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eal estate newsby kristian lundHanazono under the watchful eye of Yotei$7m forest soldTHE Forest – a huge tract of treed land in upper Hirafu - has sold forwhat’s believed to be a Hirafu/Niseko record for a single sale.The final sale price is confidential but it was on the market for ¥700 million(approx $US7 million),The new owner is an Australian businessman from Brisbane who plans tobuild a ‘super luxury, all penthouse development’.It will include day spa and wellness centre and commercial space.“This development will bring a level of sophistication and luxury unseenin Niseko and will be the cornerstone of the maturation of Niseko into atrue world class four seasons resorts,” he said.The 3,825sqm (1,159 tsubo) lies just below the J-First hotel and oneminute’s walk from the Grand Hirafu Gondola in Upper Hirafu Village.The back and left boundaries border onto national parkland and the rightboundary is a creek-line.Feature PropertyBig business backs NisekoWHEN the history of Niseko is written, the latter half of 2007 will be seenas a major turning point in its transformation as a truly international winterresort.In the run-up to the season this year, the judgement of the pioneer Australiandevelopers has been well and truly vindicated, with significant internationalplayers moving in to stake their claims on the area’s future.Simon Robinson, Hokkaido Tracks Resort Properties president, puts it simply:“The difference is now it’s moved out of the league of the privateentrepreneur to big corporate companies, which should be underpinningeverybody’s confidence. These guys don’t come in to markets that arespeculative or if they have doubts about growth potential.”Niseko Property director Ruskin Mclennan is similarly positive about thesignificance of recent months.“2007 was the year Niseko went from a funky, quirky little ski village to aninternational resort.”While Hirafu remains firmly in the grip of Australian entrepreneurs, in theshort space of a few months this year:- Citigroup - themselves new owners of the Higashiyama Prince Hotel - appointedHilton Hotels Corporation to manage its conversion, re-branding andoperations into the Hilton Niseko Village, to be launched in July next year;- Hong Kong IT mega-company Pacific Century bought out Nihon Harmony’sinterest in the Hanazono ski area and has hinted at a substantialdevelopment;- And Major Japanese developer Zephyr bought the Moiwa ski resort and isproceeding rapidly with redevelopment and marketing plans.Persistent rumors continue to link the Four Seasons group to Hanazono’sfuture, and similarly, rumors about an upcoming luxury Aman Resorts developmentin the Niseko area are not going away. Aman first ventured intowinter resorts with the spectacular Amangani, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming,and will bring a real touch of international class.With underpinning like this, it is no wonder the voices of the sceptics areat last being silenced.A sale a day at MoiwaIMPRESSIVE sales at the recently released Moiwa Resort Towers is anothersign buyers are increasingly confident investing outside Hirafu.NRE agent Keith Rodgers said close to 30 of 109 apartments under refurbishmentin the twin towers had already been sold.“They’re going at a rate of one or more a day which is pretty interestinggiven it’s still early season,” he said.“It’s indicative of a larger trend - people are definitely expanding theirhorizons and looking outside the village.”“Niseko is now regional, it’s not just Hirafu.“Izumikyo 2 used to be outside the village, now it’s definitely inside thevillage.”Mt Moiwa is about 15 minutes drive from Hirafu and, despite standingright beside Mt Annupuri, the resort’s lifts are independent of NisekoUnited – another reason it’s interesting there’s such strong interest.Although there don’t appear to be any firm plans to run a lift up to Annupuriat this stage, perhaps investors think it’s a given.Rodgers said there was obviously strong interest from Australia, but amajority was actually from Hong Kong, where buyers tended to buy withcapital growth in mind.“There’s not fewer Aussies buying, but Hong Kong buyers have gone fromaround 20 percent to about 50 or 60,” he said.“Australian buyers tend to buy for rental return whereas Hong Kong buyersgo for capital growth.”The development is the first stage of an exclusive master planned resortand is set to open mid January.Higuma HouseHiguma is an alpine chalet offeringexclusive accommodation for familiesor groups seeking a luxurious, contemporarymountain retreat.Fully self-contained, it caters to familiesand groups of up to 10 adults.The high-end property features agourmet kitchen, games room withhome theatre system, spacious livingand dining areas, a cozy fireplace,vaulted ceilings and cathedralwindows.Located in upper Izumikyo, just behindNAC, it’s a short walk to the villagecentre and convenient to someof the best restaurants in Hirafu andthe free ski shuttle bus.The factsIzumikyo 1242m25 bedrooms3 bathroomsWalk to:Shuttle 2 minutesLifts 15 minutesConvenience store 5 minInquiries to West Canada Properties+81 (0)136 21 750028 powderlife issue #01 DECEMBER 22 – JANUARY 4 www.powderlife.co.jp powderlife issue #01 DECEMBER 22 – JANUARY 4 www.powderlife.co.jp 29