Equipped with heated seats and Wi-Fi, the latest gondola "Ace Gondola" has arrived at Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu

2025/02/07

This winter, the state-of-the-art "Ace Gondola" has begun operation at Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu, a leading snow resort in Niseko.
It replaces the "Center Four," Japan's oldest quad lift, which had been loved by many skiers for many years, and is attracting attention as the new face of Hirafu.

The Ace Gondola can be seen from the parking lot at the bottom. It comfortably carries you up the mountainside

The Ace Gondola seats 10 people and is equipped with heated seats and Wi-Fi.
My first impression after riding it since its opening was that it was "quiet."
I was also impressed by the lack of support pillars and the fact that the cable runs higher than before. The black-based cabin has a cool form that looks like something out of Star Wars.
And the best part is that you can see Mount Yotei from inside the cabin. It seems like you could enjoy just riding it while sipping a warm drink.

A gondola offers a panoramic view of Mt. Yotei and the Hirafu townscape. The Ace Gondola has fewer support pillars and the cable runs higher than conventional gondolas

The cabin is glass-walled. If the weather is nice, the light streaming in is pleasant. The heated seats have good cushioning, so adults can sit side by side without feeling cramped

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

The "ridge" course seen from the gondola. The undulating terrain is fun

The super course below the gondola line. This famous course has a maximum gradient of 35 degrees, and the exhilaration of running through the powder at high speed is exceptional

However, excessive crowding is a problem in Niseko, which is rapidly growing as an international resort. I work as a photographer based in Niseko, and when I'm not shooting, I love to ski. Hirafu is the closest ski resort to my home and has a variety of terrain.
It's one of my favorite slopes, but during peak season, I naturally tend 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.
Its passenger capacity has increased from the previous 1,800 people per hour to 2,800, and the travel time to the disembarking point has been shortened from 7 minutes to 5 minutes. In fact, when I went skiing hoping for less congestion, there weren't as many lines as I expected. Some locals were worried that the gondola would be more susceptible to wind and that cancellations would increase, but it's a state-of-the-art machine. It seems that it rarely stops even in strong winds.
This means that opportunities to go to Hirafu will likely increase.

Furthermore, at Grand Hirafu, the main lifts above the Ace Gondola are scheduled to be replaced with lifts capable of carrying more passengers starting next season.
This is expected to further improve the skiing environment.

Looking out over the top of the mountain from the gondola exit. The two-seater lift visible in front is also scheduled to be replaced

Ace Gondola mountaintop station. A restaurant is scheduled to open on the second floor

For years to come, we want to create a place where both locals and visitors can enjoy skiing without discrimination.
I feel that the Ace Gondola will become a symbol of a new era.

■Information
Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu

〒044-0080 9-1, 2-chome, Niseko Hirafu 1-jo, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
Official Website:https://www.grand-hirafu.jp/
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