Niseko Village Introduces New Gondolas for the Winter 2026 Season

A new era of alpine adventure will begin at Niseko Village this December, as the resort unveils the first stage of its long-anticipated gondola upgrade. Designed with both comfort and discovery in mind, the sleek new lift promises guests smoother rides, sweeping mountain views, and more time on the slopes.

The Morino Gondola takes shape

At the centre of the project is the new Morino Gondola, which will replace the historic Mori-no Chair, a fixed-grip two-seat lift that has carried skiers up Niseko Village's slopes since the 1980s. The new gondola will run for roughly two kilometres up Mount Niseko-Annupuri and will more than double the old chairlift's carrying capacity, cutting queues while giving riders a warmer, more comfortable journey up the mountain.

The gondola's 86 cabins will each carry up to eight guests, and the fleet includes some genuine style upgrades: four VIP cabins fitted with dining tables for a touch of alpine luxury, and two cabins with glass floors, giving riders a floating sensation as they look straight down through the treetops to the terrain below.

A phased build to the summit

The project is being delivered in two stages. The first section, linking the base area to a mid-mountain station at around 670 metres of elevation, is scheduled to open this December in time for the Winter 2026 season. Guests will be able to disembark at this intermediate station to access terrain suited to beginner and intermediate skiers, or continue their journey once the full line is complete.

The second stage, extending the gondola from the mid-mountain station up to a new summit station near 970 metres, is planned for December 2027. Once finished, the Morino Gondola will connect Niseko Village's base directly to the summit without requiring riders to change cabins — a first for this side of the mountain.

Part of a wider lift overhaul

The gondola isn't the only upgrade coming to Niseko Village this season. The resort's high-altitude Wonderland Chair, currently a single-seat lift, is also being rebuilt as a two-seater as part of the same investment programme, further improving circulation around the mountain. Together, the changes will see several ageing lifts dating back more than four decades replaced with modern equipment.

Niseko Village said the improvements are designed to reduce wait times, enhance safety and give skiers and snowboarders greater flexibility in how they move around the resort — part of a broader push to strengthen its reputation as one of Japan's premier four-season mountain destinations.

With phase one on track to open this December, Niseko Village skiers and riders will be among the first in Japan to experience the new gondola when the Winter 2026 season gets underway.