Dusit Internasional, a leading Thai company engaged in the hospitality and residential development sector, carried out their sustainability initiatives in Japan by opening their own tea and vegetable plantations, having previously opened their first hotel in Japan, namely Hotel ASAI Kyoto Shijo on 1 June 2023 and will open a Hotel Dusit Thani Kyoto on September 1, 2023.
Dusit International Undertakes Sustainable Initiatives in Japan by Opening Dusit Tea Garden and Dusit Farm
Their first sustainable initiative was to enter into a business partnership with TeaRoom to establish a tea plantation “Dusit Tea Garden” and cultivate eco-friendly tea leaves. As a manifestation of the Dusit group's focus on health and sustainability, the hotel aims to serve green tea at its premises.
Dusit Tea Garden, located in Wazuka, Kyoto. Managed under the two Dusit hotels, ASAI Kyoto Shijo and Dusit Thani Kyoto, the produce from the tea garden is scheduled to start in September to be served as Japanese tea made from organically grown tea leaves in their F&B facilities. The two hotels also plan to develop sustainable measures such as composting food waste and utilizing it in tea plantations. By becoming a tea producer, Dusit International aims to contribute to realizing a sustainable future in Japan.
Japan's first lifestyle hotel, ASAI Kyoto Shijo, will on occasion offer guests the opportunity to take part in a tea ceremony at the hotel. In addition, Dusit Thani Kyoto, a hotel that will open on September 1, 2023, will feature an in-house tea salon where guests will be able to experience tea culture and tea-picking ecotourism packages at the Dusit Tea Garden.
In the future, through continuous efforts and active work exemplified by Dusit Tea Garden, Dusit Thani Kyoto and ASAI Kyoto Shijo hope to shift tea cultivation in Japan to organic methods. As a result, in addition to local consumption, the hotel will also consider exporting tea leaves grown in tea plantations to Thailand.
Then their second sustainable initiative in Japan was by opening a vegetable farm “Dusit Farm” This farm was established in partnership with OHARA FARMY with the aim of serving locally harvested vegetables to facilitate its hotel needs in Japan.
Now Dusit Farm has started cultivating pok choy (coriander) and other vegetables essential for Thai cooking. The harvested vegetables are ready to be served at the restaurants and bars at Dusit Thani Kyoto and ASAI Kyoto Shijo. In the future, Dusit Farm plans to make tour packages to offer the experience of harvesting vegetables to hotel guests and visitors. Dusit Farm is located in a part of the farm managed by OHARA FARMY in Oharanomuracho in Kyoto's Sakyo Ward and can be reached within 20 minutes by car from the center of Kyoto City.