--- title: "Grand Hirafu Launches ¥300,000 Fast Pass for Niseko's 2026/27 Ski Season" date: 2026-11-12T12:34:00+09:00 author: Chris Pickering canonical_url: "https://uchijapan.com/news/grand-hirafu-fast-pass-winter-2026-27" section: News --- [Resort News](https://uchijapan.com/news/resorts)# Grand Hirafu Launches ¥300,000 Fast Pass for Niseko's 2026/27 Ski Season Nov 12, 2026 - [ ](mailto:?subject=Grand%20Hirafu%20Launches%20%C2%A5300%2C000%20Fast%20Pass%20for%20Niseko%27s%202026%2F27%20Ski%20Season%20on%20Uchi%20Japan&body=https%3A%2F%2Fuchijapan.com%2Fnews%2Fgrand-hirafu-fast-pass-winter-2026-27 "Share by Email") - [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fuchijapan.com%2Fnews%2Fgrand-hirafu-fast-pass-winter-2026-27&title=Grand%20Hirafu%20Launches%20%C2%A5300%2C000%20Fast%20Pass%20for%20Niseko%27s%202026%2F27%20Ski%20Season&description=Niseko%20Grand%20Hirafu%20launches%20a%20%C2%A5300%2C000%20Fast%20Pass%20for%20four%20guests%2C%20with%20priority%20lift%20access%2C%20premium%20rentals%20and%20reserved%20parking.%20See%20what%27s%20new%20for%20winter.&caption=Uchi%20Japan) ![Jeremy bishop Rc8 v Vj Yjuc unsplash](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/properties/_480x270_crop_center-center_60_line/jeremy-bishop-Rc8_vVjYjuc-unsplash.jpg)Priority lift access for up to four guests, premium rental equipment and reserved parking headline a series of improvements at Niseko's largest ski area. Visitors to Niseko this winter will have a new option for avoiding some of Grand Hirafu's busiest lift queues—although it comes with a rather extraordinary price tag. Niseko Tokyu Grand Hirafu has announced the Hirafu Fast Pass, a ¥300,000 daily package offering priority lift and gondola access, premium rental equipment, reserved parking and Niseko United all-mountain lift tickets for up to four guests. The package will be limited to just ten groups per day, making it one of the most exclusive ways to experience Niseko's famous powder snow. It is part of a [wider programme of improvements for winter 2026/27](https://uchijapan.com/news/niseko-lift-upgrades-winter-2026-27), including a substantially upgraded Ace #3 chairlift, expanded equipment rentals and changes to the resort's ski-school services. ## What Do You Get for ¥300,000? The Hirafu Fast Pass is designed to make a day on the mountain as convenient as possible, particularly during the busy Christmas and peak winter periods. The package includes priority boarding lanes at Grand Hirafu's lifts and gondolas, one-day Niseko United all-mountain passes, and high-grade ski or snowboard rental equipment. The rental package includes boots, outerwear and helmets. Guests also receive one reserved parking space near the King Gondola and a commemorative pass holder. The ¥300,000 price covers up to four people, equivalent to ¥75,000 per person for a full group. A fifth and sixth guest can be added for ¥75,000 each, bringing the maximum group size to six. For comparison, a standard adult Niseko United all-mountain day ticket costs ¥13,500 during the 2026/27 peak season, although that does not include rental equipment, parking or priority access. There is one important distinction for anyone planning to explore the wider mountain. While the included lift ticket covers all four Niseko United ski areas—Grand Hirafu, HANAZONO, Niseko Village and Annupuri—the priority boarding benefit applies only at Grand Hirafu. ## When Can You Book? The Hirafu Fast Pass will be available for skiing between 18 December 2026 and 22 March 2027. Bookings are expected to open in late November through the [official Grand Hirafu website](https://www.grand-hirafu.jp/news/hirafu_fast_pass/). A booking link has not yet been released. The resort says bookings cannot be cancelled after confirmation, so visitors should be confident about their plans before making a reservation. Pre-booked passes will be collected from the rental reception on the second floor of the Mountain Centre Annex, at the base of the King Gondola. ## A Faster, More Comfortable Ace #3 Chairlift The premium package is not the only change visitors will notice. Grand Hirafu is replacing its existing two-seat Ace #3 chairlift with a four-person quad, increasing hourly transport capacity from approximately 1,029 to 2,400 passengers. The new lift includes protective hoods to provide greater comfort during Niseko's frequently snowy and windy winter conditions. Located in the mid-mountain area, Ace #3 provides an important connection towards upper-mountain terrain, including access to the Shirakaba and Centre courses. The replacement follows the introduction of the ten-person Ace Gondola and the King #3 Six in previous seasons. Components recovered from the former King #3 lift are being reused in the Ace #3 project. The improvements are intended to reduce congestion and make movement around Grand Hirafu more efficient for all visitors, not just those purchasing premium access. ## More Equipment Choices and Changes to Ski Schools Grand Hirafu is also expanding the number of rental equipment brands from seven to eleven, including additional powder and freeride options. Guests renting through the resort's directly operated rental shop will be able to leave their skis or snowboards in storage after skiing, avoiding the need to carry equipment back to their accommodation each evening. Meanwhile, the resort is consolidating several ski-school operations under the Hirafu Snow brand. The changes include a combined booking service, English- and Japanese-language instruction and dedicated priority lift lanes for eligible lessons. These improvements should make the resort easier to navigate for international visitors and families, particularly those travelling to Niseko for the first time. ## Niseko Prepares for Winter Grand Hirafu is scheduled to open for the 2026/27 winter season on 28 November, with operations planned through 5 May 2027, subject to snow and weather conditions. Night skiing is scheduled to begin on 12 December. The introduction of a ¥300,000 premium package will inevitably attract attention, but it is also part of a broader investment programme aimed at improving capacity, comfort and convenience. For most visitors, the new chairlift and improvements to rental and ski-school services are likely to be the more important developments. For those willing to pay substantially more to make the most of a limited number of days in Niseko, however, the Hirafu Fast Pass offers a very different way to experience the mountain. 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