Niseko Hanazono Property and Real Estate

Rumors are that the new owners of Niseko's Hanazono resort will be doing some earthworks over the summer, flattening the slopes to make way for the higher concentration of novice skiers and snowboarders expected to descend on the resort once it is developed. Expect the resort to be very family oriented. Luckily for the extreme amongst us, it will still be linked to the rest of the mountain at the peak and to Niseko-Hirafu via a short 10 minute bus ride. It sounds like most of the available land is being swept up by Richard Li and friends, and some have stated that development outside of the resort will be limited, but there are rumors of land still available on the periphery.

Niseko Hirafu Property and Real Estate

It seems like most of the land being purchased at this point is destined for building development as most of the speculative Niseko property investment money has moved on to land bordering the other Niseko resorts (Hanazono, Higashiyama, Annupuri, Moiwa). The property in Niseko-Hirafu is now fetching prices unimaginable a few years ago. It will be interesting to see how the new development regulations passed by Kutchan on February 28th for immediate implementation will effect the rate of development in the village.

Niseko Higashiyama Property and Real Estate

Higashiyama can be reached from Niseko-Hirafu by navigating 343, driving through Kabayama, and taking a right at the first signal you come to (it'll be flashing yellow). On the right you'll pass Niseko Milk Kobo (well known tourist destination for summer tourists and year-round for its ice cream, yogurt, and other milk products), and on the left the popular Black Diamond lodge, bar, and grill. A few Niseko realty signs dot the landscape as well, all in English of course. Finally you'll come to the former Higashiyama Prince hotel. The original hotel still stands, but the annex is much more impressive. Both the original and the annex have ski-in, ski-out lift access, and some of the lift go right over the access roads. Higashiyama's location is wonderful, and investors looking for an affordable Niseko property would do well to consider property's on the periphery of the hotel's grounds, but keep in mind that the hotel will always dominate the landscape and the character of the resort. It certainly won't develop into another Hirafu... that can be good or bad depending on your point of view, but Higashiyama has all mountain access and is located directly between Hirafu and Annupuri. Hard to go wrong in that respect.

Niseko Annupuri Property and Real Estate

If you follow route 343 long enough you'll come to a T-intersection, where you'll see Niseko's best okonomiyaki restaurant, Juu. Going left on Route 66 leads you into Niseko proper, but going right leads you past the year-round retreat Saison Club and a few Japanese pensions, into Annupuri, Moiwa, Kanronomori, and a cluster of incredible onsens. The resort itself is famed for its back bowl and quick peak access, and is surrounded by development of village style holiday homes, as opposed to the condominiums that dominate the Niseko-Hirafu landscape. It seems like one investor got a head start on everybody and bought up many of the best properties surrounding the main resort, but the sustained development approach he is apparently pursuing is giving Annupuri a very different character than Niseko-Hirafu (think well spaced cedar lodges as opposed to towering condominiums). Some land is still available along Route 66.

Niseko Moiwa Property and Real Estate

Niseko-Moiwa is still definitely a wild card. The resort is well-loved by those who go out of their way to access it, primarily because it is secluded and people can get fresh tracks to themselves all day. That would of course change with a round of development. A lot of people are betting on the development of Niseko-Moiwa, but it may hinge on getting access to the all-mountain Niseko-United group, which is only granted by unanimous agreement of the current members. Since most people staying in Moiwa already make the bus or shuttle trip into other resorts to ski/ride the rest of the mountain, some in-the-know people are openly stating that Moiwa doesn't have much of a chance of joining the current regime, as it would only hurt the current members. However, if the current level of interest in Moiwa real estate and property is any indication, things could go Moiwa's way very quickly. Time will tell.

Rusutsu Property and Real Estate

Rusutsu is still the sleeping giant just a stones throw from Niseko. It remains one of the most popular alpine resorts in Japan for domestic skiers and snowboarders, and because Japanese tend to stay on piste, pow as far as the eye can tree awaits beyond the tree line. Most foreigners in-the-know will schedule at least one day in Rusutsu. A reasonably short drive from Hirafu, there is plenty of real estate and property bordering the resort that can be had for very affordable rate. As Rusutsu is a year-round resort boasting an amusement park in the summer, year-round rental returns could prove promising.

Kutchan Property and Real Estate

Pity poor Kutchan? Don't count it out yet. Just a short drive from Niseko-Hirafu, and with all the comforts a small town provides, Kutchan is often where year-round Niseko employees choose to base themselves. Also, as Niseko-Hirafu prices keep climbing, Kutchan is looking more and more like the most viable alternative for Niseko companies looking to house their staff in the winter months. The bullet train is also scheduled to make a stop here, although it might take a decade or three, when it does get to Kutchan everybody in Japan will have access to Niseko's unparalleled powder in just hours. Rumors abound of local development companies and private investors snatching up unbelievably cheap Kutchan land and housing. Things are going to get interesting in Kutchan.