Chris Pickering is not only CEO of Uchi – Japan’s top resort real estate site pulling listings from all over the country – but also a long-term resident of Hokkaido. So it is with total jealousy that we have been watching him enjoy the empty slopes and incredible snowfall of the last three years. So how has the re-opening of Japan’s borders affected him?
“You might not believe me, but it is such a relief to have international visitors back in the resorts. Sure, those dreamy days of empty slopes and private lifts were epic, but the reason we all love the top resorts in Japan is because of the atmosphere. There is not much fun in experiencing the best snow, sushi and sake in the world without people to share it with.
“So seeing the streets and restaurants come back alive with smiling faces telling stories of their snow adventures is fantastic. From a real estate point of view, the arrival of skiers and snowboarders from overseas is like a massive shot of adrenaline for the market. Given the fact the yen is still weak, transactions immediately increased and at Uchi we are seeing so many properties being listed that we have hardly found time to get out into the snow!
“This week I’ve picked 8 of the latest listings in the last month that have caught my eye. A mixture of new and old properties from around Japan, I think they showcase the variety of options available to investors. We have over 700 listings on the site now from more than 30 of the best real estate agents and developers in Japan, so head to uchijapan.com/properties at any time to enjoy our lightning-fast multi-listing search.
“And hopefully see you in resort soon!”
Intuition Furano
Location: Furano, Hokkaido
Price: from 99.8m JPY ($750,000 USD)
Following on from the success of Intuition Niseko, this master-planned estate in Furano offers land plots and houses with management by a top local company. Set in the heart of Kitanomine Ski Village facing the ski hill in one direction and looking out over the stunning Daisetsuzan mountain range in the other direction, the location is unbeatable.
VIEW LISTINGHikari Townhouses
Location: Niseko, Hokkaido
Price: 165m JPY ($1.24m USD)
Hikari Townhouses. View more images
This property is two townhouses (price above is for both, but they can be purchased separately) located in the hugely popular St Moritz community in Niseko. Only 500m from the lifts of Niseko-Hirafu, owners of this brand-new property can easily walk to the resort in the morning and stumble home after enjoying the apres-ski in the evening!
VIEW LISTINGBarn Conversion
Location: Anywhere!
Price: Up to you!
Barn Conversion, Hokkaido. View more images
We all love the idea of living in a traditional building but get a bit scared of losing our modern conveniences. Heritage Homes Japan have solved the problem by sourcing this amazing 19th century Hokkaido barn which they will dismantle before lovingly restoring it to your exact specifications.
VIEW LISTINGSnowdrift Lodge
Location: Hakuba, Nagano
Price: 65m JPY ($490,000 USD)
Hakuba Snowdrift Lodge. View more images
Situated in a quiet area of Echoland, this lodge is only a short walk to the main restaurant and bar area and just 3 minutes’ drive from the HappoOne gondola. It’s been running a successful business and investors have a variety of options including converting it into a private home.
VIEW LISTINGLa Plume Niseko Resort
Location: Niseko-Higashiyama, Hokkaido
Price: from 82m JPY ($620,000 USD)
Opening in 2024, this amazing hotel complex features some incredible amenities but the pick has to be the 11th floor outdoor sky pool and onsen. We had a sneak peak at the show suite that just opened and can’t wait to see the property come to life.
VIEW LISTINGKi Niseko 2 Bedroom
Location: Niseko-Hirafu, Hokkaido
Price: 130m JPY ($980,000 USD)
Ki Niseko 2 Bedroom. View more images
Re-sale apartments in the ski-in ski-out Ki Niseko hotel are extremely rare and we don’t expect this one to be on the market for long. The location is unbeatable and this hotel has been extremely popular with visitors and investors alike.
VIEW LISTINGKawamotoya Penthouse
Location: Nozawa Onsen, Nagano
Price: 346m JPY ($2.6m USD)
Kawamotoya Penthouse, Nozawa Onsen. View more images
Kawamotoya is now open with the total restoration of this property complete in 2022. More than half of the apartment units have sold but this amazing penthouse unit is available. We can say for certain that this is unique in Nozawa Onsen, one of the most popular resorts in the mainland – only 2 hours from Tokyo.
VIEW LISTINGMoiwa Cabin
Location: Moiwa, Hokkaido
Price: 18m JPY ($140,000 USD)
Moiwa Backcountry Cabin. View more images
This cabin is simple, but the access to the fabled backcountry snow of the Niseko area is unrivalled. For a small investment you can guarantee yourself the best snow in the world!
VIEW LISTINGCheck out all the latest listings at uchijapan.com/properties
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