Complete Your Summer Vacation Free Research Project with a Trip! Accommodation Plan with Free Research Project Completed in One Day, from Ocean Observation to Clock Making, Now Available [Grand Mercure Wakayama Minabe Resort & Spa]

Grand Mercure Wakayama Minabe Resort & Spa (Minabe-cho, Hidaka-gun, Wakayama Prefecture / General Manager: Kazunori Tanaka), an all-inclusive hotel with magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean from all guest rooms, is launching a special accommodation plan for elementary school students during the summer vacation: "Summer Vacation Free Research Support | Ocean Experience x Clock Making Plan." This program, lasting approximately three hours, covers everything from observing the Wakayama sea to creating an original clock, and the finished work can be taken home as a free research project. Instructors from the Kishu Experience Exchange Yume Club, a general incorporated association, will accompany and support the experience. This new summer stay style, which combines the joy of travel with learning, will further expand family smiles and experiences.

Background of the Project

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in "experiential value" in travel, which goes beyond mere sightseeing to gain knowledge and learning by interacting with nature and culture. Furthermore, the concept of "travel education," which promotes children's growth through travel, is spreading, especially among parents, leading to an increase in demand for learning-oriented experiences (*). By leveraging Wakayama's rich natural environment and offering a learning process of "observing," "thinking," and "creating" as an experience, we propose a new value of completing free research during a trip. This "win-win" program aims to reduce the burden on parents and provide both memories and learning for children, thereby creating demand from families during the summer vacation.

(*) Reference: JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization) Promotion of High-Value-Added Travel https://www.jnto.go.jp/projects/overseas-promotion/theme/luxury-travel.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Reference: Yadoken Co., Ltd. What is "Travel Education" attracting attention from child-rearing generations? Introducing new ideas for attracting family groups https://www.yadoken.net/knowledge

[Summer Vacation Free Research Support | For Elementary School Students] Completed in One Day! Ocean Experience x Clock Making Plan <Includes Dinner, Breakfast & Lounge>

Program Content (Approx. 3 hours)

1. Observation and Collection on the Beach

At Omezu Beach, adjacent to the hotel, participants will collect and observe seashells, sea glass, driftwood, and other washed-up items. In a calm atmosphere, like a private beach, they can deepen their learning while interacting with nature. Collected materials will be recorded by type and used for later creation.

2. Reflecting on Discoveries

Upon returning to the hotel, participants will organize their observations by classifying the materials collected on the beach into "natural" and "man-made" categories. Using slide materials, they will learn where washed-up plastics come from and how they connect to our lives through the ocean. Through questions like "What can I do to reduce plastic waste?", time will be set aside to consider environmental issues as their own. Insights gained through the experience will be put into words, leading to a free research analysis.

3. Clock Making Experience

Collected materials such as seashells, sea glass, and driftwood will be washed and cleaned before use. Participants will arrange them to utilize their natural colors and shapes, creating a one-of-a-kind original clock. By shaping materials they collected themselves, they not only preserve memories of the experience but also complete the process of observation, classification, and analysis into a single work. The finished clock can be taken home as a free research project and used as a result of their summer vacation efforts.

Event Outline

Eligible Stay Dates: Fridays and Saturdays from August 1st to August 22nd, and August 13th (Thursday) Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM (approx. 3 hours) on the day after check-in Meeting Place: Hotel 1st floor lobby Location: Beach and within the hotel Organizing Body: Kishu Experience Exchange Yume Club, General Incorporated Association Capacity: Maximum approximately 10 people (conducted jointly with other guests)

Plan Includes: 1 night, 2 days accommodation, dinner buffet, breakfast buffet, lounge access, hot springs, experience fee for one elementary school student, a complete clock making kit, water, and heatstroke prevention tablets.

*Additional elementary school student participation: 6,500 yen per person (payment on the day)

Reservation URL: https://grand-mercure-wakayamaminabe-resortandspa.jp/plan/jiyukenkyu_umitaiken/

Notes: ・Please take measures against heatstroke, such as frequent hydration. ・The content of beach observations may change depending on weather and sea conditions. ・In case of rain, the program will be conducted inside the hotel. ・In case of rain, the duration may be shortened due to changes in content. ・For safety, please follow the staff's instructions.

New Menu Items for Dinner & Breakfast Buffet

Buffet table inspired by a market Kumano Pork and Spring Radish stewed with Ume Plum Ume~ Katsu Burger

Since April 1, 2026, marking its 2nd anniversary, the buffet restaurant "Le Sensoriel" has begun offering signature dishes inspired by the new Food & Beverage concept "Marche." It delivers the "joy of discovery" that makes you want to stop and look, the "excitement" of a live kitchen where dishes are prepared before your eyes, and "fresh experiences" unique to a travel destination. New local menu items have also been introduced, such as "Kumano Pork and Spring Radish stewed with Ume Plum," made with marbled Kumano Pork, jointly raised by Wakayama Prefecture and Kindai University, and a refreshing katsu burger with the crisp acidity of ume plum, both highly recommended by the hotel.

"Grand Mercure Wakayama Minabe Resort & Spa"

Located on a hill in Minabe-cho, with a superb view of the sea below. An extraordinary hot spring open-air bath where you can feel the sea breeze. Breakfast buffet where you can enjoy the rich taste of local specialties like Nanko Ume plums.

This is an all-inclusive resort hotel located in Minabe-cho, the number one ume plum producing region in Japan (*1), in the central part of Wakayama Prefecture. Guests can freely enjoy buffet-style meals for breakfast and dinner, alcoholic beverages during dinner, and drinks including alcohol and local sweets offered in the lounge, all included in the accommodation fee. Furthermore, from various locations within the hotel, such as guest rooms, open-air baths, and footbaths with hot spring water, guests can enjoy the magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean and indulge in a resort stay that makes them forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

(*1) Reference: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Crop Statistics Survey for 2025 harvest year https://www.maff.go.jp/j/tokei/kouhyou/sakumotu/sakkyou_kazyu/pdf/syukaku_biwa_25.pdf

[Location] 348 Omezu Tomari, Yamauchi, Minabe-cho, Hidaka-gun, Wakayama Prefecture 645-0012 [TEL] 03-6627-4732 (Reservation Center) [Access] Approx. 10 minutes by free shuttle bus from JR Minabe Station (advance reservation required), approx. 10 minutes by car from Minabe IC [Official Website] https://grand-mercure-wakayamaminabe-resortandspa.jp/

About Grand Mercure

Grand Mercure is a premium brand that celebrates the richness of local culture with the concept of "Discover Local Grandly," offering a high-quality stay experience that harmonizes tradition, elegance, and authenticity. Rooted in the essence of each destination, it provides guests with a deeply immersive experience through storytelling that awakens the five senses and respects local charm. By valuing local customs, food culture, art, and human connections, each experience is carefully woven as a tribute to the land. By integrating international standards of hospitality with local individuality, Grand Mercure offers a rich and high-quality stay deeply rooted in the local area. Currently, Grand Mercure operates over 80 hotels in more than 10 countries, with flagship hotels including Grand Mercure Mysore in India, Grand Mercure Belém do Pará in Brazil, and Grand Mercure Rio de Janeiro Copacabana. Grand Mercure is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group with over 5,800 properties in more than 110 countries, and is a participating brand in ALL Accor, a booking platform and loyalty program that offers various benefits, services, and experiences.

About Accor

Accor, headquartered in Paris, France, is a leading hospitality group with over 5,800 hotels and residences and more than 10,000 restaurants and bars in 110 countries worldwide. It operates a diverse and fully integrated ecosystem in the industry, with approximately 45 hotel brands ranging from luxury to economy, and also extends into the lifestyle sector with Ennismore. ALL is a booking platform and loyalty program that provides members with unique experiences promised by the Accor Group, both during and beyond their hotel stays. The group also focuses on promoting positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, sustainable environmental protection, community engagement, diversity, and inclusion. Founded in 1967, Accor is headquartered in France and listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and the OTC market (ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more details, please visit https://group.accor.com.

*Information as of April 14, 2026. *All photos are for illustrative purposes only.