This winter, Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu, Niseko's leading snow resort, launched the state-of-the-art Ace Gondola.
It replaced Japan's oldest quad lift, Center Four, which had been loved by many skiers for many years, and is attracting attention as the new face of Hirafu.
The Ace Gondola seats 10 people and is equipped with heated seats and Wi-Fi.
My first impression after riding it for the first time since it opened was that it was quiet.
I was also impressed by the fact that there were fewer support pillars and the cables ran higher than usual. The black-based cabin has a cool form reminiscent of something out of Star Wars.
Another attraction is the panoramic view of Mt. Yotei from inside the cabin. It looks like it would be enjoyable just to ride it while sipping a hot drink.
The Center Four is a four-seater quad lift with no hood that began operation in 1985. It was cold during snowy nights, but the lively atmosphere was fun, with cheers erupting for riders who made great runs on the steep "Super Course" just below
However, Niseko, which is rapidly growing as an international resort, is facing the issue of excessive crowding. I work as a photographer based in Niseko, and when I'm not shooting, I like to ski down the slopes. Hirafu is the closest ski resort to my home and has a wide variety of terrain.
It's my favorite slope, but I naturally avoid going there during the peak season to avoid the crowds.
Perhaps because there was no new snowfall that day, there was barely a line even just after the service started at 8:30 a.m
That's where the Ace Gondola comes in.
The number of passengers it can carry has increased from 1,800 to 2,800 per hour, and the travel time to the drop-off point has been reduced from 7 to 5 minutes. In fact, when I went skiing hoping for less congestion, there wasn't much of a line. Some locals were worried that the gondola would be more susceptible to the wind and that there might be more cancellations, but this is a cutting-edge machine. It seems that it rarely stops even in strong winds.
This will likely increase the number of opportunities to go to Hirafu.
Starting next season, Grand Hirafu plans to replace the main lifts above the Ace Gondola with lifts that can handle more passengers,
further improving the skiing environment.
I feel that Ace Gondola will become a symbol of a new era, so that locals and visitors alike can enjoy skiing in the future.
■ Information
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu
Address: 9-1 Niseko Hirafu 1-jo 2-chome, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido 044-0080 https://www.grand-hirafu.jp/
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