Independent Guidance. Local Expertise. Sustainable Values.
Real Estate in Niseko
ニセコの不動産
Yamazanmai is an independent agency and consultancy, focusing on sourcing land and houses in Niseko that offer excellent value and potential to our customers.
We also offer access to a well-established client base and international network for those wishing to sell. Our focus goes beyond Hirafu and the main Niseko ski areas, to plots of land and houses that offer something special across a larger area. We can help you find your own private haven, an investment in Niseko, as well as offer independent advice, appraisal, sales and consulting.
Yamazanmai focuses on integrity: offering a trustworthy place regarding everything related to real estate in Niseko.
A team with 120+ years of combined property experience in Niseko
ニセコで培った不動産経験、チーム合計120年以上
Michael Davenport
Managing Director & Sales Lead
Michael has lived in Niseko since 2006. He is the former owner and principal of Niseko Consulting and Niseko Owners, both acquired by a private investor in 2015. He has nearly two decades of experience in local real estate and property management, as well as professional translation and publishing. He also runs The Wildwoods Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on protecting and fostering old-growth forests.
Ruskin McLennan
International Sales Director
Ruskin first came to Niseko in 1998 and has been active in the local property market since 2003. He holds a B.Comm in Real Estate Valuation from UWS and established Niseko Property in 2005. Working with Yamazanmai as an international sales director, Ruskin brings in-depth knowledge of the Niseko market, development, and investment in Japan, offering clients an independent and realistic perspective.
Djan Aston
Sales & Business Development
Djan first came to Niseko in 2005 and spent the next two decades as part of the team that built Rhythm into one of the resort’s best-known business success stories. He brings an exceptional network, deep knowledge of Niseko, and extensive experience in building businesses and long-term relationships. Known for his warm, people-first approach, Djan adds a wealth of local insight and experience to the Yamazanmai team.
Yasuhiko Yamamoto
Real Estate Licensee
Yasuhiko is a long-term Niseko local and licensed real estate professional. He formerly worked with one of the area’s pioneering real estate, development, and accommodation companies, specialising in both property sales and management. He also runs a property management company, taking care of building and land maintenance across the Niseko area. His practical local knowledge provides valuable support across Yamazanmai’s real estate work.
Chihiro Asakura
Admin Assistant
Chihiro is a long-term Niseko resident with extensive experience in hospitality and accommodation, including work with one of the area’s leading hotels. At Yamazanmai, she supports accounting, bookkeeping, and day-to-day administration. She brings a calm, practical approach shaped by years of working with international guests, and helps keep the company’s daily operations running smoothly. She also loves travel.
Trudy Lajuk Allo
Sales Dev. & Market Research
Trudy recently moved to Niseko and has quickly developed a love for skiing and the local lifestyle. A graduate of Imperial College London, she brings strong analytical thinking and research skills to Yamazanmai. Her role focuses on broadening the company’s client base and carrying out ongoing market research to provide clearer insight for both the business and its clients. She loves people, travel, and adventure.
Paul Malandain
Media Manager
Paul has lived in Niseko since the early 2000s and knows the area intimately. He has extensive experience across photography, video, drone work, websites, and property management in the wider Niseko area. At Yamazanmai, he manages media production and brings a high level of professional photography to the company’s real estate services. He has a deep love of nature, music, and being outdoors.
Real Estate with a Difference
ひと味違う不動産サービス
You can make a difference when you buy or sell real estate in Niseko through Yamazanmai.
When you buy or sell with us, you are also directly supporting the environment you are investing in. A portion of all our revenue is donated to the preservation and restoration of our local environment through our sister non-profit entity, The Wildwoods Foundation – committed to protecting and restoring woodland in Hokkaido.
5% of all commission is donated to our sister non-profit organization, The Wildwoods Foundation (TWF). TWF acquires old-growth forests, poorly-managed plantations, and clear cut areas to protect and restore our local woodlands – a vital part of the natural cycle, carbon sequestering and natural beauty of the area. Acquired land areas are held, regenerated and protected in perpetuity.
Our website uses GreenGeeks Web Hosting. From their website: “GreenGeeks has been the industry’s leading eco-friendly green web hosting provider putting back 3 times the power we consume into the grid in the form of renewable energy.”
Our electricity supply is 100% powered by sustainable sources through Hachidori Electric.