Located in the Iriomote Ishigaki National Park, Hoshino Resorts Iriomote Hotel aims to become Japan's first ecotourism resort in order to protect the island's natural environment and create a sustainable tourism system. As part of these efforts, we launched 3 initiatives in the spring of 2021: ecological hotel management, nature tours to feel the values and charm of the island, conservation of Iriomote Cats. With the use of knowledge obtained through environmental management, Hoshino Resorts will build a structure for sustainable tourism on Iriomote Island, which was registered as a World Natural Heritage Site.

At Hoshino Resorts, facilities in Japan operate in a way to reduce environmental burden, and efforts to reduce plastic waste are part of this. Iriomote Hotel aims for zero-emission by first incorporating “plastic bottle free stay” and “disposable plastic-free stay.” Disposable amenities such as toothbrushes, combs, and shavers in the guest rooms have been discontinued and guests are encouraged to bring their amenities. In addition to discontinuing providing water in plastic bottles, in guest rooms, sales of plastic bottled beverages in shops and vending machines have stopped since August 2021. Water dispensers are available, and guests are encouraged to bring their water bottle. For those without their own, there is a rental service for water bottles. Lastly, since February 2022, a smart laundry system that uses only alkaline ionized water and no detergents has been introduced, which is friendly to both the environment and people.

One of the charms of the Iriomote Island is its biodiversity, where many endangered species and endemic species grow and inhabit including the Iriomote Cats. Its value was recognized, and it was designated as a World Natural Heritage Site on July 26, 2021. In order to protect the nature of the island, nature tours will be hosted in collaboration with a naturalist *1 guide who has the knowledge and love for nature.

*1 Naturalist is defined as a person who is interested in and actively familiarizes with nature. Also, a person who observes and studies natural plants and animals.

As part of the conservation work of the endangered Iriomote Cat, we will work to prevent roadkill. The headquarters for “Picchio” is located in Karuizawa and since March 2021, they have started activities on the island and will be in charge of this conservation project. At Karuizawa, they aim for successful coexistence between humans and bears, where they focus on the balance of “protecting the safety of humans” and “avoiding the extinction of wild bears.” The know-how obtained will be used for Iriomote island.

Hoshino Resorts are engaging in environmental management, aiming to be a resort operator that can coexist with nature. In Karuizawa, HOSHINOYA Karuizawa has promptly achieved zero-emission* on Novermber, 2011, which was a first in the hospitality industry. Since then, we continue to promote environmental management by implementing the self-sufficient energy system, which makes use of hydroelectric and geothermal energy, and bring facility's overall energy self-sufficiency up to 70%. To protect the natural environment of Karuizawa for future generations, we launched picchio, a nature tour operator and a wildlife conservation organization in 1992. The company has been successful in managing and protecting the local population of Asian black bear while reducing the damage caused by them. This endeavour to co-exist with nature and achieving business earning, has been attracting worldwide attention in recent years and won 「the 1st Ecotourism Award」from Ministry of Environment in 2005. We continue to engage in environmental management in Iriomote Island, and aim to be a pioneer in ecollogicaly responsible Ecotourism resort in Japan.

*100% recycling rates and zero processing at landfills.