67th Ooi Championship Best-of-Seven Match, Game 3, Decided to be Held at Noboribetsu Grand Hotel, Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido
Key facts
- 67th Ooi Championship Best-of-Seven Match, Game 3, Decided to be Held at Noboribetsu Grand Hotel, Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido
- Noboribetsu Grand Hotel has been selected as the venue for Game 3 of the "Ito En Oi Ocha Cup 67th Ooi Championship Best-of-Seven Match," scheduled for July 29-30, 2026. This highly anticipated match between Sota Fujii, the current Ooi, and Takumi Ito, the challenger, will take place at a historic hot spring hotel in Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: June 9, 2026
Direct answer
Noboribetsu Grand Hotel has been selected as the venue for Game 3 of the "Ito En Oi Ocha Cup 67th Ooi Championship Best-of-Seven Match," scheduled for July 29-30, 2026. This highly anticipated match between Sota Fujii, the current Ooi, and Takumi Ito, the challenger, will take place at a historic hot spring hotel in Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido.
- Citation
- 67th Ooi Championship Best-of-Seven Match, Game 3, Decided to be Held at Noboribetsu Grand Hotel, Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido (June 9, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- June 9, 2026
Noboribetsu Grand Hotel has been selected as the venue for Game 3 of the "Ito En Oi Ocha Cup 67th Ooi Championship Best-of-Seven Match," scheduled for July 29-30, 2026. This highly anticipated match between Sota Fujii, the current Ooi, and Takumi Ito, the challenger, will take place at a historic hot spring hotel in Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 9, 2026 at 22:59
- 🔍 Collected: June 9, 2026 at 14:06
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 12, 2026 at 16:51 (74h 45m after Collected)
The "Iwai no Yado Noboribetsu Grand Hotel," located in Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido, has been chosen as the venue for "Ito En Oi Ocha Cup 67th Ooi Championship Best-of-Seven Match, Game 3," to be held on July 29 (Wed.) and 30 (Thu.), 2026.
The current Ooi is Sota Fujii, a leading figure in the shogi world. In the challenger determination match held at the Shogi Hall on May 28, 2026, Takumi Ito secured the right to challenge for the Ooi title for the first time.
This title match, featuring top professional players of the same generation, is expected to attract significant attention not only from shogi fans but from across the nation.
▲ Noboribetsu Grand Hotel is a hot spring hotel that has walked alongside Noboribetsu Onsen for 88 years since its opening in 1938.
■ Match Overview
【Ito En Oi Ocha Cup 67th Ooi Championship Best-of-Seven Match, Game 3】
Venue: Iwai no Yado Noboribetsu Grand Hotel
Dates: July 29 (Wed.) and 30 (Thu.), 2026
Players
Ooi: Sota Fujii
Challenger: Takumi Ito (Two-crown holder)
Organizers: Japan Shogi Association, Hokkaido Shimbun Press
■ What is the Title Match "Ooi Championship"?
The Ooi Championship is one of the eight major titles in the world of shogi. It is a historic title match organized by the Japan Shogi Association and the Newspaper Three Companies Alliance, which includes the Hokkaido Shimbun Press. Players who win through preliminary rounds and the challenger determination league challenge the reigning Ooi, and the player who wins four games first in the best-of-seven match acquires the Ooi title.
The matches are held over two days, featuring sophisticated reading and strategic maneuvering by the players.
■ Regarding the Venue
We consider it a great honor for Noboribetsu Onsen to be chosen as the stage for the Ooi Championship, which is attracting national attention. We believe this holds significant meaning for both the development of shogi culture and regional revitalization.
The historic Ooi Championship will be held in Noboribetsu Onsen, one of Hokkaido's premier hot spring resorts. Amidst the serene atmosphere enveloped by the abundant hot springs gushing from Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a fierce battle will unfold between Ooi Sota Fujii and challenger Takumi Ito. We hope you will look forward to this highly anticipated match, which will shape the future of the shogi world.
■ About Noboribetsu Onsen
Noboribetsu Onsen is renowned as a representative hot spring resort in Hokkaido, boasting one of Japan's largest hot spring areas with abundant hot water and diverse spring qualities. "Jigokudani," where white steam billows up, is Noboribetsu's iconic tourist spot, and the hot springs from here are supplied throughout the entire hot spring town.
Furthermore, inspired by the rugged landscape of Jigokudani, Noboribetsu Onsen embraces "Oni" (demons/ogres) as its town symbol, and Oni monuments and objects can be seen in various places around the hot spring town.
▲ "Oni Sauna" reaches a high temperature of 110 degrees Celsius, realized by a club-shaped stove.
▲ Enjoy alternating baths in a stately cauldron-shaped bath.
■ About Noboribetsu Grand Hotel
Noboribetsu Grand Hotel, the venue for the match, has been a part of Noboribetsu Onsen's history since its opening in 1938, welcoming numerous guests.
The large public bath features a Roman bath with a spacious and open atmosphere, where guests can enjoy three types of spring qualities: sodium chloride, sulfur, and iron.
Additionally, the open-air bath adjacent to the large public bath offers a space to relax while enjoying views of the Japanese garden, which reflects the changing seasons, and a waterfall.
Furthermore, with the theme of "Double Stars: Hot Springs and Saunas," the hotel offers sauna facilities, including the "Oni Sauna" boasting a high temperature of 110 degrees Celsius. Produced by Mr. Tatsuhiro Matsuo, also known as TTNE "Totonoe Oyakata," it provides a unique and diverse sauna experience.
Guests can enjoy a moment of relaxation for both mind and body with Noboribetsu's abundant hot spring qualities and sauna facilities.
■ Future Announcements
Details regarding the eve-of-match party, public commentary sessions, and related events for this match will be sequentially announced on the official Noboribetsu Grand Hotel website under "NEWS (New Information)" as they are decided.
■ Facility Overview
Hotel Name: Iwai no Yado Noboribetsu Grand Hotel
Address: 154 Noboribetsuonsen-cho, Noboribetsu-shi, Hokkaido 059-0592
Official HP: https://www.nobogura.co.jp
Official Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viN5kGOsg7g&t=19s
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noboribetsu_grandhotel/
■ Contact Information
Noboribetsu Grand Hotel Public Relations: Tomoyuki Nakata, Emiko Sakano
TEL: 0143-84-2101 Email: e.sakano@nobogura.co.jp
The current Ooi is Sota Fujii, a leading figure in the shogi world. In the challenger determination match held at the Shogi Hall on May 28, 2026, Takumi Ito secured the right to challenge for the Ooi title for the first time.
This title match, featuring top professional players of the same generation, is expected to attract significant attention not only from shogi fans but from across the nation.
▲ Noboribetsu Grand Hotel is a hot spring hotel that has walked alongside Noboribetsu Onsen for 88 years since its opening in 1938.
■ Match Overview
【Ito En Oi Ocha Cup 67th Ooi Championship Best-of-Seven Match, Game 3】
Venue: Iwai no Yado Noboribetsu Grand Hotel
Dates: July 29 (Wed.) and 30 (Thu.), 2026
Players
Ooi: Sota Fujii
Challenger: Takumi Ito (Two-crown holder)
Organizers: Japan Shogi Association, Hokkaido Shimbun Press
■ What is the Title Match "Ooi Championship"?
The Ooi Championship is one of the eight major titles in the world of shogi. It is a historic title match organized by the Japan Shogi Association and the Newspaper Three Companies Alliance, which includes the Hokkaido Shimbun Press. Players who win through preliminary rounds and the challenger determination league challenge the reigning Ooi, and the player who wins four games first in the best-of-seven match acquires the Ooi title.
The matches are held over two days, featuring sophisticated reading and strategic maneuvering by the players.
■ Regarding the Venue
We consider it a great honor for Noboribetsu Onsen to be chosen as the stage for the Ooi Championship, which is attracting national attention. We believe this holds significant meaning for both the development of shogi culture and regional revitalization.
The historic Ooi Championship will be held in Noboribetsu Onsen, one of Hokkaido's premier hot spring resorts. Amidst the serene atmosphere enveloped by the abundant hot springs gushing from Jigokudani (Hell Valley), a fierce battle will unfold between Ooi Sota Fujii and challenger Takumi Ito. We hope you will look forward to this highly anticipated match, which will shape the future of the shogi world.
■ About Noboribetsu Onsen
Noboribetsu Onsen is renowned as a representative hot spring resort in Hokkaido, boasting one of Japan's largest hot spring areas with abundant hot water and diverse spring qualities. "Jigokudani," where white steam billows up, is Noboribetsu's iconic tourist spot, and the hot springs from here are supplied throughout the entire hot spring town.
Furthermore, inspired by the rugged landscape of Jigokudani, Noboribetsu Onsen embraces "Oni" (demons/ogres) as its town symbol, and Oni monuments and objects can be seen in various places around the hot spring town.
▲ "Oni Sauna" reaches a high temperature of 110 degrees Celsius, realized by a club-shaped stove.
▲ Enjoy alternating baths in a stately cauldron-shaped bath.
■ About Noboribetsu Grand Hotel
Noboribetsu Grand Hotel, the venue for the match, has been a part of Noboribetsu Onsen's history since its opening in 1938, welcoming numerous guests.
The large public bath features a Roman bath with a spacious and open atmosphere, where guests can enjoy three types of spring qualities: sodium chloride, sulfur, and iron.
Additionally, the open-air bath adjacent to the large public bath offers a space to relax while enjoying views of the Japanese garden, which reflects the changing seasons, and a waterfall.
Furthermore, with the theme of "Double Stars: Hot Springs and Saunas," the hotel offers sauna facilities, including the "Oni Sauna" boasting a high temperature of 110 degrees Celsius. Produced by Mr. Tatsuhiro Matsuo, also known as TTNE "Totonoe Oyakata," it provides a unique and diverse sauna experience.
Guests can enjoy a moment of relaxation for both mind and body with Noboribetsu's abundant hot spring qualities and sauna facilities.
■ Future Announcements
Details regarding the eve-of-match party, public commentary sessions, and related events for this match will be sequentially announced on the official Noboribetsu Grand Hotel website under "NEWS (New Information)" as they are decided.
■ Facility Overview
Hotel Name: Iwai no Yado Noboribetsu Grand Hotel
Address: 154 Noboribetsuonsen-cho, Noboribetsu-shi, Hokkaido 059-0592
Official HP: https://www.nobogura.co.jp
Official Movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viN5kGOsg7g&t=19s
Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noboribetsu_grandhotel/
■ Contact Information
Noboribetsu Grand Hotel Public Relations: Tomoyuki Nakata, Emiko Sakano
TEL: 0143-84-2101 Email: e.sakano@nobogura.co.jp
FAQ
When and where will the 3rd game of the Ooi Championship be held?
It will be held on July 29-30, 2026, at the Noboribetsu Grand Hotel in Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido.
Who are the players?
The players are the current Ooi, Sota Fujii, and the challenger, Takumi Ito.
What are the attractions of Noboribetsu Onsen?
It is one of Japan's leading hot spring resorts, characterized by abundant hot water from Jigokudani and diverse spring qualities. The town also features an 'Oni' (ogre) theme.
What are the features of Noboribetsu Grand Hotel?
With 88 years of history, it offers diverse hot spring and sauna experiences, including a Roman bath, an open-air bath, and the "Oni Sauna" reaching 110 degrees Celsius.
What impact will this match have on the region?
It is expected to contribute to the development of shogi culture and regional revitalization by attracting national attention.