big-will 7 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 I don't know if Max was intending to create a post on here after uploading those pics.... Interesting seeing it - all ready to go? http://www.snowjapanforums.com/index.php/gallery/album/72-new-niseko-grand-hirafu-gondola-and-hirafu-main-street-project/ 1 Link to post Share on other sites
SKI 15 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Thanks for posting then Max. Link to post Share on other sites
mfriedm 4 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Happy to let you take the glory for the forum post! I just added captions to the photos as best I could. Last I spoke with the company, they're planning to do a test-run tomorrow, but that seemed subject to change. One things for sure, the new cars are pretty, and the view from them should be spectacular. If you have other questions about the goings-on of Niseko, this may be a good place to ask though. Link to post Share on other sites
Fonty 1 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 The new building at the bottom looks fab too! Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Happy to let you take the glory for the forum post! I just added captions to the photos as best I could. Last I spoke with the company, they're planning to do a test-run tomorrow, but that seemed subject to change. One things for sure, the new cars are pretty, and the view from them should be spectacular. If you have other questions about the goings-on of Niseko, this may be a good place to ask though. Max, what is happening to the J-First site? Link to post Share on other sites
mfriedm 4 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 For the coming season, it will run as the "Niseko Hirafu Lodge." From there (and for next season), the site's fate is undecided, including whether or not the building will be demolished or not. They put up a sign that says "Niseko Hirafu Lodge" quite recently. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Sad. But thanks for that Max. Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 is this just the gondola they already have at hirafu but with some nice new pods? I looked at the pics, but no snow on it means i cant really visualize it it looks like the spot the old gondola went up to, and itll be nice to have the bottom redeveloped since it does look a wee bit baka beyond at the minute (or rather, last winter). Link to post Share on other sites
Alexander L 80 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Max, Wow!!. Just looked at the photos. What a remarkable transformation. It's been many years, but Niseko does hold a charm. I want to go see the new developments now. Link to post Share on other sites
mfriedm 4 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 is this just the gondola they already have at hirafu but with some nice new pods? I looked at the pics, but no snow on it means i cant really visualize it it looks like the spot the old gondola went up to, and itll be nice to have the bottom redeveloped since it does look a wee bit baka beyond at the minute (or rather, last winter). It's definitely an exciting change! To be fair, I think the most exciting part of it is the road construction going on right now. Power lines really are the bane of views in Japan. But you're right, it's the same gondola end location. A shot of a lone car hanging on the gondola: http://www.snowjapanforums.com/index.php/gallery/image/814-hirafu-gondola-on-the-cable/ Link to post Share on other sites
ippy 66 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 You know what? Just looking at those pictures makes me so jealous. It must be awesome living around the mountain you ride and seeing it when its not just a white mass with trees. To just be able to take a stroll up there and mentally map lines on a nice sunny day must really make you feel a part of the history of that place. I live in the wrong place Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 They really had no choice in doing something with the gondola. The cable it ran on had reached an age where they were unable to continue to get insurance to run it. Thankfully they really bit the bullet and are replacing it with much better cars that will increase capacity and have greatly improved the base and top stations. I do wish they'd relocated the top station higher up though so it's easier to connect up with other lifts. Really looking forward though to seeing Hirafu zaka without powerlines. The views towards Yotei without those damned lines in the way will be awesome. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Always fun to see stuff like that Link to post Share on other sites
mfriedm 4 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 You know what? Just looking at those pictures makes me so jealous. It must be awesome living around the mountain you ride and seeing it when its not just a white mass with trees. To just be able to take a stroll up there and mentally map lines on a nice sunny day must really make you feel a part of the history of that place. I live in the wrong place Another amazing thing is the difference in the mountain between early season and late season. If you always come to Niseko in early January (like a lot of my Tokyo friends do), then come back in March, you're skiing a totally different place. A lot of the year-round locals say that the summers are better than the winter here, too. It really depends on how much summer infrastructure can be built up in the next few years, particularly to target "low-impact" tourists. A handful of easy gravel mountain biking roads and some easy hiking courses from Hirafu/Hanazono/Higashiyama would do wonders for our summer appeal. Also, those trails would then be cross-country courses in the winter. That's what I want. They really had no choice in doing something with the gondola. The cable it ran on had reached an age where they were unable to continue to get insurance to run it. Thankfully they really bit the bullet and are replacing it with much better cars that will increase capacity and have greatly improved the base and top stations. I do wish they'd relocated the top station higher up though so it's easier to connect up with other lifts. Really looking forward though to seeing Hirafu zaka without powerlines. The views towards Yotei without those damned lines in the way will be awesome. This is new to me. I assumed that the decision not to move the upper station was due to late applications and tons of bureaucracy associated with it, since we're in a national park. My impression is that Tokyu doesn't want to spend too much money due to pressure from the national company that they're under, even though they understand that it would be worth it in the long run. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 You know what? Just looking at those pictures makes me so jealous. It must be awesome living around the mountain you ride and seeing it when its not just a white mass with trees. To just be able to take a stroll up there and mentally map lines on a nice sunny day must really make you feel a part of the history of that place. I live in the wrong place It gets really really boring you know, ippy. Link to post Share on other sites
r45 4 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Can't wait to get on there! Link to post Share on other sites
oblivion 5 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I don't suppose there are that many gondolas going up in the world, but when a resort buys on like here ---- do they design a unique one or are there just basically designs that exist and they get one of them and put the stickers on. If that makes sense? Link to post Share on other sites
Pillar of the community 0 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I'll have one of them.... 2 of them... a bunch of them and five of them please Link to post Share on other sites
JellyBelly 1 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Do you get a good view of Yotei out of that "all glass" side? Link to post Share on other sites
mfriedm 4 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Do you get a good view of Yotei out of that "all glass" side? Unfortunately not, Yotei's pretty much on a line with the gondola path, so you can see Yotei out the back window. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I do wish they'd relocated the top station higher up though so it's easier to connect up with other lifts. Really looking forward though to seeing Hirafu zaka without powerlines. The views towards Yotei without those damned lines in the way will be awesome. I've only been to Niseko once and don't remember it that well, but on seeing the photo of the top station, my first reaction was "is that where you have to walk up to Miharashi?" Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 It is where you walk up. I wasn't thinking that it should be placed to take away that walk though. I like that there's a walk to access the top of the Miharashi off-piste area otherwise it would track out even quicker than it does already. My main issue is that to get from the top of the Gondola to say the hooded triple is currently a real pain in the butt. If they just brought it back and up a little further it would make accessing the King Bell restaurant and the hooded triple much easier. Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I don't suppose there are that many gondolas going up in the world, but when a resort buys on like here ---- do they design a unique one or are there just basically designs that exist and they get one of them and put the stickers on. If that makes sense? I think that is a somewhat standard design; here, for example, is the Matterhorn Express, which looks pretty much the same with only minor differences besides, of course, the stickers: Now, here is a unique gondola: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtJBHKlrBCE Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 That name rings a bell....... The Shining hotel/mountain? Link to post Share on other sites
Metabo Oyaji 71 Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 I believe you're right! Link to post Share on other sites
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