Heated seats and Wi-Fi are available. The latest gondola "Ace Gondola" appeared in Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu

2025/02/07

The latest gondola, Ace Gondola, began operating at Niseko's leading snow resort, "Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu," this winter.
It was installed in place of the Center Four, Japan's oldest quad lift that has been loved by many skiers for many years, and is attracting attention as the face of the new Hirafu.

The ace gondola is visible from the bottom parking lot. Sliding comfortably all the way to the middle of the mountain

The Ace Gondola can seat 10 people, and has heated seats and wifi.
My first impression I felt after the opening was "quiet."
It was also impressive that there were fewer support poles and the cables were running higher than before. The black-based cabin has a cool shape similar to that seen in Star Wars.
Another attractive feature is that you can see Mt. Yotei from inside the cabin. It would be fun just to ride with a warm drink.

Mount Yotei and Hirafu cityscape can be seen from the gondola. Ace Gondora with fewer posts and cables passing through higher positions than before

Inside a glass cabin. If the weather is nice, the light shines in is pleasant. The heated seats have good cushioning, so even adults don't feel oppressive when sitting side by side

The Center for was a four-seater quadlift that began service in 1985 and had no hoods. It was a bit cold during snowy nights, but the live performance was fun, with the riders cheering on the steep slope "Super Course" that runs right below.

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

Super course under the Gondola Line. This speciality course has a maximum slope of 35 degrees, and the refreshing feeling of running through powder at high speed is exceptional.

However, in Niseko, which is rapidly growing as an international resort, excessive crowds are a challenge. I work as a photographer based in Niseko and would like to ski in ski resorts without taking pictures. Hirafu is the closest ski resort to my home and has a wide range of terrain.
It's my favorite slopes, but during the high season, I naturally got away from the crowds and was far from the ground.

Perhaps because there was no new snowfall on this day, there were almost no lines even after the service began at 8:30am.

That's where Ace Gondola appeared.
The number of transport personnel increased from the previous hourly rate of 1,800 to 2,800, and the operation time to get off has been reduced from 7 minutes to 5 minutes. In fact, when I went skiing in hopes of reducing crowds, there was no line that much. Locals were worried that it would be more susceptible to wind when it becomes a gondola, and that the number of suspensions would increase, but this was the latest machine. It seems that it rarely stops even in strong winds.
This will likely lead to more opportunities to go to Hirafu.

In addition, from next season onwards, Grand Hirafu's main lift from the Ace Gondola will also be replaced with a lift with a large number of transport personnel.
It is expected that the sliding environment will be improved.

From the gondola drop down, you look over the top of the mountain. The two-seater lift seen in front is also scheduled to be replaced.

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

For the future, we hope that locals and visitors will be able to enjoy skiing without discriminating.
I feel that Ace Gondola will become a symbol of a new era.

■InfomationNiseko
Tokyu Grand Hirafu

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