Niseko Hanazono Resort Japan
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Year
1991, 2004, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Services Rendered
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Hanazono is located within the municipality of Kutchan on the island of Hokkaido in northern Japan. Hanazono is part of Niseko United, a connected group of ski areas that have become famous for copious dry powder snow and iconic views of Mt Yotei, a large volcano that dominates the landscape throughout the resort.
Ecosign's role as the master planner for Hanazono has spanned over three decades, from the first master plan in the early 1990s to the most recent comprehensive master plan completed in 2023. Hanazono is a proven case study for how implementation of a comprehensive master plan for mountain facilities and base area development can lead to significant increases in skier visits, overall profitability, and contribute to raising the profile of a resort from a local ski area to an international destination.
*All images featured on this page are courtesy of Niseko Hanazono Resort and Ecosign Mountain Resort Planners. Unauthorized use of images is prohibited.
1991
The first master plan for Hanazono was prepared for the Tokyu Land Corporation (TLC) in 1991. A mixed-use resort village, 18-hole golf course and improved connection to Hirafu was contemplated in this early stage of planning at Hanazono. Tokyu Land Corporation obtained approvals to build three ski lifts, roads and infrastructure in the base area and developed the 18-hole golf course. Approvals for real estate in Garden Hills and the South Base were granted but was not developed by TLC. Hanazono was operated by TLC as a small day ski area connected to Hirafu; TLC eventually sold the resort in the early 2000s to Nihon Harmony Resorts KK.
2004
In 2004, Ecosign was retained by Hanazono’s new owner, Nihon Harmony Resorts KK (NHR), to develop a comprehensive master plan for the resort. This plan included a village and real estate development strategy, a ski area master plan, and an assessment of a potential connection to Weiss Mountain, a retired ski area to the north. Completed in 2005, the Master Plan showcased Hanazono’s potential to evolve into a world-class destination with a substantial bed base and real estate offering. This vision played a pivotal role in attracting a major real estate development corporation, which purchased the resort in 2007.
2007
In 2007, Hanazono was acquired from Nihon Harmony Resorts KK by Pacific Century Premium Developments Ltd (PCPD), a Hong Kong-based company. Under PCPD’s ownership, NHR continued as the operating company, while PCPD assumed the role of land developer and investor in resort infrastructure. In 2008, Ecosign was commissioned by PCPD to create a detailed Base Area Village Master Plan for Hanazono’s base lands, including the South Village adjacent to Hanazono Bowl, Garden Hills, a ski-in/ski-out neighbourhood, and several low-density real estate developments surrounding the golf course. During this process, Ecosign prepared comprehensive building programs, view analyses, shadow studies, and commercial space plans for the village and real estate. The finalized plans were submitted to Kutchan Town for approval in 2010.
2016
With the first hotel poised for construction in Hanazono Bowl, the focus shifted to mountain development in 2016 and Ecosign was retained to plan two new lift developments for Hanazono’s main base area. Our plan included replacing the aging Hana-1 chairlift (constructed in the early 1990s) with a detachable six-passenger chairlift and a gondola with a mid-load to provide access to a beginner slope. We also proposed the initial segment of a future people-mover gondola connection to Weiss Mountain.
2017
Growth in Niseko exploded in the 2010s and it became apparent that the expansion to Weiss needed to be included in the overall master plan for Hanazono. With new parameters to plan a four-season gondola connection to Weiss, we re-assessed the area and prepared the formal first Master Plan for an integrated Hanazono-Weiss four-season mountain resort in 2017. Base area lands at Weiss were included in the Master Plan, with a new boutique village in the lower base and a day skier parking lot in the upper base area. The Weiss ski area was designed with two detachable chairlifts accessing high quality beginner and novice trails which had been lacking in Hanazono and other Niseko United resorts.
2019
In 2019, Ecosign worked closely with PCPD and NHR to evaluate all base area development parcels in Hanazono, optimizing building massing, circulation, and site density. The South Village was reimagined, Garden Hills was designed to feature a mix of real estate with enhanced ski-in/ski-out access, and an extensive single-family residential development was planned near the Park Hyatt Hotel (which opened January 2020) and golf course.
2022
In 2022, the focus of planning returned to Weiss with a more detailed base area planning exercise for the boutique village. We included a view analysis, massing study, and further refinement of the Ski Area Master Plan.
2023
In 2023, Ecosign compiled all of the detailed planning and design work we had carried out in the ski area and base area lands of Hanazono and Weiss into a comprehensive master plan. Encompassing all current capacities and development specifications for lifts, trails, parking, restaurants and overnight accommodation, The 2023 Hanazono Weiss Resort Master Plan is a culmination of over three decades of planning and design, providing a roadmap for future growth and development. Hanazono is now the leading resort in the Niseko United group for skier visits and has become one of Japan’s globally recognized mountain resort destinations.
