A private house in the Wadano forest, Hakuba.
One house in the Wadano forest of Hakuba, let to a single party of up to fourteen. The lifts of Happo-One are a minute away by car; our own coach brings you from the station to the door.
A house on the line between the village and the forest.
Vimana stands among the beech trees of the Wadano forest, at the edge of Hakuba village. The Happo-One lifts and the restaurant street are a minute away by car, or ten minutes on foot through the forest; a convenience store is a short walk away. The great room faces the trees through floor-to-ceiling glass. With the lifts a minute away and the village on foot, it is an easy place for three generations, or a group of friends, to gather and to come and go from all day.
There are two fireplaces: one in the great room and one in the games room.
The house at night
From the road, through the trees, the house shows as one long band of light: the great room, glazed on the forest side, with the fire lit. Stone at the base, dark timber above, a ceiling of cedar slats. Inside, 118 square metres under a ceiling that rises to almost four metres, with room for fourteen.
The great room at night.
Six bedrooms, one house
Two master suites, three double rooms and a bunk room for four, each with its own bathroom. Three generations of one family, or friends taking all six rooms: everyone has a door of their own to close. A staff room takes a visiting chef or a nanny.
Master suite, forest side.
The bunk room for four.
The onsen bath, looking into the trees.
The onsen, the sauna, the ice
The 14-square-metre bath is natural hot-spring water, reserved for your party, with the forest through the glass. Beside it, a cedar sauna of five square metres, an ice bath of four, and a balcony off the sauna to stand on between the two. And a gym of 15.5 square metres: a multi-station machine, a treadmill, dumbbells and a bench.
The cedar sauna.
Your stay at Vimana
In the forest, a minute from the lifts
The house stands among the beech trees of Wadano at the foot of Happo-One. The lifts and the restaurant street of Happo are a minute away by car, ten minutes on foot through the forest.
Sushi from Roppongi, Tokyo, at your own counter
A sushi master comes from Roppongi, Tokyo, with the day's fish and serves at your counter. A Japanese-French chef comes up from Karuizawa; local cooking is delivered to the door. On other nights, our group's own restaurants in the valley are a complimentary transfer away. Breakfast, visiting chefs, deliveries and meals at our restaurants are all on request and at additional cost.
For the days you don't ski
Snowshoes through the forest, snow in the garden for the children, a massage at the house, a photographer for the family. Farther afield, the snow monkeys of Jigokudani, the temple of Zenkoji and the castle at Matsumoto, with the tour arranged and a transfer to the station. Snowshoe equipment and guides, tours, massage and photography are at additional cost; transfers in our coach are included in the house rate.
A concierge on call, in your language
No staff live in the house; that privacy is deliberate. Your concierge is a message away on WhatsApp throughout your stay, and at the house promptly whenever you need us.
One coach for all fourteen, from the station to the slopes
Vimana has its own 25-seat coach. Fourteen guests, their luggage and their skis travel together, in one vehicle, with our driver: from Nagano or Itoigawa Shinkansen stations or Matsumoto Airport to the door; to any of the ten ski areas each morning and back after the last run; to dinner and the onsen in the valley. No rental cars, no winter driving, no parking. Transfers in Vimana's own 25-seat coach are included in the house rate. Outside operators provide private cars from Narita or Haneda and helicopter charters. We arrange these services, at additional cost.
Room for three generations, and an onsen of your own
Two master suites, three double rooms and a bunk room for four, each with its own bathroom. And a 14-square-metre natural hot-spring bath reserved for your party alone, looking into the trees.
Sauna, ice bath, and the forest air between
A cedar sauna of five square metres, an ice bath of four, and a balcony off the sauna, facing the forest, to cool down on between the two.
Mahjong, billiards, and a second fire
On the lower floor, behind a wall of glass to the garden: a full-size billiards table, an automatic mahjong table and the house's second fireplace. For the evenings after dinner.
A private gym, whenever you want it
A private gym of 15.5 square metres: a multi-station machine, a treadmill, dumbbells and a bench.
Dinner at home
A sushi master from Edomae Hattori in Roppongi comes to the counter with the day's fish and serves the table piece by piece.
A chef from Karuizawa cooks a Japanese-French course dinner in the kitchen. Wine, sake or whisky pairings are at additional cost; local cooking can be delivered to the door.
On other nights, our group's own restaurants are a complimentary transfer away: THE STELLE GRILL for wagyu, the dining room at our ryokan in Happo, and THE PAITAN ramen, which your party can have to itself. All meals, including breakfast, are at additional cost.
The counter, before service.
Wadano, Hakuba
Vimana stands in the Wadano forest at the foot of Happo-One, the largest ski area in the valley and the venue of the 1998 Olympic downhill. The lifts and the restaurant street are a minute away by car, ten on foot through the trees. The heliport is five minutes on foot. The village, with its izakaya, bars and public baths, carries on just beyond the forest.
- Happo-One lifts
- 1 min by car, 10 min on foot
- Iwatake
- 5 min
- Goryu, Hakuba 47
- 13 min
- Tsugaike
- 13 min
- Cortina
- 25 min
- Heliport
- 5 min on foot
- Nagano Station, Shinkansen
- about an hour
- Itoigawa Station, Shinkansen
- a little over an hour
- Tokyo Heliport
- about 85 min by helicopter, on request
- Matsumoto Airport
- about an hour by car
4970-1 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano 399-9301, Japan
〒399-9301 長野県北安曇郡白馬村北城4970-1
Rates
Rates are for the 2026–27 winter season. Vimana is let to one party at a time, always the whole house, from two nights; three nights between 20 December and 11 February, over New Year and Lunar New Year. Dates can be changed without charge to any available dates in the same season. Rates are per night for the house, tax included, whatever the size of your party.
| period | per night | minimum stay |
|---|---|---|
| 1–19 December | ¥600,000 | 2 nights |
| 20 December – 11 February, including New Year and Lunar New Year | ¥1,300,000 | 3 nights |
| 12–28 February | ¥1,000,000 | 2 nights |
| 1–10 March | ¥800,000 | 2 nights |
| 11–31 March | ¥600,000 | 2 nights |
The house rate includes the whole house and its facilities, concierge support, and transfers in Vimana's own 25-seat coach throughout your stay — to stations, Matsumoto Airport, ski areas, restaurants and other valley destinations as you wish. All meals (including breakfast, deliveries and meals at our group's restaurants), visiting chefs, lift passes, equipment hire, lessons, guides, tours, massage, photography, private cars from Narita or Haneda and helicopter charters through outside operators are at additional cost.
A deposit of 30% confirms the booking; the balance is due sixty days before arrival.
Payments are not refundable, but dates can be moved without charge to any available dates in the same season. A move to a higher-rate period is charged the difference; a move to a lower-rate period is not refunded.
Up to fourteen guests. Infants sleeping in a cot or with their parents are not counted, nor is one accompanying helper or nanny, who has a room of their own.
Questions
The house and the rooms
How many guests can stay?
Up to fourteen, in six bedrooms, each with its own bathroom: two master bedrooms for two, three standard bedrooms for two, and a bunk room for four. Infants sleeping in a cot or with their parents are not counted, nor is one accompanying helper or nanny, who has the separate staff room. The house is never shared with another party.
How are the beds arranged?
Apart from the bunk room, each of the five bedrooms can be made up as twin or double; tell us your preference before arrival.
Do the bedrooms lock?
Yes. Every bedroom has a lock.
Are the bedrooms soundproofed?
Yes. The walls and doors are soundproofed, and the doors seal when the handle is turned.
How is the house heated?
Underfloor heating and air conditioning throughout, including every bedroom.
Is there parking?
Yes. Three spaces on the property with snow-melting, and up to five more with advance notice, eight in all.
Can we smoke indoors?
No. The house is non-smoking throughout.
Can we bring a pet?
No. Pets cannot be accommodated.
Is there Wi-Fi?
Yes, throughout the house.
Children and three generations
Is the house suitable for grandparents and small children?
The house is on more than one floor, connected by stairs with handrails; there is no lift. The bath, sauna and bedrooms are all part of one family house rather than a hotel, and the bunk room and garden suit children well. Infants sleeping in a cot or with their parents are not counted in the fourteen.
Can you provide baby cots?
Yes, at no charge: up to five cots, with mattresses and sheets.
Are there high chairs?
Yes, up to five.
Is there tableware for children?
Yes: plates, forks, spoons and cups for children.
Getting here
What transfers are included?
All ground transfers during your stay, in Vimana's own 25-seat coach, so that all fourteen of you travel together with your luggage and skis: from Nagano or Itoigawa Shinkansen stations, Matsumoto Airport, any station in Hakuba, Otari or Omachi, and the heliport five minutes away; to any of the valley's ten ski areas each morning and back after the last run; to dinner and the onsen in the valley; and day trips to Nagano or Matsumoto stations.
How do we get there from Tokyo?
By Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagano in about an hour and a half, then about an hour in our coach, complimentary. By helicopter, on request: AirX's AIROS Skyview flies from Tokyo Heliport, about thirty minutes by car from Haneda, to Hakuba in about eighty-five minutes, landing five minutes on foot from the house. Each aircraft carries four to six passengers, so a party of fourteen needs several flights, and winter operation is confirmed at the time of booking. Your concierge arranges the charter, at additional cost.
AIROS Skyview, HakubaHow do we get there from Narita or Haneda?
We arrange chartered cars from the airport to the house through outside operators, at additional cost. Or take the Narita Express from Narita, or a train, limousine bus or taxi from Haneda, to Tokyo Station, then the Shinkansen to Nagano as above. Matsumoto Airport, about an hour from the house, is met by our coach, complimentary.
How do we get there from Osaka?
The Thunderbird limited express to Tsuruga, about an hour and twenty minutes, then the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Itoigawa, about an hour and fifty minutes, where our car meets you for the hour to the house, complimentary.
Anything to know if we drive?
The road to the house is cleared, but winter roads in Hakuba freeze. Please come in a four-wheel-drive car on winter tyres. Car hire can be arranged on request, at additional cost.
Skiing and days off
Can you arrange ski lessons, guides and equipment?
Yes: private instructors for the children, a guide for the powder, and rental with fitting at the shop and delivery to the house. We also book lift passes and restaurants, and arrange tuning, local onsen and shopping. Concierge arrangements are included in the house rate; the booked services, meals, admission fees and purchases are at additional cost. These are confirmed and charged when you book, before you travel.
How does ski rental work?
The rental company takes you to the shop, two minutes away, for fitting. They deliver your equipment to the house and collect it there at the end of your stay. Equipment hire is at additional cost.
What does rental cost?
For standard models, roughly: skis, boots and poles ¥6,000 a day; snowboard and boots ¥6,000 a day; jacket and trousers ¥5,000 a day; helmet ¥1,500 a day. Clothing and gloves can also be bought at The North Face and Patagonia shops in the village.
What is there besides skiing?
Snowshoe walks through the forest, a tour to the snow monkeys bathing at Jigokudani, and visits to Zenkoji temple in Nagano and Matsumoto Castle, among others. Tell us what you would like and we will suggest more. Snowshoe equipment and guides, tours, massage and photography are at additional cost; transfers in our coach are included in the house rate.
Dining
Are meals included?
No. The kitchen is yours to use. On request we arrange a visiting sushi master, a Japanese-French chef and local cooking delivered to the door, all at additional cost. On other nights, we drive you to our group's three restaurants, complimentary.
Tell us about the sushi.
The master of Edomae Hattori in Roppongi, Tokyo, brings fish from Toyosu market and serves sushi at Vimana's kitchen counter. Omakase only: ¥55,000 per person including tax and service, for ten guests or more, booked two weeks ahead. Smaller parties can be accommodated at the ten-guest price, for example eight guests for ¥550,000, with the fish adjusted accordingly. Wine, sake and whisky pairings are at additional cost.
Tell us about the Japanese-French dinner.
A chef from Karuizawa brings mainly Nagano produce and cooks a Japanese-French course dinner. Omakase only: ¥44,000 per person including tax and service, for ten guests or more, booked two weeks ahead. Smaller parties can be accommodated at the ten-guest price, for example eight guests for ¥440,000. Wine, sake and whisky pairings are at additional cost.
Tell us about the wagyu grill.
THE STELLE GRILL at Hotel Stelle Belle in Hakuba Goryu, part of our group, about fifteen minutes by car: a section of the dining room can be reserved for your party. Besides wagyu, we recommend the Tateshina beef steak chosen by our group's CEO, less fatty than wagyu and very juicy. Around ¥10,000 per person.
Tell us about the Japanese restaurant.
Hosono-kan, our sister ryokan in the centre of the Happo ryokan street, one minute by car: a section of the Japanese dining room can be reserved for your party, with creative Japanese cooking by the chef. Around ¥10,000 per person.
Tell us about the ramen restaurant.
THE PAITAN at Okanoue Hotel in Tsugaike, about fifteen minutes by car, can be hired for your party alone: well-regarded chicken paitan ramen, opened last year. Around ¥5,000 per person, including private hire.
Can we bring our own wine?
Yes. There is an empty wine cellar for twenty to thirty bottles. You can also buy from our wine list and have the bottles placed in the cellar.
Can you cater for dietary requirements and allergies?
Please tell us in advance. THE STELLE GRILL and the Japanese dining room at Hosono-kan can prepare vegetarian menus. For the visiting chefs, sushi and Japanese-French, please ask us.
Concierge, housekeeping, medical care and privacy
How private is the house during our stay?
No staff live in the house. Our staff, and the chefs and guides who come to the house for you, do not photograph the house or its guests, and nothing about your stay is shared or posted. If you wish, we can arrange that no one but the manager in charge brings a phone into the house at all.
Is there staff in the house?
No staff live in the house. Your concierge is a message away on WhatsApp throughout your stay, and comes to the house promptly when you need us.
Which languages do you speak?
English, Japanese and Chinese.
Is the house cleaned during the stay?
Yes. As standard we suggest a linen change every three days, and we clean whenever you ask. Housekeeping is done between 10 am and 3 pm, at a time agreed with you in advance.
What about medical care?
An international clinic seven minutes away by car has English-speaking Japanese doctors.
How does check-in work?
Either our staff hand you the keys at the house, or we send you an electronic key code in advance. Documents required by law, such as passports, can be submitted beforehand by email or WhatsApp.
How are our documents handled?
They are kept in an internal system protected by two-factor authentication, and only managers and above can view them.
Booking, payment and check-in
What is HAKUBA SNOWFLAKE GROUP?
The company that operates Vimana. Our founder was born and raised in Hakuba, and the group runs three hotels, a ryokan and two chalets in this valley, alongside Vimana. The restaurants we send you to, the coach that collects you and the team on call are all our own.
What is the minimum stay?
Two nights; three nights between 20 December and 11 February.
How do we book, and what are the terms?
Write to us or message us on WhatsApp. A 30% deposit confirms the dates; the balance is due sixty days before arrival. Payments are not refundable, but dates can be moved without charge to any available dates in the same season. A move to a higher-rate period is charged the difference; a move to a lower-rate period is not refunded.
Can you hold dates for us?
Dates are secured on payment of the 30% deposit. If the balance is not paid sixty days before arrival, the booking is released and the deposit is not refunded.
How do we pay the deposit?
By credit card or international bank transfer, as you prefer.
How do we pay the balance?
By international bank transfer as a rule; if you would prefer another method, please ask.
What if we have to cancel, for illness for example?
Payments are not refunded, but your dates can be moved to any available dates in the same season without charge. A move to a higher-rate period is charged the difference; a move to a lower-rate period is not refunded. If the season has passed, we can discuss a discount on the following year's rate.
Can you invoice a company?
Yes.
Are there taxes on top of the rate?
No. Consumption tax, onsen bathing tax and accommodation tax are all included.
What are check-in and check-out times?
Check-in from 3 pm and check-out by 10 am are a guide rather than a rule. Tell us your flights and trains, and we will fit the first and last day around them as far as we can.
Can you hold our luggage before check-in?
Yes. We can also receive luggage sent ahead.
Enquire
Write to us, or send a message on WhatsApp. We reply within a day, in English, Japanese or Chinese.
Opening September 2026
4970-1 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano 399-9301, Japan
〒399-9301 長野県北安曇郡白馬村北城4970-1
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