A huge 58,000-tsubo (19.2 hectares) block of land at Rusutsu has been sold to a ‘major’ company.
Despite Rusutsu – about 45 minutes drive from Niseko – being considered another area that could experience a property boom, the market has never really taken off.
While the mountain is great for skiing there is no real village or infrastructural support close to the base. There is a hotel, a Seicomart and even an amusement park, but as yet it doesn’t support the idea of self-contained accommodation.
Land prices have risen in Rusutsu over the past few years on the back of Niseko, but there still doesn’t yet seem to be much confidence that it will really take off.
This sale is interesting as it suggests a large scale organisation might be going in to get the ball rolling.
The other great white hope in Hokkaido is Furano, in the centre of the island, which has long been a year-round hotspot for the domestic tourist market, and more recently for Chinese visitors. There is also confidence among Tokyo expats – that Hakuba, on the mainland, is destined for bigger and better things.