Why I Always Start at the Ace Gondola

masaishido
May 30
4 min read

Updated: Jun 1

Because every day is different, and powder doesn’t wait.

This blog is about:

Why I always start my day at the Ace Gondola
How Niseko’s morning conditions shape your whole strategy
The real reason first chair matters (it’s not what you think)
My powder-day backup plans—and why Ace gives you all of them

In Niseko, no two days are the same. The wind shifts. Visibility comes and goes. The peak gates might open—or stay closed all day. You can’t control nature.

But what I can control is where I start my day. The first lift I take. And for me, that’s always the Ace Gondola.

Riding untouched powder is my top priority—and no other lift gives me as much flexibility to adapt and respond to real-time mountain conditions.

With More Crowds, You Just Have to Adapt to Ride Powder Like Before

My goal every morning is the same: get to the peak. That’s where the best terrain lives. But in Niseko, you never really know if the gates will open or if the upper lifts will run. Wind, visibility, and avalanche risk can shift everything—sometimes by the hour.

The avalanche report, which determines whether the peak gates will open, usually comes out between 8:00 and 8:30. Around the same time, you start to learn which lifts are delayed, running slow, or staying closed. Your entire plan for the day can change while you’re standing in line.

That’s why I always start from the Ace Gondola. It puts me in the best position to respond, no matter what the mountain decides. Whether the peak gates open or not, Ace gives me access to the widest range of terrain options, all from one lift. I can pivot fast—without needing to rethink my entire day.

And that’s why being on the first chair matters. It’s not about bragging rights. It’s about optionality. If the peak stays closed, and you still want to ride world-class powder, you need a solid Plan B and Plan C—and you need to be ahead of the crowd to access them.

That’s where the Ace Gondola gives you an edge. From one lift, you can access all of Hirafu’s lower mountain powder terrain—some of the best in Niseko. You also have direct routes to:

G11 in Niseko Village
Osawa Bowl in Annupuri
G5, and the trees between Yotei Sunset and the Hana 3 lift

…just as fast as the first riders coming from those respective resorts.

A few years ago, you didn’t need to be early. These days, if you’re not there 40 to 50 minutes before opening, you’re already behind. I changed my routine. Now I’m there early, ride hard through the early afternoon, then head back for an onsen and a bottle of wine to celebrate.

Niseko is more crowded than it used to be—but if you adapt, you can still score the kind of powder runs people fly halfway around the world for.

The Powder Options from the Ace Gondola

Stormy morning? Peak gate closed? Top lifts not running?

It doesn’t matter. Here are the options you still have if you take the Ace Gondola:

Ride Super Course top to bottom
Ride Furiko and then finish off with Onsenzawa
Or, do the top half of Super, cut into the bottom half of Furiko and then head over to Onsenzawa.
Drop into the Ohiroma tree zone next to Super
Traverse out to Super Ridge and pick your line
Ride to the top of the Hirafu Gondola and hike to Miharashi
Pass King 3 and drop into Konayuki

And if Ace 3 and King 3 are open

Traverse toward G11 in Niseko Village
Reach Hanazono zones like G5, or tree areas between Yotei Sunset and the Hana 3 lift

You may not get the peak. But from Ace, you’ll always have the best options in Niseko on any given day.

And that, more than anything, is why it’s the first lift I ride every day.

Check out this video if you want to see more details about the runs I mention in the blog.

What About the King Gondola?

The King Gondola is the other main lift in the village—but it doesn’t give you the same kind of access.

From there, your immediate powder options are limited:

Hike to Miharashi
Drop into Konayuki

To reach the terrain you can access directly from the Ace Gondola, you’d have to take King 3, then ride down Center Course just to get to the top of Ace. By then, the best lines off Super, Furiko, and Ohiroma may already be gone.

That might be fine for a relaxed cruise—but if you’re chasing untouched powder, and want to keep your options open, starting from the King Gondola puts you a step behind.

Ride When Everyone Else Is Eating

Another simple strategy: I eat early—or not at all. While most people are lining up for lunch, I’m back on the lifts.

Midday laps often mean shorter queues and surprisingly fresh snow, especially on days when the storm keeps delivering.

The mountain doesn’t stop—and neither should you. Not when there’s still powder to be had.

Not Every Day Will Be Yours. But One Might Be.

I understand not every trip is solo. You’re most likely with family, a partner, or friends with different energy levels and skill sets. You won’t make first chair every day.

But if you play your cards right, you might earn that one golden opportunity—and even if the conditions don’t align or the peak gates stay closed, you’ve still got a shot at something unforgettable.

And when that day comes, you want to start from the lift that gives you the most strategic and tactical upside. That lift is the Ace Gondola.

This isn’t about ritual. It’s not about ego.

It’s about positioning yourself to ride the best snow Niseko has to offer—whenever it decides to show up.

Start Smart, Ride Better

The mountain rewards timing, awareness, and adaptability.

That’s why I always start at the Ace Gondola.

It gives me options, head starts, and backup plans when the mountain throws curveballs.

But that’s only half the story.

Because today’s Ace Gondola isn’t what it used to be.

In Part 2, I’ll break down how the lift itself has changed—and why that makes powder strategy even better for those who know how to use it.

Thanks for reading,

Masa