Japan's famous Niseko ski area has announced it will open for the 2017-18 ski season this Thursday 23rd November.
The resort has had heavy snowfall over the past week that has brought the resort's snow base up to 1m and another 80cm of snowfall is forecast before opening day.
Niseko will unveil two new quad chairlifts this winter – unusual in Japan where few new lifts have been built this century due to declining skier numbers at many resorts.
Both lifts are aimed at improving up lift for beginners but one above Central Hirafu, one of the key accommodation areas, will be extended 250 metres uphill compared to the old lift it replaces, and will provide faster, further access to more advanced, higher altitude terrain as well as providing a longer run down easy trails to the base for novice skiers and boarders.
The new high speed quad also has more than double the capacity of the previous lift meaning it will gobble up any queues that develop more quickly.