The mayor of Hakodate, a major city on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island, says his metropolis is in “no position” currently to work at hosting an integrated resort (IR) with casino. It has previously been reported that a new round of IR applications could open in 2026. Hakodate’s Mr Oizumi was cited as saying in his latest remarks – in response to representatives’ questions at the Hakodate city assembly on Tuesday: “As a tourism-driven city, it is natural,” for Hakodate “to be interested in having an IR in the city. “However, the city is in no position to go ahead with working to try having one at this moment,” the mayor added. Hakodate (pictured), a city of 240,000 people at the southern tip of Hokkaido, is served by high-speed trains from Japan’s main island of Honshu, via undersea tunnel.