Alister

20 July 2022: The Pavilions Niseko Resort, Hokkaido has announced the completion of several major development milestones ahead of its launch in 2024 – including the remarkable relocation and painstaking reconstruction of a c. 125-year-old traditional kominka. Formerly a family home in Takayama, the two-storey timber building has been given a new lease of life as the upcoming resort’s Clubhouse, continuing Japan’s burgeoning kominka movement and placing vernacular architecture at the heart of The Pavilions Niseko experience. The Pavilions Niseko also confirmed completion of four of 19 planned resort villas, and the official registration of the Pavilions Ginto Onsen by the Ministry of Environment in accordance with Japan’s “Hot Springs Act”.

A regenerative travel initiative that began in the mid-Noughties, the kominka movement aims to preserve and breathe new life into traditional wooden homes by transforming them into commercially viable guesthouses, hotels, cafes and flexible workspaces. The Pavilions Niseko’s recently completed Clubhouse kominka was first built around 120 – 130 years ago in Takayama city, Gifu prefecture – famed for its master craftsmen and carpenters – using the same construction methods as the 1,300-year-old Heijo castle. After being purchased by The Pavilions Niseko, the building was meticulously dismantled by a local traditional master builder. The 40 tonnes of individually tagged bicentennial timbers were then transported over 800 miles to the resort site in Hokkaido, before being reconstructed with sympathetic extension and additions designed by ALT-254. A second historic kominka, dating back to 1859, is also in the process of being dismantled and relocated, in preparation for its new life as the resort’s Spa building.

In keeping with Japanese custom, reconstruction of the Clubhouse kominka began with a traditional Jichinsai (地鎮祭) ground-breaking ritual. Literally meaning “pacification of the grounds”, the Jichinsai serves to sanctify the ground, calm its energy and bless the new building. Performed in this instance by a Buddhist monk – although more usually done in the Shinto style – the ceremony included the presentation of offerings such as sake, rice and salt to the spirit of the land. “Mochi” rice cakes were also scattered from the top of the kominka to bring abundance and good business.

Scheduled to open in 2024, The Pavilions Niseko is a villa resort concept built in the sukiya architectural style, where natural materials and Japanese architectural elements work in harmony with the outdoor scenery. Nestled in the Ginto Hirafu forest, close to the white powder slopes of Mt Yotei and two hours’ drive from Chitose International Airport, the finished resort will comprise 19 hotel villas; 24 private ‘Ginto Residences’, which owners can choose to purchase as an already-completed residence or build their own; the Clubhouse with restaurant, bar, lounge and reception; a Spa offering a selection of wellness facilities; and an Onsen house which will welcome guests with a traditional bathing experience.

For further information please visit www.pavilionshotels.com/niseko or email [email protected].

Sansui Niseko will be opening its doors on November 23rd 2022, offering a quiet and discerning vision of hospitality catered to contemporary travellers. Guests may arrange reservations at the hotel from July 15th, providing the opportunity to plan their journey into the renowned Japanese ski resort.

Designed by nA Nakayama Architects, Sansui Niseko has been conceived with great consideration and respect for Wa, a holistic philosophy with deep respect for natural materials and harmony. The boutique hotel presents a gentle journey of curated experiences tailored for the modern tastemaker. The vision is both modern and timeless, characterized by floor-to-ceiling windows, a visual harmony of subtle textures, luxuriously subdue interiors, and uninterrupted views of Mt Yotei.

Enveloped by the mountains, guests can wake up every morning to the pristine view of nature in their studio, one-, two-, three-bedroom suites, or penthouse accommodations. The amply-sized rooms are comfortable and confidently understated, with generous kitchen and laundry amenities.

Sansui Niseko has an assortment of facilities. This includes their signature traditional onsen with mineral-rich waters sourced from underground, restorative spa experiences, a fully equipped gym with Technogym machinery, a ski rental centre, a children’s playroom, an art gallery, and an events space. Private onsens are also available upon booking, providing in-house guests the opportunity to unwind after a day of activities.

The hotel offers a curated gastronomy experience, highlighting the local bounty of Hokkaido’s land and sea. Sushi Shin by Miyakawa is the Niseko outpost of Sapporo’s Michelin three-star Sushi Miyakawa. The restaurant’s menu is a journey through the best of Edomae sushi paired with locally-sourced ingredients. Dining by LUPICIA spotlights a selection of memorable Japanese and international classics, along with a revolving roster of dishes that continually excite the palate. Lastly, LUPICIA Boutique provides a mid-day respite with appetizing food and beverages, as well as an evening menu for an after-hours drink.

The hotel is a ski-in ski-out destination within close reach of the Grand-Hirafu ski slopes. Situated on Hirafuzaka street, the hotel is close to the Welcome Center, convenience store, pharmacy, ski shops and restaurants. It is about a 2 hour drive from New Chitose Airport and Sapporo, depending on the season, or a 15 minute drive from the closest train stop, Kutchan Station. Private car transport can also be arranged through reservation.

Sansui Niseko warmly welcomes you to enjoy modern experiences in timeless Niseko.

Reservations: [email protected]
General Enquiries: [email protected]
TEL: +81-136-22-2000
Website: sansuiniseko.com

Ruji now offers professional photography services to the community – his works specialize in food, travel, and lifestyle. He also has extensive experiences with other types of visual media, both still and motion. He has been frequently featured with various clients, from some of the world’s leading brands to local boutique cafes. His fine art prints of awarded Hokkaido landscape and wildlife works are also available for those interested in decorating or exhibition. Please check his works at www.rujipart.com or contact for more details

For inquiries:
Rujipart Photography
Email:  [email protected]
Phone: 070 4332 9870

Continued investment in new developments and facilities are a sign of confidence of a strong return to tourism in Niseko. 

A number of new activities are leading the charge, with two new highlights at Hanazono, the most spectacular being Mountain Lights – an evening light art installation by world-renowned artist Bruce Munro.

During the day, visitors can fly over the ski runs at Hanazono Zip World – Asia’s longest new zip line course stretching more than 2.6 adrenaline-charged kilometres. 

Several new condo hotels are also opening this summer adding more luxury and excitement to the resort.

Events which have been canceled in recent years will also be returning this summer, including the popular Niseko Autumn Food Festival as well as Hirafu Matsuri and Kutchan Potato Matsuri.

Niseko Tourism Marketing Director Acme Wu says Niseko is geared up to provide exciting new experiences to travelers. 

“With the launch of Mountain Lights and Zipline by Hanazono Resort, Niseko certainly boosts an exciting atmosphere and is ready to welcome guests to enjoy the beautiful Hokakido summer season,” Acme says.

“There are many new accommodations or activities, which were put on hold during Covid, are now open again. We are happy to see guests coming to explore the Niseko area with all these facilities”.

Condominium style accommodation “Setsu Niseko”, has also opened for the first time this summer, after a number of years of construction. 

Setsu Niseko is located in Hirafu Village, and joins a number of other condominium accommodations in the area.

The resort is also seeing further improvements to mountain bike facilities, with new mountain bike trails being built in the area. Construction has already begun on the three trails which combined will run for nine kilometres. These trails are expected to be completed by Autumn of this year, with an additional ten kilometres of trails to be completed next year.

Video: https://youtu.be/43txsu5gi4M 

Please contact Niseko Tourism for photos.

About Niseko Tourism:

Niseko Tourism is the official destination marketing organisation for the Niseko area. It is a non-profit, member-based marketing organisation that was established in 2007 and now represents over 400 members in the region.

• Categories to honour various kinds of residential and commercial developments, as well as achievements in architecture and design
• Entry submissions are open until 23 September 2022
• Awards will be presented at an exclusive black-tie gala celebration set on 9 December in Bangkok, Thailand alongside the 17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final

NISEKO, Japan — 18 July 2022

PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards, the prestigious real estate awards programme that recognises the finest real estate in the region, launched the latest edition for Greater Niseko as Japan reopened its borders to international business travelers and tour groups.

Since lifting many border restrictions in June, Japan has gradually renewed enthusiasm among international travelers and property investors for its world-famous attractions, including the ski resorts of Greater Niseko, which comprises the villages of Hirafu and Hanazono and surrounding areas.

The PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Greater Niseko) programme returns bigger and better than ever for its 2022 edition, with open categories for eligible development companies and projects in the popular resort and holiday home destination.

This year’s programme is chaired by Bill Barnett, the foremost expert on the region’s hospitality industry and founder of C9 Hotelworks.

With the return of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Greater Niseko), the programme will showcase the alpine community’s finest developers and outstanding, best-designed developments to its wide network of property seekers across Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. Investors from Southeast Asia are expected to become a new driving force behind the Niseko market’s growth. The organiser PropertyGuru Group (PGRU: NYSE) is the largest proptech company in the region and the preferred destination for more than 38 million property seekers per month.

In addition, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Greater Niseko) programme could reintroduce the destination’s many luxurious real estate offerings to the domestic market. “Japanese buyers and long-stay guests have been rediscovering Niseko, buoyed by the combination of remote working opportunities, world-class amenities and the natural environment,” Eddie Guillemette, CEO of property management company Midori no Ki and a member of the independent judging panel of the Awards, told PropertyGuru Property Report Magazine.

The Awards are set to represent and accolade Greater Niseko’s exemplary developers and projects across a variety of categories, including Best Developer and Best Hospitality Developer. Honours are also at stake for hotel condo developments, resort housing projects, resort developments, mixed-use developments, tourism attractions, restaurants, and eco-friendly developments. Other categories are poised to honour various achievements in architectural design, interior design, and landscape architectural design.

The Awards will be presented in an exclusive, black-tie gala dinner and ceremony alongside the 17th edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final at The Athenee Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok on Friday, 9 December 2022, together with other winners from key property markets including Australia, India, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia.

Key dates for the 2022 edition:

23 September 2022 – Entries Close

10-11 October 2022 – Site Inspections

12 October 2022 – Final Judging

9 December 2022 – Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand

Entries from eligible developers are being accepted here: https://www.asiapropertyawards.com/

Professional, fair, and transparent judging

The Awards are determined by a professionally run and fully transparent judging system, establishing a reputation for fairness and integrity. Eligible entries are rigorously selected and shortlisted by an independent panel of judges, comprising experts in real estate consultancy, architecture and design, green building, and sustainable development. The selection process is supervised by HLB, the global network of independent advisory and accounting firms.

This year’s edition is supported by media partner Powderlife, the authoritative magazine about Niseko run by managing editor Kristian Lund, as well as Niseko Tourism’s promotional board, which represents more than 400 real estate and business leaders in the Niseko area, to bring added credibility and reach to the programme.

In 2021, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Greater Niseko) were presented as a virtual gala celebration on digital platforms that included AsiaPropertyAwards.com, as well as Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. Highlights of the show aired on the History Channel, the official cable TV partner of the awards.

SC Global Developments Pte Ltd was revealed as Best Developer, earning the top accolade of the year. It also garnered four titles for its luxury development Setsu Niseko, which include the coveted title of Best Hotel Condo Development (Greater Niseko). Setsu Niseko went on to win the Best Condo Interior Design (Asia) award at the 16th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final.

Main winners of the Awards in Greater Niseko will be eligible to advance to the 17th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final where they will compete with peers across Asia for international honours.

The 2022 PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Greater Niseko) programme is supported by official cable TV partner History Channel; official magazine PropertyGuru Property Report; media partner Powderlife; official ESG partner Baan Dek Foundation; supporting association Niseko Tourism; and official supervisor HLB.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.

Christie’s International Real Estate Eyes Major Expansion In Japan With H2 Group 

H2 Christie’s International Real Estate Will Be The Exclusive Affiliate For Hokkaido And Also Expand The Brand To Other Major Cities In Japan Through A Master Licensing Agreement  

CHICAGO and NISEKO (2022 July 20) – Christie’s International Real Estate, the world’s leading luxury real estate brand, is partnering with Hokkaido-based lifestyle real estate services firm H2 Group to launch Christie’s International Real Estate in Japan.  

H2 Group’s residential brokerage division, H2 Real Estate, with offices in Niseko and Furano, will become Japan’s first Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate, rebranding to H2 Christie’s International Real Estate. The firm also has signed a Master Licensing Agreement to grow the Christie’s International Real Estate brand throughout Japan, including in the key markets of Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hakuba, Fukuoka and Okinawa. 

H2 Group, founded by Simon Robinson and Michael H. Chen, has more than 20 years of experience in development, management, sales and service in the luxury real estate, leisure and hospitality industries in Hokkaido. Along with its real estate brokerage division, H2 Group offers development management, property management, and luxury rentals featuring curated lifestyle experiences in Hokkaido’s ski resort areas.  

H2 Christie’s International Real Estate expects to take advantage of resurgent demand for luxury real estate in Japan as the country reopens to international buyers following the 2.5-year global pandemic. Nowhere are those prospects more apparent than in Hokkaido prefecture, a popular vacation and second-home destination known for its ski resorts, temperate summer climate and national parks. A recent wave of development has added a number of new luxury 5-star hotel-branded residences in Hokkaido. In addition, the extension of the Shinkansen bullet train to Niseko and Sapporo will improve access to the region. Sapporo is also in the running to host the 2030 Winter Olympics.  

Japan’s broader housing market also has garnered increasing attention from international investors enticed by the weakness of the Japanese Yen against the U.S. dollar. Japan’s residential property price index rose by 6.9% from Q1 to Q3 2021, according to the Land Institute of Japan. Prices continue to be highest in the capital city of Tokyo.  

 “With their luxury focus, strong international connections and innovative, full-service approach to real estate, Michael and Simon are the perfect partners to expand Christie’s International Real Estate in Japan and give the brand even greater visibility in East Asia,” said Mike Golden, co-CEO of Christie’s International Real Estate.  

“Our affiliation with Christies International Real Estate will give H2 even more credibility and reinforce our expertise in the Hokkaido luxury residential market,” said Simon Robinson, co-CEO of H2 Group. “We are excited for this partnership to open new doors for us throughout Japan.” 

“We are thrilled and honored to be selected by Christies International Real Estate as its Japan affiliate, as our commitment to the highest quality of client care and experience are values much supported by Christie’s. With this partnership, we will offer an even higher level of service both in areas of marketing and technology, providing higher chances of success both for our clients and agents,” said Michael Chen, co-CEO of H2 Group. 

Christie’s International Real Estate’s close relationship with the world-renowned Christie’s auction house is another important client benefit considering Asian buyers represented 31% of Christie’s sales in 2021.  

“The ability to refer clients to the auction house and vice versa will create some incredible opportunities to grow our business and further service our clientele,” added Chen.   

“The Christie’s International Real Estate brand has tremendous growth potential in Asia thanks to a strong network and first-class operators like H2 Group. We are excited to be growing our footprint in this part of the world,” said Helena de Forton, Managing Director, Head of EMEA & Asia for Christie’s International Real Estate.  

H2 Group is active in local charitable and civic endeavors. The firm supports the Hokkaido International School, sits on the Niseko Promotion Board, is a member of the Kutchan Tourism Association and is the title sponsor for the Jolly Fox Niseko Invitational Charity Golf Series.  

For more information, visit https://h2realestate.jp/.  

About Christie’s International Real Estate 

Christie’s International Real Estate has successfully marketed high-value real estate around the world for more than 30 years. Through its invitation-only Affiliate network spanning nearly 50 countries and territories, Christie’s International Real Estate offers incomparable services to a global clientele the in the luxury residential market. The company and its affiliated brokerages have recorded approximately US$500 billion of real estate transactions over the last five years. For additional information, please visit christiesrealestate.com.