Tomakomai city, located on the central south coast of Japan’s Hokkaido prefecture, has announced its intention to pursue an integrated resort (IR) with a casino in the upcoming national round of applications. Several neighboring communities support this initiative.
Chitose city, situated inland to the north and about a 30-minute drive from Tomakomai, indicated it expects any IR in Hokkaido to be near the New Chitose Airport. This airport is the largest in Hokkaido and serves as the main air hub for Tomakomai and the wider Sapporo metropolitan area.
These details come from a report by Yomiuri Shimbun, which obtained information following a disclosure request to Hokkaido prefecture. The request concerned an IR survey sent by the prefectural government in August to all 179 local governments within Hokkaido.
"Tomakomai wished to apply for several reasons, including that the port is already a transportation hub and is home to a cluster of new industries, including in the field of semiconductors."
Author’s summary: Tomakomai is strategically positioning itself as a strong candidate for Hokkaido’s next integrated resort, leveraging its transport links and growing industrial base with community support.