Hotel Kokusai 21
A city hotel in Nagano, Japan, founded in 1969 as a wedding hall and now a full-service hotel known for hosting the IOC headquarters during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.
Last updated September 26, 2026
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Overview
Hotel Kokusai 21 (ホテル国際21) is a city hotel located in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by Hotel Kokusai 21 Co., Ltd. (ホテル国際21株式会社), a company founded in September 1969 under the name Nagano Kokusai Kaikan Co., Ltd. (株式会社長野国際会館). The hotel began as a comprehensive wedding hall in August 1970 and gradually expanded into a full-service hotel with the addition of hotel wings and banquet facilities. It was renamed Hotel Kokusai 21 in August 1995. The hotel is situated about a 20-minute walk from Nagano Station and about a 20-minute walk from the famous Zenko-ji temple, making it a convenient base for sightseeing and business in Nagano. It offers a range of accommodations, restaurants, banquet halls, and wedding facilities. The hotel gained international prominence when it served as the headquarters hotel for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, and later for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) during the 1998 Nagano Winter Paralympics. It has also been the headquarters hotel for the Nagano Marathon since 1999 and for various world championships in figure skating, speed skating, and volleyball. In 2005, the hotel became part of the Motohisa Group, a Nagano-based company with diversified operations. As of March 2025, the hotel employs 180 people. Its fiscal year ends in February. The hotel's facilities include the 16-story Tower Wing, the 8-story South Wing, multiple restaurants (teppanyaki, kaiseki, Chinese, Italian, cafe lounge), banquet halls, wedding chapels, and a shrine. The hotel also operates related facilities such as The Five Seasons Nakano in Nakano City and Izumisou in Matsumoto Asama Onsen. The hotel celebrated its 50th anniversary in September 2019.
History
Hotel Kokusai 21 traces its origins to September 1969, when Nagano Kokusai Kaikan Co., Ltd. (株式会社長野国際会館) was established. In August 1970, it opened as a comprehensive wedding hall (総合結婚式場) with three floors above ground and one below. The facility expanded in October 1971 with the completion of a four- and five-story addition to the main building. In October 1972, it opened the 'Kokusai Crystal Hall' within the Ueda Tokyu Inn. In September 1978, a new hotel wing and banquet hall (the current South Wing) was completed, with eight floors above ground and one below. In March 1979, the hotel received designation as a government-registered hotel (政府登録ホテル). In February 1982, the East Wing was completed (three floors above ground). In March 1987, the wedding chapel 'Grace Chapel' was newly built. In August 1995, the hotel changed its name to 'Hotel Kokusai 21'. In September 1995, the main building was newly constructed (five floors above ground, one below). In January 1997, the Tower Wing was completed (16 floors above ground, one below), becoming the tallest building in Nagano City at the time. In February 1998, the hotel hosted the 107th Session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was designated as the IOC headquarters hotel for the Nagano Winter Olympics. In March 1998, it was designated as the IPC headquarters hotel for the Nagano Winter Paralympics. In April 1999, it was designated as the headquarters hotel for the Nagano Marathon (Nagano Olympic Commemorative), and as the athletes' village hotel for international and domestic invited athletes, a designation it has received for all subsequent editions. In March 2002, it was designated as the headquarters hotel for the International Skating Union officials during the World Figure Skating Championships, and in December 2002 for the officials and athletes of the World Cup Speed Skating 2002/2003. In November 2003, it was designated as the exclusive hotel for six national teams during the World Cup Volleyball Nagano Tournament. In January 2004, it hosted the World Sprint Championships Nagano and was designated as the headquarters hotel for officials and athletes. In March 2005, it hosted the Special Olympics Nagano and was designated as the headquarters hotel for officials and athletes. In September-October 2005, the bridal salon and restaurants were renewed, including the opening of Sky Lounge 'Boulanger', Teppanyaki 'Sakura', Chinese 'Hana-nashi', Japanese 'Nabura', Trattoria del Cafe 'Dono Dono', Coffee Lounge 'Bayberry', and Stand Cafe 'Bono'. In November 2005, it was the headquarters hotel for the World Grand Champions Cup (volleyball). In April 2006, the South Wing guest rooms were fully renovated. In November 2006, it was the headquarters hotel for the 2006 FIVB Volleyball World Championship Nagano Tournament. In December 2006, it was the headquarters hotel for officials and athletes of the World Cup Speed Skating 2006/2007. In September 2007, the new chapel 'Saint Celestia' was completed. In November 2007, 'Spacia 21' opened on the 5th floor of the Tower Wing. In December 2007, 'Tsukasa' opened on the 4th floor of the Tower Wing. In March 2008, the hotel began operating under a management contract (運営受託開始). In September 2008, the shrine 'Seigen' was renewed. In March 2009, the Kokusai 21 Crystal Hall was renewed. In June 2009, the 'Fuyo no Ma' was renewed. In August 2009, the bridal salon and 'Yayoi no Ma' were renewed. In January 2010, the hotel began operating Izumisou in Matsumoto City. In April 2010, 'Chitose no Ma' and the 'Bridal Room' were renewed. In March 2011, 'Esthetic Le Petit Palais' opened on the 5th floor of the Tower Wing. In April 2013, the Tower Wing guest rooms were renovated (until 2015). In 2005, the hotel became part of the Motohisa Group, a Nagano-based company with diversified operations centered on building materials wholesale. In September 2019, the hotel celebrated its 50th anniversary. As of March 2025, the hotel employs 180 people.
- 2006
South Wing guest rooms fully renovated.
- 2006
Designated as headquarters hotel for 2006 FIVB Volleyball World Championship Nagano Tournament.
- 2006
Designated as officials' and athletes' headquarters hotel for World Cup Speed Skating 2006/2007.
- 2005
Hosted Special Olympics Nagano; designated as officials' and athletes' headquarters hotel.
- 2005
Bridal salon and restaurants renewed; Sky Lounge 'Boulanger', Teppanyaki 'Sakura', Chinese 'Hana-nashi', Japanese 'Nabura', Trattoria del Cafe 'Dono Dono', Coffee Lounge 'Bayberry', Stand Cafe 'Bono' opened.
- 2005
Became part of the Motohisa Group.
- 2004
Hosted World Sprint Championships Nagano; designated as officials' and athletes' headquarters hotel.
- 2003
Designated as exclusive hotel for six national teams during World Cup Volleyball Nagano Tournament.
- 2002
Designated as ISU officials' headquarters hotel for World Figure Skating Championships.
- 2002
Designated as officials' and athletes' headquarters hotel for World Cup Speed Skating 2002/2003.
Products and positioning
A full-service city hotel in Nagano offering accommodations, dining, weddings, and banquet facilities, with a history of hosting major international sporting events.
Tower Wing (16 floors)
Main high-rise wing with lobby, front desk, bridal salon, banquet halls, restaurants, and guest rooms.
South Wing (8 floors)
Wing with Italian restaurant & bar 'Dono Dono', Kokusai Gallery, and guest rooms.
Teppanyaki 'Sakura'
Teppanyaki restaurant.
Kaiseki 'Tsukasa'
Japanese kaiseki restaurant.
Chinese 'Hana-nashi'
Chinese restaurant.
Italian Restaurant 'Dono Dono'
Italian restaurant and bar.
Cafe Lounge 'Bayberry'
Cafe lounge.
Grace Chapel
Wedding chapel built in 1987.
Saint Celestia Chapel
New wedding chapel built in 2007.
Shinden 'Seigen'
Shinto wedding hall.
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