Your questions answered

General

Yes, there are no restrictions on foreigners owning freehold land in Japan. The process is straightforward and you will have the same property rights as a Japanese citizen.

The location offers a unique combination of value and access. It provides unobstructed, premium views of Mount Yotei at a significantly lower price point than nearby resorts. It’s strategically located just 15 minutes from Rusutsu Resort, 45 minutes from Niseko, and 30 minutes from Lake Toya, making it an ideal hub for year-round tourism.

Rusutsu/Kimobetsu don’t currently have a large supply of condominum style accommodations, but mostly villas and hotels (2-3 of them). Supply of accommodation options are still quite limited, and often get snapped up up to 9 months before ski season starts. As such, the investment in this area would put you in a good spot for a fast growing market …think Niseko about 12-14 years ago.

Of course!
If you choose to buy a land parcel, you will get a land title to show ownership. 

Niseko is LOUD.
Niseko is undoubtedly the most famous ski area in Hokkaido, possibly Japan, perhaps even in the whole of Asia. It comes with a strong mix activities covering winter sports, accommodations and food and beverage choices. However, it can get very crowded (think 30mins queues for beginner ski lifts) and expensive during the peak periods. However, it is definitely more suited for first-timers to Hokkaido , as well as young party goers, who want a good mix of convenience and winter sports, but at a price. 

Rusutsu is CHILLED.
For regular powder snow worshippers and families with kids, Rusutsu/Kimobetsu area provides a slightly different cultural feel to the holiday. Quieter slopes and surrounding town areas give holiday-goers an alternative to the expat-like hustle and bustle of Niseko.

Investment

You have two primary options:

1) Purchase a land-only parcel (typically 5,000-6,000 sq ft) to build your own custom vacation home.

2) Opt for a full turnkey development solution where we manage the design, construction, and property management for you, with target rental yields of 8-10%.

In all turnkey options, Snowy Ventures will guarantee 5% annual yields for 5 years. 

Our turnkey packages are comprehensive. 
They include the cost of the land (if land purchase option included), full construction of the house using high quality Japanese style modular housing (e.g., 2-bed or 4-bed models), interior design and complete property and rental management services, and even a vehicle for tenants to use during their stay.
All approvals with local council and appropriate hotel licences (“Minpaku”) will be applied for.

There are 2 main types of investments.
1) Outright land purchase for own use.
Individual land plots range between 150-250k USD each. 
Snowy Ventures will transfer the title deed to the investor, and if needed, provide basic administrative support post transaction.
Yields will depend investor’s own appetite post transaction.

2a) Turnkey investment WITHOUT land ownership. Starts from as low as $225k USD for a yield of around 9-13%

2b) Turnkey investment WITH land ownership. Starts from as low as $275k USD for a yield of around 7.5-9.5%

For Kimobetsu, (at least for the time being…) there is no restriction of “ownership” usage during any time during the year, unlike for properties in Niseko, which normally provides owners the maximum of 28 days of own usage (2 weeks in Winter, 2 weeks in Summer). All other times, owners would also have to pay full charges for usage.

 

 

After Sales

The timeline depends on the construction method. A traditional build, including design and approvals, typically takes 12 to 18 months.
Our turnkey modular construction options are focused on generating income as soon as possible. As such, they are significantly faster, with a timeline of about 4-5 months from start to finish.

Snowy Ventures has an appointed local team that will provide full management services (including advertising, check-in/check-out, guests services etc).

All fees are included in the annual net yield calculations, providing piece of mind for investors

For our Turnkey packages without land, Snowy Ventures will provide the option to purchase the property back after the 5th year of operation at the original sale price.
For all purchases with land, standard property sales transactions can take place. Snowy Ventures or any real estate agency will be able to assist in finding buyers