Japan Ski Homes Are Selling Fast: 3 Picks Before the Snow Falls

Another week, another Bento Box! This week I’m writing from Takayama, which is honestly such a beautiful area if you haven’t visited yet. I think autumn, winter, and spring are probably some of the best seasons to come, as the scenery and atmosphere change completely throughout the year.

I’m here for the Autumn Takayama Festival, and let me tell you—it is BUSY! Takayama has already become really popular with international travelers, but being here during one of its biggest festivals really shows you just how much demand there can be for accommodation.

Something that really surprised me was the price of Airbnbs. I started looking around two months ago, and even then, some stays for only four nights were already over US$1,000. Looking again closer to the festival, I saw options going for more than US$3,000, which I honestly think is crazy! Of course, those are asking prices and don’t necessarily mean people are booking at those rates, but almost everything was already fully booked when I searched the day before the festival.

Takayama actually has two major festivals every year, one in spring and another in autumn, and both attract a huge number of visitors. With the area becoming increasingly popular among international travelers, I think Takayama is definitely worth watching for anyone who has been looking beyond the usual investment areas in Japan. Of course, STR regulations, seasonality, and operating costs always need to be considered before buying specifically for rentals, but seeing the accommodation demand firsthand has definitely made me more curious about this market!

Luckily, I managed to find a hotel through a Japanese booking website for WAY less, so I survived the festival prices haha!

Anyways, let’s get started with this week’s properties—and of course, after seeing all of this for myself, I HAD to include a house in the Takayama area!

Ingredient #1

• 📍 Location: Chishima-cho, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture
• 💰 Price: ¥9,000,000 (~$56,870 USD)
• 🏠 Type: Detached House
• 🛏 Layout: 6DK
• 📐 Building Size: 137.40 m² (1,479 sq ft)
• 🌿 Land Size: 207.30 m² (2,231 sq ft)
• 🚍 Access: 16-minute walk to Takayama Station on the Takayama Main Line

Learn more here: Live Listing!

This house immediately caught my attention because of the combination of size and location. It has six bedrooms, a garage with space for two cars, and is only around a 16-minute walk from Takayama Station. The house was built in 1972, but from what I can see, it actually looks to be in pretty good condition for its age. I don’t think this needs to be a complete renovation project either. I would focus on modernizing the kitchen and bathroom, replacing some of the wallpaper, and refreshing the tatami where necessary. I would actually keep some of the traditional Japanese elements because I think they could work really well with the atmosphere of Takayama, especially if the goal is to create a vacation home or guest accommodation.

With six bedrooms, there are also so many possibilities for how you could use the space. Subject to the necessary licenses and regulations, I could imagine this becoming a really charming guesthouse or vacation rental where larger families and groups can stay together. You could modernize the common areas while keeping a few Japanese-style bedrooms, giving visitors something that still feels connected to the character of the area.

The location is another reason I really like this one. Hie Shrine, one of Takayama’s sightseeing spots and closely connected with the spring Takayama Festival, is nearby, and you also have restaurants and a supermarket within easy reach. Being able to walk toward Takayama Station and the central sightseeing areas while still having your own two-car garage gives you a nice balance.

And something people might not immediately associate with Takayama is skiing. The wider Hida region has several ski areas, and if you’re willing to drive farther toward Gujo, you have even more options. That makes Takayama interesting because it isn’t completely dependent on one season. You have the historic town and festivals in spring and autumn, beautiful nature throughout the warmer months, and snow activities during winter.

Overall, I think this could be a really interesting property for someone looking beyond the more obvious tourism markets in Japan. Takayama already attracts visitors throughout the year, and after seeing firsthand how busy it becomes during festival periods, I think a large house with six bedrooms, parking, and a location this close to central Takayama is definitely worth looking at.

Ingredient #2

• 📍 Location: 1-chome Mogami, Otaru City, Hokkaido
• 💰 Price: ¥10,000,000 (~$63,189 USD)
• 🏠 Type: Detached House
• 🛏 Layout: 5LDK+S
• 📐 Building Size: 138.77 m² (1,494 sq ft)
• 🌿 Land Size: 275.03 m² (2,960 sq ft)

Learn more here: Live Listing!

This house is definitely a little more on the expensive side compared to some of the properties I normally share, but I still think it has a LOT of potential, especially because of some of the unique details you’re getting with it. The house has five bedrooms, a spacious living and dining area, two toilets, and its own parking space, so there is already plenty of room for a family or larger groups.

My favorite part is probably the garden. It has a beautiful traditional Japanese-style garden with its own pond, which could look AMAZING with some landscaping and maintenance. You could even keep fish in the pond and create a really peaceful outdoor area. Features like this are difficult to recreate from zero, so I think it adds a lot of character to the property.

Inside, there are definitely areas I would renovate. The kitchen could use a complete modernization, and I would replace some of the older carpets, tatami, and wallpaper. However, I wouldn’t remove everything! Some of the rooms have really beautiful details, particularly the designs on the traditional closets and sliding doors, and I think keeping those elements while modernizing everything around them could create a really nice combination of traditional and contemporary Japanese design.

The location is also convenient for everyday life, with a supermarket, convenience store, clothing store, and other amenities nearby. You’re also close to Mt. Tengu (Tenguyama) and the Otaru Tenguyama Ropeway, which is one of Otaru’s popular sightseeing spots and offers beautiful views over the city.

And of course, one of the reasons I continue to like Otaru is the access to skiing. You have several ski areas within driving distance, including Sapporo Kokusai, Asarigawa Onsen, Kiroro, and Sapporo Teine, so this isn’t a property that only makes sense during the summer tourism season.

Ingredient #3

• 📍 Location: Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture
• 💰 Price: ¥21,800,000 (~$137,152 USD)
• 🏠 Type: Detached House
• 🛏 Layout: 5DK
• 📐 Building Size: 193.35 m² (2,081 sq ft)
• 🌿 Land Size: 390.64 m² (4,205 sq ft)
• 🚍 Access: 23-minute walk to Arai Station on the Myōkō Haneuma Line

Learn more here: Live Listing!

This house is definitely more on the expensive side compared to some of the properties I normally share, but I think that makes sense considering the size, condition, and location. Houses this large around the Myoko area can get pricey, especially as more people look for properties within driving distance of the major ski resorts.

The house was built in 2002, so it is actually much newer than many of the properties we normally find in this area. It has five rooms, two toilets, a large kitchen and dining area, parking for up to four cars, which I think is really important for a mountain property where most people will be getting around by car.

Looking at the interior, I don’t think this needs a major renovation either. Some of the tatami, carpets, wallpaper, and finishes could be updated to give the house a more modern feeling, but overall it looks quite move-in ready. I would probably focus on cosmetic changes and interior design rather than completely changing the house, which is nice because you aren’t immediately looking at a huge renovation budget after purchasing it.

There are also some really practical features for winter. The house has a natural snow-shedding roof, and the road in front is around eight meters wide and is regularly cleared of snow. The property itself is also built in a raised-floor style, which is something you see quite often in snowy areas. These aren’t necessarily the most exciting details aesthetically, but they can make a BIG difference when you’re actually using a property during winter.

The location also gives you access by car toward the ski areas around Myoko, while still being close enough to everyday conveniences. A supermarket is around a 12-minute walk away and a drugstore around 10 minutes, so you don’t feel completely isolated like you might with a cabin directly in the mountains.

Overall, I think this is a really interesting option for someone who wants a Myoko-area property but doesn’t necessarily want a huge renovation project. You have a massive house, four-car parking, winter-friendly features, plenty of room for guests, and access to the ski areas while still having supermarkets and other daily necessities nearby. It costs more upfront, but you’re also getting a much newer and more usable house than many of the cheaper properties we normally find around the area.

As always, let me know in the comments which house was your favorite or which area you would like me to search next. See you next week!

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This content is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects my personal opinions and experience. I am not a licensed financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.