Kazane provides a year-round escape for a Hong Kong family with a long-time love of Japan.
After many visits to the country, often spending Christmas in Tokyo, they discovered Niseko on a visit in summer and bought a block of land. They had no immediate plans to build a house but after several more trips their kids were hooked on skiing so they decided to build their dream home away from home.
“We love the food and we love the culture and we’ve always had a very strong connection to Japan,” says the owner. “In Hong Kong we live in an apartment so we wanted to build a big house in Niseko where the kids could spend a lot of time and keep coming back to as they got older.”
They wanted a Western-style ski chalet with a Japanese feel.
”The Japanese ofuro bathroom overlooking the neighbouring forest is a stunning feature
As is a beautiful traditional tatami (woven-straw mat) floor room which is great retreat for the kids.
They now visit up to four times a year – Christmas, Chinese New Year, Easter (spring time) and summer.
“I haven’t got one favourite feature – we just love the feel of the house when we’re here on vacation. We don’t rent it out so it feels like our home away from home and like we now have roots in Niseko. It’s a beautiful house and it’s ours so we can go to Niseko for a break whenever we like.”