Buy your own ski lodge or hotel in Japan: 6 properties on the market right now

Everyone dreams of turning those winter visits to the incredible ski resorts of Japan into something more. Usually that means thinking of buying a house or apartment but this week Uchi have given you the chance to go way beyond that!

They have picked out six lodges and hotels from Nagano, Niseko and Furano to get those creative thoughts flowing in your minds: these properties give you the opportunity to not only visit the best resorts in the world, not only live in the snow on the planet, but run a business and get friends and family over there too. And if you pick up one of these we can guarantee you’ll have more friends than ever before!!

Bamboo Lodge: Niseko

Price: 180m JPY / 1.56m USD

Bamboo Lodge, Niseko. View more images

Well-known and well-loved by visitors to Niseko’s main resort village, this property sits in an incredible location in middle Hirafu. A short stumble to the best bars and restaurants and just a few hundred metres from the lifts, this is the chance of a lifetime to pick up this popular lodge. You could run it as is or even upgrade it to your own huge house!

Lake Nojiri Hanaya Hotel: Nagano

Price: 45m JPY / 390k USD

Lake Nojiri Hanaya Hotel. View more images

Not only is the Japanese-style hotel within 8-15km of some of Nagano’s best ski resorts, including Madarao, but it is located smack on a beautiful alpine lake. Year-round activities abound and if you get bored of the skiing (you won’t!) you can enjoy fishing, kayaking, watersports and golf… not to mention it is less than 3 hours from central Tokyo.

Ramat & Snowgum Lodges: Niseko

Price: 766m JPY / 6.63m USD

Ramat & Snowgum Lodges, Niseko. View more images

Located in the Izumikyo area of Niseko-Hirafu, these two lodges currently operate as some of the area’s best budget accommodation. With over 1,200sqm of floor area and a whopping 4,600sqm+ of land there are so many choices with what to do here but you will certainly have enough rooms to entertain everyone in the meantime!

Matsuya Ryokan: Myoko

Price: 105m JPY / 910k USD

Matsuya Ryokan. View more images

Now we are talking… a traditional ryokan hotel located in the Akakura Onsen ski resort, this is within 300m of the ski lifts and features male and female onsen from its very own hot spring source. The Myoko area is one of the most popular up-and-coming ski areas for international visitors having been well-known by locals for decades.

Pension Snow Crystal: Furano

Price on application

Pension Snow Crystal: Furano. View more images

Located only 60 (yes sixty!) metres from the lifts of Furano, this 10 bedroom B&B offers incredible access to the resort and of course you’ll be able to enjoy all the amazing year-round activities and occupancy that Furano has to offer. Aside from the world-famous lavender fields, this location gives immediate access to the incredible Daisetsuzan National Park with Hokkaido’s highest peak, Asahidake, ready to be conquered in summer and winter!

Central Upper Hirafu Lodge: Niseko

Price on application

Central Upper Hirafu Lodge. View more images

This series of buildings sits on almost 1,600sqm of prime upper Hirafu land less than 200m from the slopes of Niseko-Hirafu resort. With most of the property having been recently renovated you can continue to run it as a lodge – it is hugely popular with domestic visitors in particular due to its prime location – or you can unleash your wildest dreams of something even grander in the centre of Japan’s most famous ski resort!

If running a hotel or lodge is not quite your thing, visit Uchi now to see the latest properties in Japan’s best ski resorts.