MGM Osaka Resort Construction Begins: Aims to Become Japan’s Tourism Cornerstone

Osaka is on the brink of a facelift as the preparatory construction of MGM Osaka Integrated Resort (IR) commences. The project involves the world-famous casino and hotel operator MGM Resorts International and is being developed by the local consortium Osaka IR KK. The project aims to boost Japan’s economy as the cornerstone of its tourism. Once complete, the lavish destination is set to offer an immersive experience with a casino, hotels, MICE, retail stores, and other entertainment facilities.

Slight Delays

Work on MGM Osaka, valued at US$8.5 billion, began on Tuesday (October 15^th). Osaka’s IR District Development Plan provided a detailed schedule for the construction in April last year, mentioning that work would begin “around summer” this year. The main construction is slated to start “around April” 2025 and to be completed “around spring” 2030. The IR will begin commercial operations “around autumn” the same year.

Osaka’s governor announced last month that there would be a two-month delay in the piling work on MGM Osaka. This slight schedule change intends to shift the peak of noise disruption to after Expo 2025 Osaka, which will be held next to the resort’s location. The major international event is set to end in mid-October next year.

Fortified Dedication

In a bold display of commitment to the ambitious Osaka IR undertaking, MGM Resorts International recently struck its right to withdraw from the project. The company relinquished a clause in the Implementation Agreement signed in September 2023 that allowed it to quit the project. MGM could walk away if tourism levels fluctuated too much, or if the project encountered unforeseen complications at the Yumeshima Island site where construction is taking place.

Osaka’s city government also strengthened its commitment to MGM Osaka Resort by transferring 46 hectares of land on Yumeshima Island to Osaka IR KK. An additional 3 hectares were also granted for Expo 2025 Osaka.

High Expectations

MGM Osaka IR is expected to have a wealth of features upon completion. The resort will house three different hotel brands with 2,500 rooms distributed among them, 730,000 sq ft of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions) space, a casino, and tourist attractions inspired by Japanese culture. The development is highly anticipated to reshape Japan’s tourism landscape, appealing to international tourists and investors.