Chinese and all-day dining, a lounge, and three banquet halls. The “Top of Kanazawa” Sky Banquet on the top floor offers a panoramic view of Kanazawa.
The reception desk is located on the 16th floor, so guests arriving by elevator are first impressed by the view. Guests can check in at the reception desk instead of at the counter, so they can enjoy a relaxing start to their hotel experience with a view of Kanazawa Castle and the Hakusan mountain range in the distance. The all-day dining restaurant, KENROKU, offers a view of the Sea of Japan and a breakfast featuring local ingredients.
–please let me know if you have any personal favorites tourist spots or restaurants in the vicinity of the hotel.
The “Higashi Chaya-gai” and “Shukei-cho” are located within a 20-minute walk from the hotel, where you can enjoy the old-fashioned townscape that is unique to Kanazawa. Kaikanro, a 200-year-old teahouse building, is the largest teahouse building in Kanazawa and is designated as a preserved building by Kanazawa City. It has been the setting for numerous TV dramas and movies, and is open to the public and sweet tasting during the day, while at night, only one pair per day can experience the glamorous tatami room. The souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars in the style of old private homes that make use of the old townscape throughout the city are crowded day and night with customers from Japan and abroad.
–What restaurant menu do you recommend?
Located on the 17th floor, Szechuan Cuisine Phoenix has enjoyed a long history of patronage over the past 50 years, with many customers spanning three generations of parents and children. Since its opening, the restaurant’s popular and ever-popular “Mapo Doufu” (bean curd soup with hot sauce) has remained unchanged.
–What souvenirs do you recommend?
There are many recommended souvenirs in Kanazawa, from traditional crafts to seafood, sake, and Japanese sweets. As a lover of both sake and sweets, I personally recommend Nakadaya’s “Kintsuba” and buy it every time I go back to Fukuoka, where my parents live.
© Source travel watch
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