"26 Million Won per Night" Despite High Price, Customers Flock... Japanese Resort Targeting Ultra-Wealthy

Gunma, Niigata, and Iwate Prefectures Successively Established
Helicopter and Flying Taxi Services Plus International Schools
Overseas Companies Also Rapidly Promoting Hotel Construction

In Japan, where overseas tourists are flocking due to the post-COVID-19 end and the yen depreciation effect, 'luxury resorts' targeting the ultra-wealthy are springing up rapidly. From resort memberships costing over 26 million KRW per night to flying taxi services transporting guests by helicopter from Tokyo Airport to ski resorts, a variety of high-end services are being offered. As wealthy individuals from around the world converge on Japan, related industries are also becoming more active.

The exterior view of 'Not a Hotel Minakami,' which sells a 10-night annual membership for 28.91 million yen. (Photo by Not a Hotel official website)

According to the Japanese online media President Online on the 31st, a high-end resort called 'Not a Hotel Minakami' is scheduled to open in 2025 in Minakami Town, Gunma Prefecture, a popular winter resort area in Japan. This ultra-luxurious membership ski resort offers memberships for purchase at 28.91 million yen (approximately 262 million KRW) with an annual usage condition of 10 nights. This equates to over 26 million KRW per night.

Additionally, an annual 30-night membership costs 79.48 million yen (721 million KRW), and an unlimited one-year membership reaches 953.7 million yen (8.658 billion KRW). Despite the staggering prices, the enthusiasm for purchasing memberships is reportedly strong among CEOs in major cities such as Tokyo.

Moreover, a charter flight service connecting Tokyo and Gunma Prefecture is also in operation. Since December last year, Japan Space Aviation has started accepting reservations for charter flights from Tokyo heliport to Gunma Prefecture, taking only 48 minutes. This so-called 'helicopter taxi' to the ski resort uses a six-seater medium-sized aircraft, with a round-trip fare of 1.176 million yen plus a 30,000 yen parking fee, totaling 1.206 million yen (approximately 11 million KRW).

Helicopter taxi operated by Japan's Space Aviation. (Photo by Space Aviation)

Alongside Gunma Prefecture, Myoko City in Niigata Prefecture is another popular winter resort known for its top-quality snow, often called 'Champagne Snow.' Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was especially popular among Australians, which has attracted current interest from overseas investors.

Seibu Holdings sold one of the ski resorts here to Singapore real estate investment fund PCG in November last year. PCG announced plans to establish a foreign brand hotel by 2026, aiming to create a world-class luxury ski resort similar to Courchevel in France. Another investment firm, Singapore's Soneva Holdings, plans to open a hotel targeting wealthy overseas clients with room rates exceeding 250,000 yen (approximately 2.27 million KRW) per night.

Appi Plateau Ski Resort in Iwate Prefecture. (Photo by Akakura Ski Resort)

Appi Kogen in Iwate Prefecture is located two hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, followed by a 50-minute drive. However, this area is home to the Appi Kogen Ski Resort, known for its excellent snow quality called the 'Miraculous Silky Snow.' During Japan's economic boom, hotels and logos from this area were widely used in graphic design, marking an era.

This area is attracting wealthy families with children. In August 2022, the prestigious British international school 'Harrow International School' opened here. All students reside in dormitories, and the annual tuition fee reaches 10 million yen (approximately 90.81 million KRW). The region is expected to evolve focusing on the three elements of tourism, education, and health. Iwate Hotel and Resort announced the 'Appi Valley Concept Project' to develop this area into a global destination, planning to add foreign brand hotels, commercial facilities, and villas in the future.