MUSE Penthouse

At the apex of the MUSE Niseko Building in Hirafu, the Muse Penthouse and its dedicated roof terrace exploits 360-degree views including Hirafu Village, Mt. Yotei and the Grand Hirafu Ski Resort, with floor to ceiling windows on all elevations and high ceilings throughout. A mural by calligraphy artist Rieko Kawabe decorates a full height, wall-to-wall mirror in the living room that reflects Mt. Yotei.

The interior material palette includes wide board, decapè oak flooring, bare faced concrete, dark metal window frames and elevator door panels as well as kitchen and wet area cabinetry, oak cabinet tops and selected joinery, and mocha painted ceilings and walls. Furniture is largely custom designed with abundant use of dark leather, anodized metal, wenge timber and earth tone rugs and throw pillows. The contemporary tonal character promotes a feeling of alpine minimalist elegance that is both cool in summer and warm in winter.

The elevator core (with dedicated elevator access directly into the penthouse vestibule) is expressed in bare-faced concrete. This raw finish is also applied to angled roof beams in the living room and master bedroom, whose ensuite bathroom features a freestanding pedestal bath within a Japanese, tradition-inspired wet area wrapped in glass.

Adjacent to the living room balcony door is a concrete cabinet topped with an oak slab, outfitted with timber louver doors and a built-in, black glass Rinnai gas fireplace. Oriented to enjoy spectacular panoramic views, the Penthouse exclusive-use roof terrace is accessed from a glass-enclosed elevator lobby. The expansive terrace deck is surround by a crushed rock “garden”, and equipped with a stainless-steel custom designed, freestanding kitchen cabinet as well as an Extremis outdoor dining furniture set, fire dish and bean bags.