Fenix Furano has opened its doors in the main street of the Furano Ski Resort in Central Hokkaido (exterior facade above).
Located directly opposite the gondola, the condo hotel is the first ski accommodation built in the resort in the modern Japanese ski era, post 2000. All apartments sold out within three months of sales launching, demand so strong it lead developer Zekkei to launch plans for Fenix Furano II on a nearby site on the main commercial boulevard, Kitanomine Zaka.
There has been significant movement in the Furano real estate market in recent years, with comparisons to the early days of Niseko’s development. With the full sale of Fenix, a high volume of real estate sales, other developments in the pipeline, and involvement by key Niseko players including Hokkaido Tracks, pioneers of Niseko’s early development, it is fair to say Furano could be “the next Niseko” – the next Japanese resort to enjoy significant international investment.
Metropoly – the Hong Kong-based developer behind Hirafu mixed-use “village hub” project Aruku-zaka Street – completed Kaku Place, a 16-unit condo this winter (pictured bottom right).
Meanwhile Supernova Land, Hong Kong-based developer of Koa Niseko, also has plans for a boutique condominium in Kitanomine, three-minutes’ walk from the Furano Kitanomine Ski Gondola and featuring an integrated mineral onsen.
Furano is located in central Hokkaido, about two hours’ drive from Sapporo and has a renowned world-class ski resort, but more tourists visit in the summer than winter. The region’s picturesque landscape and flower fields draw 1.5 million mostly domestic tourists every summer. Double peak seasons and a range of other factors are driving investment interest in the resort. It is right in the city of Furano with rich culture, hundreds of local restaurants and access to two international airports.