Niseko Village Unveils 86-Cabin Gondola With Glass Floors and VIP Dining Cabins

Niseko Village is replacing a chairlift that's been running since the 1980s with an 86-cabin gondola featuring glass floors, VIP dining cabins, and a planned summit connection by December 2027.

The new lift - called the Morino Gondola - will replace the existing Mori-no chairlift, a fixed-grip two-seater that has served the resort for roughly four decades. In its place, Niseko Village will install a modern gondola that doubles the lift's capacity while introducing a level of on-mountain comfort that goes well beyond standard gondola spec.

Each cabin will carry eight guests. Among the 86 cabins, four will be designated as VIP, fitted with tables for light dining while ascending. Two further cabins will feature glass floors, offering a direct view down to the resort's tree terrain below - something that will either be a genuine highlight or quietly terrifying depending on your disposition.

Phase one: base to mid-mountain by December 2026

Construction proceeds in two stages. The first phase connects the base area to a mid-mountain station at approximately 670 metres up Mount Niseko-Annupuri, with completion targeted for December 2026 ahead of the upcoming northern hemisphere winter season. Guests will be able to disembark at this point to access beginner and intermediate terrain.

Phase two: mid-mountain to summit by December 2027

The second phase extends the line from the mid-mountain station to a new summit station at 970 metres. When complete, the full gondola run will cover approximately 2,000 metres in a single unbroken connection from base to summit, with no cabin change required.

Wider lift investment across the resort

The Morino Gondola is the headline item, but not the only upgrade in the pipeline. Niseko Village's single-seat Wonderland lift will be upgraded to a two-seater as part of the same investment programme, and the resort has signalled ongoing work on its other ageing infrastructure.

The upgrades follow similar moves elsewhere on the Niseko United mountain. Grand Hirafu - the largest of the four Niseko United resorts - completed its own gondola project in time for the 2024-25 season and also installed the new six-seat King Hooded Lift #3, upgrading a previous four-seat chairlift.

Niseko Village and the Ikon Pass

Niseko Village sits at the south base of Mount Niseko-Annupuri in Hokkaido and operates as one of four resorts within the Niseko United network. The combined area covers 2,191 acres of skiable terrain. Niseko United is available on the Ikon Pass.

"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," CEO Shiau Wee Long said.