De Niro To Open Japanese Hotels

It will be the latest of his Nobu ventures, and follows a string of Japanese restaurants around the world - a partnership with chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Richie Notar.

The first Nobu hotel will open in the Israeli resort of Herzliya this summer (08), followed by one in New York's financial district over the next two-to-four years.

Notar jokes of the new hotel, which will have a Japanese flavour throughout, "Instead of a mint on the pillow, you could find a sushi roll."

De Niro's son Raphael, who is in charge of marketing the properties, adds, "It's really exciting for us."