Before making your first vacation rental investment in Hokkaido, gain clear insights into market conditions, challenges, and strategies.
We organize property inspection tours across different areas for those looking to conduct market research before investing.
Workcation Opportunities Surrounded by Stunning Natural Scenery
| Administrator | Number of Facilities | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite Office Operating Companies | 86 | Ranked No. 1 in Japan |
| Municipal Governments Operating Trial Residences (Promoting affordable temporary housing as part of regional development) |
114 | - |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications "Satellite Office Establishment Survey" (March 2021)
Hokkaido Government Survey (March 2020)
29 Graduate Schools, 39 Universities, and 4 Specialized Colleges
Numerous Affordable Industrial Parks
Achievements in Collaborative Research with Major Universities in Hokkaido
| Region | Price |
|---|---|
| Hokkaido | 12,800 JPY/m² |
| National Average | 34,332 JPY/m² |
Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
Support from Hokkaido Research Institutes
Achievements in Collaborative Research with Major Universities in Hokkaido
| University Name | Number of Achievements |
|---|---|
| Hokkaido University | 636 |
| Obihiro University | 89 |
| Muroran Institute of Technology | 89 |
| Kitami Institute of Technology | 65 |
Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
A Spacious and Relaxed Lifestyle
| Property Prices | |
| Region | Price |
|---|---|
| Hokkaido | ¥19,000 |
| Tokyo | ¥354,000 |
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
| Transportation | |
| Region | Commute Time |
|---|---|
| Hokkaido | 61 minutes |
| Tokyo | 94 minutes |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
| Healthcare | |
| Region | Number of Hospitals |
|---|---|
| Hokkaido | 9.2 |
| Tokyo | 5.7 |
Number of hospitals per 100,000 people
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
| Entertainment | ||
| Facility | Number of Facilities | Hokkaido Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Golf Courses | 146 | 3rd |
| Ski Resorts | 27 | 2nd |
| Beaches | 44 | 7th |
| Cycling Courses | 31 | 1st |
| Parks | 362 | 1st |
| Hot Springs | 243 | 1st |
| Hotels & Accommodations | 2,863 | 2nd |
| Vacation Rentals | 598 | 4th |
Source: Japan National Tourism Organization, "Tourism by Numbers, 2021 Edition"
*Source: Promoting Investment in Hokkaido - International Business Division, Hokkaido Government
Niseko, Rusutsu, and Furano are top-tier resorts renowned for their high-quality powder snow, attracting many visitors to Hokkaido for winter sports.
Owning property in one of Hokkaido's globally recognized resort areas offers opportunities for both vacation rental business and personal leisure use.
Despite a 430% increase in international tourists over the past decade, there is still a shortage of accommodation options.
Operating vacation rentals in Hokkaido offers the potential for stable occupancy rates by meeting the growing demand while minimizing vacancy risks.
With continuously rising land prices in Niseko, renowned global hotel brands like Park Hyatt and Ritz-Carlton have entered the market, strengthening its reputation for ownership, residence, investment, and development.
The ongoing redevelopment and the planned extension of the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Sapporo add to the area's growth potential and future value.
Hokkaido’s snow quality ranks among the best globally, offering the same potential as the world’s top resorts.
Compared to other international ski resorts, real estate prices in Niseko are about one-third, while Furano and Rusutsu are even more affordable.
As a growing resort market, the risk of depreciation is low, offering a safe and promising investment opportunity.
JANKEN helps investors succeed in Hokkaido through three unique strengths.
We leverage our extensive knowledge and experience from managing vacation rentals across Hokkaido to ensure your success.
Our strong network offers access to valuable, hard-to-find local insights, allowing us to cater to diverse needs.
We have strong ties with essential service providers, including real estate agencies, construction companies, and cleaning services, offering seamless one-stop solutions for vacation rental operations.
JANKEN, operated by Kukan Inc., is composed of experts with extensive know-how from managing over 500 vacation rental properties.
Our team is active across all resort areas in Hokkaido—from Sapporo in the west to Furano in the east and Niseko in the west—offering expert knowledge and experience to help ensure the success of your vacation rental investment.
Vacation Rental Investment Consulting
Comprehensive consulting services for vacation rental investments
Property Sales and Listings
Brokerage services for buying and selling land and buildings
Translation and Interpretation
Facilitating transactions with foreign investors
Building Planning
Architectural plans tailored for real estate investments
Sales Strategy
Marketing and promotional plans for development projects
Development Management
Reporting on construction and development progress
Have questions about buying property or investing in vacation rentals in Hokkaido?
Our JANKEN agents are here to help.
Resolve your questions about property purchases!
FAQ page for investors around the world.
Niseko is a popular destination year-round, offering excellent ski resorts in winter and rafting retreats in summer. It attracts tourists from all over the world, especially from Australia.
Despite being more affordable compared to other international ski resorts, Niseko boasts the highest land value growth rate in Japan, making it a highly attractive investment destination for both domestic and international investors.
Owning property in this globally renowned Hokkaido resort allows you to enjoy both capital gains and income gains through vacation rental operations.
Similar to Niseko, Furano attracts numerous tourists with its high-quality powder snow. During summer, many visitors also flock to witness the stunning lavender fields.
As a result, the peak annual foreign visitor stays reach approximately 153,000 nights, surpassing even Niseko.
While land prices in the Kitanomine resort area have increased by 34% over the past four years, Furano remains more affordable than Niseko in terms of both land and property prices.
Furano is an ideal area for vacation rental investment, offering high-income potential with relatively low initial costs.
Please provide detailed information such as the "background," "goal," "preferred area," "business model," "budget," and "desired start date" for your vacation rental investment in Hokkaido.
If you have current or previous experience with vacation rental or real estate investments, please mention that as well.
We will analyze past data and provide suggestions designed to help you achieve the best possible results.
Our professional team, well-versed in local business practices in Hokkaido, will conduct simulations based on your inquiry and meeting discussions. We will then present a tailored vacation rental investment strategy for you.
We will also provide exclusive local insights and address various concerns to help realize your investment goals.
Based on the proposal provided, we will execute your vacation rental investment plan.
Our services cover comprehensive consulting, property sales and brokerage, land transactions, and architectural planning suitable for investment. We will follow the schedule diligently and continuously manage and improve operations using the PDCA cycle to achieve your KPIs.
To calculate the Return on Investment (ROI) for a vacation rental property, tools such as AirDNA and Metro Engine, along with in-house simulations, are used.
You should estimate the price, initial investment, monthly mortgage payments and expenses, nightly rate, and occupancy rate accurately.
Owning a vacation rental investment property offers several advantages:
・Generates passive income monthly
・Allows investment for both cash flow and asset appreciation
・Higher cash flow, Cash-on-Cash Return (CoC), and ROI compared to long-term rentals
The potential downsides of owning a vacation rental property include:
・The real estate market is not 100% predictable
・Inconsistent income and vacancies in rental operations
・Unexpected seasonal expenses
Common hidden costs associated with vacation rental properties include:
・Fixed asset tax
・Judicial scrivener fees
・Closing costs
・Unexpected property upgrades
・Accidental guest damages
・Property management-related expenses
・Homeowner and short-term rental insurance
・Homeowners Association (HOA) fees
Have questions about buying property or investing in vacation rentals in Hokkaido?
Our JANKEN agents are here to help.
Resolve your questions about property purchases!
FAQ page for investors around the world.
+81 50-1807-5783
