Oriental Land's Venture Arm Backs Hakuba Operator Zukutochie With ¥88M

TL;DR: Oriental Land's subsidiary invested ¥88 million in Hakuba-based Zukutochie, a minority stake that leaves management unchanged and funds more venue revivals.

On 22 October 2026, Zukutochie, headquartered in Hakuba Village, announced it had accepted a ¥88 million third-party allotment of shares in September 2026. The buyer is Oriental Land Innovations (OLI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Oriental Land Co. It is based in Urayasu, Chiba. Zukutochie says this is OLI's first investment in a company that plans, develops and operates tourism facilities from a regional base.

The company says it will use the money for new tourism facilities, revitalising existing ones, and hiring. I should be clear about what I could verify: the Google News link had no readable text, so everything here comes from the PR TIMES press release, which is Zukutochie's own announcement. It is not independent reporting.

Key Facts

• Amount and form: ¥88 million third-party allotment, carried out in September 2026 (PR TIMES press release).
• Investor: Oriental Land Innovations, a 100% subsidiary of Oriental Land Co. It is OLI's first investment in a regional operator that handles planning, development and operation.
• Governance: minority stake. OLI is not sending any directors, and Zukutochie's management structure is unchanged.
• Footprint: the group is involved in nearly 20 facilities and businesses across Hakuba, Otari and Omachi (the HAKUBA VALLEY area). Eleven of them were taken on after the company was founded in July 2022.
• Recent openings: ao LAKESIDE CAFE and Hakuba Zekkei Sauna "ao" on Lake Aoki, plus Hakuba Happo Yamabuki Shokudo, which serves the area's room-only (泊食分離) stay style.

What This Means for International Buyers / Visitors

For visitors, the practical effect is more places to eat, soak and hang out, and possibly fewer tired buildings. The release names ageing lodging facilities, owners getting older, labour shortages and succession as local problems. Zukutochie works on those through renovation, new builds, M&A and succession deals. If you're choosing where to eat on a room-only stay, the Happo venue is the kind of option that model creates. For wider dining context, see my Hakuba après-ski and restaurant guide.

For buyers, I'd keep expectations narrow. The release doesn't mention prices, specific properties, or any plans to sell or buy real estate. It doesn't change zoning, financing or access. What it does show is that a large corporate group is willing to put money behind a local operator rather than build its own resort. I'd watch which buildings Zukutochie takes on next, since that's where succession problems turn into actual transactions. If you're weighing the valley against alternatives, my Myoko vs Hakuba comparison covers crowds, costs and access.

Background

Zukutochie was founded in July 2022 with the mission of "updating rural tourism." Its co-representatives are Satoru Ota and Hiroshi Wada. The company treats underused buildings, nature and culture as "hidden assets" and turns them into tourism businesses. OLI's president is Mamoki Asahata, as given in the release.

Editorial Note: This article is a English-language summary based on the Japanese-language sources cited above. HakubaHub is not a licensed real estate agent, and nothing here is investment or legal advice. Please check the original sources for full details.