Japan: Hotels closing due to quake risk

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Prophet of the Way - 27 Nov 2005 21:32 GMT

A total of 13 hotels in Tokyo and central Japan have closed
as it has become known that an architect has falsified structual
strength calculations.

4 hotels to shut until quake risk is determined
November 24 2005
The Asahi Shimbun (English version)
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200511240135.html

Those with reservations are being redirected to other inns.

The architect in question is involved in the design of more than 40
hotel buildings in Japan. Most hotels are examining their blueprints
and putting up notices on their web pages in a rush. If you plan to
visit Japan in the near future, pay attention to news on this subject,
especially if you are booking your lodgings on your own.

Keio Presso Inn Kayabacho, Gotanda (both downtown Tokyo)
http://www.presso-inn.com/english/index.html

(Keio Presso is the business hotel chain of the Keio Railway group.
The luxury hotels belong to the Keio Plaza chain.)

Sanco Inn Kuwana-Ekimae, Kuwana, Mie-ken
Sanco Inn Shizuoka, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka-ken
http://www.sanco-inn.jp/index2.html

Meitetsu Inn Kariya, Kariya, Aichi ken
http://www.meitetsu-inn.jp/

Az Inn Ohbu (also spelled "Obu" or "Oobu", near Nagoya), Aichi-ken.
http://www.ace-az-inn.com/oobu/oobu-top.htm

Ace Inn Matsumoto, Matsumoto-shi, Nagano-ken
http://ace.alpico.co.jp/e/index.html (English)

Park Inn Hiratsuka, Hiratsuka-shi, Kanagawa-ken (west of Yokohama)
http://www.parkinn.jp/

Plaza Inn Hamura, Hamura-shi, Tokyo
http://www.plazainn-hamura.co.jp/

Kuretake Inn Hamanako, Kosai-shi, Shizuoka-ken (JR Washizu Stn.)
http://www.kuretake-inn.com/hamanako/

Hotel Saint Pia, Ina-shi, Nagano-ken
http://www.saint.ne.jp/ohashi/index05.html

Komagane Premont Hotel, Komagane-shi, Nagano-ken
http://www.premont.jp/

Okazaki Daiichi Hotel East Wing, Okazaki-shi, Aichi-ken
http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~oka-east/f_top.htm

There is not much English information on the above links, indicating
they are used mostly by local businessmen and tourists. Some pages do
not even mention service suspensions. The problems are due to
structural problems; other buildings within given chains stay in business.

---

English-language Japanese newspapers available online:

The Japan Times
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/

Asahi Shimbun
http://www.asahi.com/english/

Mainichi Daily News
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/

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Giny@geenrotzooi_xs4all.nl - 28 Nov 2005 10:25 GMT

Yes, I saw it everyday on the tv, I just returned from a visit to Japan.
The television and newspapers were full of it.
Do not forget that besides the hotels many apartmentbuildings were involved
as well.
So many people were so frightened....
I lived in Tokyo for 6,5 years and was so afraid of earthquakes.
Just imagine you think you live in a relatively safe earthquake-proof
building and then you hear that it is not even safe for earthquakes of
magnitude 5......
Everyday a big one is expected in Tokyo.

The inspectors who check the construction can be chosen since a few years
and many architects choose "easy" ones that seem to check the construction
with their eyes closed.

I think it was a very bad idea to let architects choose a private
constructor-inspector.
This is the task of a government inspector and it should never be
possible to chose an inspector.

Giny

>A total of 13 hotels in Tokyo and central Japan have closed
> as it has become known that an architect has falsified structual
[quoted text clipped - 67 lines]
> Mainichi Daily News
> http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/

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Travel Forum / Destinations / Asia / November 2005

Japan: Hotels closing due to quake risk