The first section is planned for winter 2026/27, reaching 670 metres. The extension higher up belongs to the following phase.
At Niseko Village, the Mori-no Gondola project will change access to the mountain, but the entire lift will not enter service in the same winter. The announcement published by Niseko United on 25 June 2026 describes an eight-person gondola designed to replace the two-seat Mori-no Chair: the first section, reaching an altitude of 670 metres, is planned for the 2026/27 season.
The distinction between the phases matters for anyone making a booking. An image of the completed project may show a longer lift than the section initially planned; the same applies to a map that also depicts future development. The service to consider for a holiday is the one the operator confirms for the dates of the stay.
The second section is expected in 2027
The full project will extend for approximately two kilometres. After the first phase, the extension towards an altitude of 930 metres is expected in 2027. The cabins will therefore replace an open chairlift with an enclosed connection, as part of a programme that will develop in several stages.
However, the announcement does not allow all the advantages of the completed line to be attributed to the initial section alone. Nor can the total length be used to describe the first winter’s service without distinguishing the two parts. To find your way around, the useful comparison will be between the operating map and the project plan, not between panoramic photographs of the mountain.
The name also needs to be precise: the change concerns Niseko Village. This is the sector to look for when organising the day, rather than using “Niseko” as though every development were located in front of every accommodation in the area.
Annupuri follows a different timetable
The same announcement mentions a second project, involving the Annupuri gondola. Its renewal is planned for the 2028/29 season: it is a future investment, separate from the first section of Mori-no expected for 2026/27.
For those choosing Niseko Village, the news adds a practical consideration to trip planning. Before the stay, visitors should compare access from their accommodation, the meeting point for lessons and the service actually activated on the new line. There is no need to change the entire itinerary: it is enough not to confuse the promise of the full project with its first phase.
The gondola is announced for the season, not described here as already open. Confirmation of its first day of operation and the pistes it serves must come from the resort’s operating report.
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