Niseko Village: New Gondola for 2026
A popular Japanese ski resort is getting a major new upgrade.
Niseko Village has unveiled its plans for a new luxury gondola designed to add extra comfort and style for its skiers. The 86-cabin gondola will contain multiple VIP cabins and will enhance the skiing experience at one of Japan’s most historic resorts. Niseko Village plans to open the new gondola in December 2026.
The new Morino Gondola will have four VIP cabins with tables for light dining. Two other cabins will have glass floors, giving visitors a thrilling “floating” sensation while allowing them to look straight down at the resort’s treetops and terrain. All cabins will be able to carry eight guests.
The new gondola will replace the existing historic Mori-no chairlift, a two-seat fixed-grip chairlift that has been operating since the 1980s. Niseko Village will double the lift’s capacity with the new gondola, reducing wait times while also improving skier comfort.
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Construction of the Morino Gondola will happen in two phases. Phase one, set to be completed in December 2026, will connect the gondola from the base area to a mid-mountain section on Mount Niseko-Annupuri, roughly 2,200 feet (670 meters) up on the mountain. Its second phase will connect the mid-mountain section to the new summit station at 3,182 feet (970 meters). Niseko Village hopes to finish phase two in December 2027. When completed, the gondola will connect the base area to the summit station without the need to change cabins. Guests can also exit at the mid-mountain station to access terrain better suited for beginner and intermediate skiers.
The Morino Gondola will be roughly 6,560 feet (2,000 meters) in length at its completion.
Niseko Village is planning other lift upgrades across the resort as well. Its single-seat Wonderland will be upgraded to a two-seater, further cutting down on wait times and increasing lift capacity. Niseko Village also plans to continue to upgrade its other aging lifts.
Niseko Village’s lift upgrades come amidst a larger local trend where nearby resorts are upgrading their infrastructure. Grand Hirafu, Niseko’s largest resort, recently finished its own gondola project for the 2024-25 season. Grand Hirafu also upgraded an old, four-seat chairlift to the high-speed, six-seat King Hooded Lift #3 in 2025.
With its upgrades, Niseko Village hopes to retain its ground as a premier alpine destination in the Hokkaido prefecture of Japan.
“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 in a PowderLife article.
About Niseko Village
Niseko Village is a ski resort located at the south base of Mount Niseko-Annupuri in the Hokkaido prefecture of Japan. Niseko Village is a member of Niseko United, a group of four other resorts located on the same mountain, and available on the Ikon Pass. Niseko United has a total of 2,191 acres of skiable terrain.
