Aichi receives expressions of interest for airport island casino resort

Aichi Prefecture said it has received expressions of interest from private-sector parties for the possible development and operation of an integrated resort (IR) with a casino on the island of Chubu Centrair International Airport. Submissions were filed before the 30 September deadline as part of a request-for-proposals (RFP) process launched in April; identities and the number of interested parties were not disclosed for competitive reasons.

Aichi casino resort: location and scope of the project

The proposed project would sit on land adjacent to Chubu Centrair International Airport, near the city of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture. The area suggested for development covers approximately 50 hectares (20.2 acres) on the airport island, including prefectural land. Under the planned scheme, the IR would include a casino, accommodation, facilities for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) and other tourist amenities.

Aichi authorities have framed the project as a cornerstone of their strategy to establish an international tourist destination focused on the MICE market and to boost local tourism and economic activity.

Process RFP and timetable: steps to selection

Aichi launched the RFP in April and said it will maintain a competitive dialogue with interested developers until roughly the winter of the current Japanese fiscal year, which ends in March 2027. The official schedule sets the deadline for submission of detailed proposals as 23 March 2027.

The prefecture expects to name a preferred private-sector partner in spring 2027, intending that decision to precede the national application window when local governments request approval to host a casino resort. The national application period is scheduled from 6 May to 5 November 2027.

Transparency and competitors: what the prefecture has said

Officials said they will not disclose either the identities or the number of companies that submitted expressions of interest, citing the need to preserve a fair competitive environment. The process will include competitive dialogue, technical reviews and the possibility of requiring operational and financial detail during the RFP’s second phase.

Aichi’s relaunch of the initiative this year follows its withdrawal from the first round of casino resort bids. The prefecture suspended those plans in 2022, citing disruptions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regulatory context and the level of investment required in Japan

Japan’s casino liberalisation framework allows up to three integrated resorts nationwide. To date, only one project has obtained national approval: MGM Osaka, budgeted at JPY1.51 trillion (US$9.57 billion) and scheduled to open in 2030.

Industry observers have warned that the relatively tight timetable for the second round of national applications, combined with the significant investment requirements, could pose a challenge for both private developers and interested local governments. Aligning schedules, permits and financial structures will be a core issue evaluated during competitive dialogue.

What bidders should consider

Prospective bidders for the Aichi project will need to weigh several key elements: acquisition and development costs on an airport island, integration with the MICE offering, national and local licensing requirements, and timing for the 2027 national application window. The inclusion of public land within the parcel could entail contractual conditions and specific long-term operational obligations.

For companies tracking the Japanese and regional market, Aichi’s move provides a practical second opportunity to compete after the first-round experience; it also intensifies the pressure to prepare detailed proposals before 23 March 2027. Operators and potential partners must design financial models that account for the timeline leading up to possible national approval between May and November 2027.

Local implications and next steps

If Aichi selects a preferred partner in spring 2027, that party will be eligible to apply in the national application window that opens on 6 May 2027. Project success will depend on the partner’s ability to meet regulatory and financial requirements and on the national government’s willingness to award one of the remaining IR slots.

The Aichi process will be watched by other jurisdictions and sector players. The prefecture aims to position the development as a magnet for MICE tourism and international investment; delivering the project will require overcoming both capital constraints and administrative timelines.

“Submissions were received before 30 September,” the prefectural administration said in its statement, without providing further details on the interested parties.