TL;DR
Niseko Village has announced plans for the Morino Gondola - an 86-cabin lift set to open in December 2026, replacing the resort's ageing two-seat Mori-no chairlift that's been running since the 1980s. The new gondola includes four VIP cabins with dining tables and two glass-floor cabins for a full view of the terrain below. Capacity will double, and a second phase extending to the 970m summit is planned for December 2027. Niseko Village is on the Ikon Pass.
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.
