Snow changers unite, we’ve found another lodge that could be yours for a steal, this time in Akakura Onsen in Myoko Kogen in Japan, the powder capital of Honshu. And the price is cheaper than a Sydney studio apartment (with no parking).
This cool authentic Japan ski town copped 17 metres plus of light dry Japow last season and is a mere 3 hours by train and bus from Tokyo. Just saying.
The lodge is currently a ski hostel but with some love and a styling eye you could turn it into the schmickest pad in town and open it up for up to 35 paying guests to line your coffers.
Don’t like the general public? No problem, keep it to yourself like a snow lord and invite select friends and family each season.
What do I get?
Expect 420 square metres plus an attic with room for 25 – 32 sleeping guests and staff quarters for your team. Add a commercial kitchen, foyer, communal living area with fireplace and a dining area that seats 26 people and you could become the hub of Akakura.
Add a large drying area, a maintenance room and 512 square metres of land (including the building). Did we mention the big screen projector, games and speaker system?
Location, location, location
Step outside and take in the mountain views. Walk five minutes (300 metres) to the chairlift or 2 minutes to the Main Street for bars and restaurants.
Both Akakura Onsen and Akakura Kanko resorts are a short walk from the hostel and after a huge dump of snow you’ll be able to ski back to your digs.
Want to ski or board the six Myoko resorts? The Akakura Onsen Winter Bus Stop is five minutes walk from the front door for shuttles between resorts and transfers further afield to Seki Onsen, Lotte Arai, Madarao and Suginohara.
Is it a lodge, a hotel, a hostel?
It’s whatever you want it to be. But for the moment it’s a former local minshuku that’s been converted to an international hostel for budget travellers four years ago. You can run it as the Myoko Powder Hostel that it is known as now or upgrade to a lodge or boutique hotel.
Currently shared dorms and private rooms cost 2900 yen to 4900 yen per night. Japanese style private rooms sleep 2-3 people and they go for 9000 yen to 17 000 yen per night. Boom, instant revenue.
So buy now, run as a hostel this season while you get the lay of the land then make your property plans.
Show me the money
Got ¥38,000,000? That’s AUD $500 000 or USD $340 000. We know, right? Bargain. Central.
But WAIT, the price has been dropped since we first posted this in September 2019. Now, in November 2020, you can get the property for ¥28,500,000. That’s only A$375,000 or USD$275,000.
Offers may be considered and if you snap it up now the owners are keen to have the new owners running the hostel this coming season and will assist you in obtaining the required licences.
More info
You can check out more info here and also email the team for more details.
