Singapore-based Patience Capital Group (PCG) is set to transform Japan’s Myoko highlands into a luxury ski destination with a $1.4 billion mega-resort development. Spanning 350 hectares in Niigata Prefecture, the project will feature two high-end hotels—each with nightly rates projected around $1,350—and is expected to generate 1,000 jobs. The resort is scheduled to open within three years, targeting both high-net-worth tourists and the growing international ski market drawn to Japan’s famed “Japow” powder snow.
While the investment promises a major boost to the region’s winter tourism economy, it has stirred concerns among locals. In Akakura, one of Myoko’s main ski villages, residents worry about overdevelopment, rising real estate prices, and the erosion of traditional culture. Many local inns and restaurants have already been acquired by foreign investors and now operate only during peak ski months. Masafumi Nakajima, who runs a long-standing local inn, noted that only about 10 of the town’s 80 inns stay open year-round, leaving the area quiet and economically stagnant during off-seasons.
PCG founder Ken Chan, a Tokyo native, acknowledges these concerns and says the company aims to build community trust. Plans include marketing the resort’s hotels for off-season conferences and offering discounted rates to locals during quieter months. Chan has also committed to holding discussions with residents to better align the project with local interests.
Myoko City officials are cautiously optimistic but are considering new regulations to manage large-scale developments. Mayor Yoji Kido said the city may introduce new guidelines by 2027 to ensure responsible growth. “It’s going to be an unusually big development for our city,” Kido remarked, expressing both hope and concern.
As international interest in Japanese ski destinations grows, PCG’s venture reflects a broader trend of foreign capital reshaping the country’s tourism landscape. Whether this bold project will set a new benchmark for sustainable resort development—or spark deeper tensions—may depend on how well economic ambition balances with local integration.
