Major Niseko High-Speed Lift Upgrades Underway
Exciting news for Niseko Grand Hirafu Resort! Tokyu Resort Service today announced that the Niseko Grand Hirafu Resort will be undertaking exciting new high-speed lift upgrades this summer — with construction to be completed in time for the upcoming winter season.
The Ace Family Pair lift, a two-person chairlift currently located beside AYA Niseko and the Family course, will be replaced with a brand new high-speed quad lift this December.
The Family run has long been one of the most popular courses of the Grand Hirafu Resort thanks to a forgiving gradient perfect for both beginners and children alike, and a highly convenient location which provides easy access to higher slopes from a resort level. The new Ace Family Quad — which will be faster, longer, and have higher capacity than ever before — is set to make skiing from AYA Niseko even easier. More technologically advanced than its predecessor — which first appeared in November 1983 — the new lifts feature technology that will automatically decelerate the chairs to a steady 0.8m/s on either end of the line, providing all riders with easier, more comfortable loading and unloading experience.
Replacement lifts will operate at almost 3 times the speed of the former system, and with higher capacity and reduced delays, will be able to transport up to 2,400 people per hour. Say goodbye to queues and long waits.
Furthermore, the top of the Family course and the route from the Sen no Ki course is being completely redesigned, in time for this coming winter, with plans to lengthen the family run and improve access to the Alpine course, the King area, as well as the .Base Ski Center and car park.
The base of the new lift will be located 10 metres further up the mountain providing a great deal more space for Hirafu ski schools at the bottom of the Family run and a more comfortable viewing atmosphere. The exit point of the lift will be located 250 metres higher up the mountain giving Niseko's beginner skiers and snowboarders access to the green Sennoki run and a longer ski to base. Advanced skiers and boarders will benefit with smoother transition from the Niseko United summit to the Dot Base Ski Center and Hirafu’s main parking lot. If you would like to learn more about AYA Niseko apartments for sale, don't hesitate to contact a member of the Niseko Real Estate team.