Niseko Village, one of Japan’s most historic and celebrated powder destinations, has unveiled plans for a major luxury infrastructure upgrade: the Morino Gondola. Set to debut its first phase in December 2026, the high-tech, 86-cabin lift system aims to blend premium comfort with alpine style, cementing the resort’s status as a premier global destination in the Hokkaido prefecture.
Glass Floors and Elevated Light Dining
The Morino Gondola is designed to offer far more than just transit up Mount Niseko-Annupuri; it is engineered to be an experiential attraction.
While the majority of the 86 cabins will comfortably accommodate eight guests in a standard configuration, the lineup features highly specialized premium cars. Four exclusive VIP cabins will be outfitted with custom tables designed for light dining, allowing guests to enjoy refreshments while ascending through the resort’s famous powder-clad trees.
For thrill-seekers, two additional cabins will feature completely transparent glass floors. These specialized cars are designed to give riders a “floating” sensation, providing a panoramic, uninterrupted view straight down onto the mountain’s rugged terrain and snow-covered treetops.
Doubling Capacity and Retiring a Classic
The Morino Gondola will directly replace the historic Mori-no chairlift, a two-seat, fixed-grip lift that has been a staple of the resort since the 1980s. By transitioning from the aging open chairs to the modern enclosed gondola system, Niseko Village will instantly double the lift’s uphill capacity. The overhaul is expected to virtually eliminate base-area bottlenecks while drastically increasing skier comfort during Hokkaido’s famously intense winter storms.
A Two-Phase Summit Connection
Construction on the massive lift project is scheduled to roll out in two distinct phases:
Phase One (December 2026): The gondola will open to the public connecting the main base area to a mid-mountain section on Mount Niseko-Annupuri, terminating roughly 2,200 feet (670 meters) above sea level. This mid-station will allow beginner and intermediate skiers to easily access gentler terrain perfectly suited to their skill levels.
Phase Two (December 2027): Engineering teams will extend the line from the mid-mountain station up to a brand-new summit station at 3,182 feet (970 meters).
Upon completion of the second phase, the entire lift line will span roughly 6,560 feet (2,000 meters) in length. Crucially, the system will allow guests to ride seamlessly from the base area all the way to the summit without needing to change cabins.
A Resort-Wide Infrastructure Renaissance
The Morino Gondola is just the centerpiece of a broader master plan to modernize Niseko Village’s lift infrastructure. The resort also announced that its iconic, single-seat “Wonderland” chairlift will be upgraded to a modern two-seater lift, further expanding uphill capacity and chopping down wait times on the upper mountain. Management confirmed that additional updates to other legacy lifts are slated to follow.
The aggressive upgrade cycle lands amid a massive, regional arms race for infrastructure dominance across the wider Niseko United network. Neighboring Grand Hirafu, the largest resort on the mountain, recently completed its own major gondola overhaul for the 2024–25 season and followed up by replacing an aging quad chair with the high-speed, six-seat King Hooded Lift #3 in 2025.
With its new luxury additions, Niseko Village—which is highly utilized by international travelers via the Ikon Pass—aims to keep pace with global luxury standards.
“With these new gondolas, Niseko Village offers not just improved access, but an entirely new way to experience the mountain—combining comfort, style, and sustainability,” Niseko Village CEO Shiau Wee Long said. Phase one operations are on track to welcome their first skiers at the start of the 2026/2027 winter season.
