YTL launches Kasara Niseko Village Townhouses

KUALA LUMPUR: YTL Corp Bhd launched its Kasara Niseko Village Townhouses in Niseko Village, Japan last Friday.

Being YTL Hotels’ latest development, the townhouses also mark the first Kasara property to be offered in the 1,524-acre (617ha) Niseko Village, which is part of the four ski resorts that flank Mount Annupuri and form the collective Niseko United.

Kasara is YTL Hotels’ first luxury collection of hotels and resorts  launched in July this year.

The first phase is completed with eight townhouses, while the rest will be developed in phases. YTL plans to develop more residences and enhance its hospitality offerings in its Niseko Village over the next decade.

The 2-storey townhouses are fully furnished with a lounge area, laundry facilities with washing machine and dryer, ski and snowboard rack, heated ski gear storage room, insulated glazed windows, complimentary wireless Internet and a single-vehicle covered garage, and a tatami-style dining area that can be converted into either an additional bedroom or entertainment room.

The 3-bedroom units with en-suite bathrooms also come with fully-equipped kitchens and scenic views of Mount Yotei.

Residents will be able to enjoy private privileges and personalised services such as dedicated concierge services, airport transfer arrangements, chef-on-call services, in-residence sports massage, complimentary one-hour guided Niseko Village mountain orientation with an experienced instructor, cross-signing facilities as well as complimentary onsen (hot spring) use at The Green Leaf Niseko Village and the Hilton Niseko Village.

The design of the townhouses is inspired by the traditional Japanese style of architecture called machiya, with its distinctive latticework adorning windows and sliding doors using a blend of wood and natural stone in its material palette.

Apart from booking the units for short-term stays, the townhouses can be purchased either as freehold ski homes for private ownership or as long-term investments. Homeowners also have the option to leverage the YTL Hotels’ marketing network to lease their townhouses, which are the first residences in Niseko Village that are open for sale to foreigners as well. Rate per night starts from ¥120,000 (RM3,542) per townhouse.

Niseko Village recently won an award for World’s Best Ski Resort in Japan at the World Ski Awards 2014 for the second consecutive year. The village, designed with similar machiya architecture, offers a variety of shopping and dining experience options.

“Adding vibrancy and energy to the destination is the village — the new and exciting retail, food and beverage development just [minutes] away from our hotels, townhouses and ski lifts. Its slope side location allows for seamless ski-in ski-out access between mountain adventures and indoor diversions,” said YTL Corp managing director Tan Sri Francis Yeoh in a press statement recently.

Niseko also has a reputation as a great night-skiing spot. Snow sport services are available at The Green Leaf Base Camp.

“YTL is [seeking to] transform Niseko Village into the most sought-after ski resort in Asia over the next 10 to 15 years,” said Yeoh.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on December 12, 2014.