Luxury hotel in Sapporo now a casualty of rising construction costs
Plans for a luxury hotel to crown the top of a high-rise project in front of Sapporo Station in Hokkaido have been scrapped due to rapidly rising construction costs. The upper floors will, instead, be office space to cater to the high demand from office tenants in central Sapporo.Read more
Nationwide land values increase for 2nd year in a row
The nationwide Assessed Land Values (koji-chika), as issued by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) saw a year-on-year increase in 2023. This is the second year in a row to see an increase. The growth is apparent not only in urban centers, but is also spreading to regional areas as the country emerges from the pandemic.Read more
Three hotels sold by Hokkaido hotelier
Mail-order company Belluna has emerged as the buyer of two hotels in Hokkaido from Karakami Hotels & Resorts for an undisclosed price. Karakami will stay on as the operator of the hotels.
Buyer in talks to buy Kiroro Resort
Shanghai Yuyuan Tourist Mart Co. has expressed interest in purchasing Kiroro Snow World, Kiroro Resort, its land, two hotels, onsen, and golf course through an 11 billion Yen (US$81.5 million) corporate acquisition of Napier SPC.
450-room hotel for Niseko
Philippine real estate developer DoubleDragon Properties is about to embark on a 450-room hotel project in Niseko.
40-lot holiday villa subdivision planned for Niseko
A Sapporo-based real estate company is planning to develop a holiday home subdivision on a 10-hectare site adjoining Niseko’s Hirafu district. The developer is targeting wealthy foreign buyers.
Restrictions on resort development in Kutchan lagging behind schedule
New restrictions on resort development in Kutchan Town, near the popular Niseko ski resort, were scheduled to be introduced this fall, but have been pushed back. These restrictions are aimed at protecting the town’s natural environment and scenery from an unchecked surge in development by foreign funds in the Hirafu and Hanazono districts.
Hyatt to open in Sapporo
On June 28, NTT Urban Development announced that Hyatt Hotels Corporation will by opening the Hyatt Centric Sapporo in NTT’s Sapporo Kita 1 Nishi 5 Project.
Sapporo’s most expensive apartments go on sale
Like other cities across Japan, Sapporo is no stranger to rising home prices. New apartment prices have risen by 37.3% over the past ten years. One new luxury condominium in the city has gone on sale this June with all apartments priced over 200 million Yen.
New brand moves into historic hotel in Otaru
Boutique ryokan developer and operator Hoshino Resorts has taken over a bankrupt hotel in Otaru, Hokkaido, with plans to re-open it this winter under their OMO brand.