HTM is the largest property manager in Niseko. HTM manages over 1500 pillows in over 750 bedrooms; 350 units throughout more than 40 buildings. HTM manages GoSnow ski school, SkyExpress and Sprint Taxi transport services, as well as local news and information source, Experience Niseko magazine and its digital portal. In recent years, HTM has also expanded to manage wellness facility Ryko Spa, YamaSport premium rentals and F&B services operating under FoodWork.
Over 900 pillows through 160 units in over 40 buildings, this is the largest portfolio of properties in Niseko. Total asset value over ¥1,000,000,000 (US 100 million). In 2018/19, Niseko Central continues its momentum with over ¥850,000,000 of gross rentals, and over 45,000 bedroom nights and ¥170,000,000 of Guest Services served.
Properties in the portfolio include: Deep Tracks, Yama Shizen East and West, Youtei Tracks, Miharashi, Miyuki, Kashi Lodge, Shirakaba, J House, Powder Tracks, Hirafu Houses, Horizon Town Houses, Hangetsu, Mori Houses, Ezo 365, Sekka Kan, Kisetsukan, Konkuriito, J's Den, Tsuru, Whiskey Woods and Hirafu Woods.
Opened in December 2014, Ki Niseko is a stand-alone hotel 96-room condo hotel with onsen and restaurant. Designed specifically to operate for both the international and domestic markets in winter and summer, Ki Niseko is the next step in the development of Niseko into a year-round resort. HTM provided consulting services to the developer and is the hotel operator and condominium association manager for Ki Niseko.
In 2018/19, Ki Niseko topped over ¥700,000,000 of gross rentals with almost 19,000 bedroom nights served and over ¥200,000,000 of Concierge Services provided. In addition Ki Niseko won the prestigious World Ski Award for Japan's best boutique ski hotel as well as being listing in the top 3 for the worldwide award.
HTM were asked by Tokyu Resort Services, owner of the Niseko-Hirafu Ski Resort, to operate their official international snowsports school from Winter 2014. Gondola Snowsports (GoSnow) was born and is the only school in Niseko-Hirafu with a base at the main gondola and the only school with on-snow beginner and kids' facilities. Dedicated to international visitors, all lessons are conducted in English by a team of professional and accredited instructors and trainers from around the world.
In the first season, GoSnow grew from nothing to over 55 full-time instructors and served over 5,500 lessons to international guests of the resort. In winter 2018/19, the school provided over 40,000 lessons with 250 instructors. With the high demand of lessons, GoSnow will grow to 280-300 instructors in 19/20.
Experience Niseko was set up by HTM to serve as a source of news and information about Niseko, particularly Niseko-Hirafu resort. The website, experienceniseko.com, is a bilingual guide to Niseko and features local people, restaurants and activities to serve as promotion for Niseko within Japan and throughout the world. It has an active database over 120,000 subscribers.
Experience Niseko's magazine launched in winter 2015/16 and is distributed to tens of thousands of visitors passing through Niseko, as well as throughout Japan and at popular travel hubs globally. As a well-respected promotional tool for the resort, 60,000 copies of the magazine are now published annually (in English and Japanese) for summer and winter seasons.
Established in 2004 and purchased by HTM in May 2017, SkyExpress is the leading transfer company in Niseko. Renamed from SkyBus to SkyExpress after acquisition, SkyExpress provides a hassle-free transfer service for international and domestic visitors to the Niseko region. SkyExpress is Hokkaido’s first and most experienced provider of transportation throughout the region, including transfers to and from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport. To round out a complete door-to-door offering for guests, the SkyExpress brand also includes Sprint Taxi in the local Kutchan and Hirafu areas.
Acquired by HTM in May 2017 as part of the SkyExpress brand, Sprint Taxi provides convenient door-to-door transfers in the local Kutchan and Hirafu areas. With a fleet of vehicles ranging from sedans for up to 4 passengers to maxi taxis for up to 9 passengers, as well as wheelchair-friendly access vehicles, Sprint Taxi caters for all needs. Booking is easy too, with the Sprint Taxi App.
HTM’s newest brand under management, Skye Niseko, is a full-service, ski-in ski-out, condominium hotel in the premier location in the resort. Opened in winter 2018, the hotel comprises 105 apartments and penthouses complemented by stunning mountain vistas, situated by the ski-slopes at the top of Hirafu Village. Featuring a 200-seat restaurant, apres-ski bar, delicatessen & café, onsen, wellness spa, gym, ski valet with rental services and retail, Skye Niseko takes Niseko’s resort accommodation to new heights. In its first winter, Skye Niseko served over 21,000 bedroom nights delivering nearly ¥1,000,000,000 yen of gross rental revenue.
Opened in December 2018, Kumo Restaurant is Niseko’s first ski-in and ski-out restaurant located at the top of Hirafu Village. Serving authentic flavours of Japan through a modern izakaya feel, Kumo Restaurant is Niseko’s place to eat, drink and enjoy.
With culinary and hospitality professionals hailing from world-over including Korea, Australia, Japan, London and France, the team creates honest, uncomplicated yet inspired dishes. In its opening season, Kumo Restaurant served 35,000 breakfasts and welcomed over 35,000 diners for lunch and dinner, generating over ¥200,000,000.
With wellness at heart, Ryko Spa is the next level of relaxation in Niseko. Home to Hokkaido’s first ever Float Tank, Ryko Spa offers a wide range of services including invigorating massages, facials & full body treatments utilising premium skincare and weightlessness experiences. In the first winter of operations, Ryko Spa provided over 1,600 therapies to guests.
Crafted by HTM in winter 2018, YamaSport provided exclusive rental services to in house guests at Skye Niseko. Obtaining great feedback, YamaSport is expanding to offer premium rental services to all guests in Niseko. YamaSport is operating new locations in Central Hirafu including at Yama Shizen and Niseko Landmark View in winter 2019/20.
A commercial kitchen and bakery established in 2018 provides high quality food created using locally-sourced ingredients.
FoodWork supplies its curated and customised menu of food to a selection of hotels and restaurants in Niseko-Hirafu. HTM's Kumo Restaurant is one of FoodWork's key outlets.