Shirane Mountain is a beautiful volcano located in Kusatsu Town of Gunma Prefecture, about 150 kilometers north of Tokyo. The green-colored mysterious crater lake named Yugama and the pink-colored alpine flowers named Komakusa is specifically popular among tourists. To visit Shirane Mountain, an aerial lift, Shirane-kazan Ropeway, was convenient. I visited there in 2013 to see both Yugama crater lake and Komakusa alpine flowers on the mountain.
On January 23, 2018, Motoshirane Peak (2,171 meters above sea level) of Shirane Mountain abruptly erupted for the first time in 3,000 years. Volcanic conglomerates hit the gondolas and the station roof of the aerial lift. They were severely damaged. Half a month later, the mayor of Kusatsu Town eventually decided to abolish the Shirane-kazan Ropeway. That was very sad news.
Shirane-kazan Ropeway was a single rope - automatic circulation type gondola lift. It was originally opened by Kusatsu Town in 1960. Connecting Sanroku station (1,545 meters above sea level) and Sancho station (2,017 meters above sea level), its route length was 2,407.53 meters. The height difference between the two stations was 472 meters. Its maximum inclination was 28.82 degrees. There were 22 struts on the route. The gondolas were built by CWA in Switzerland. They were operated counterclockwise with a speed of 5 meters per second. It took 8 to 10 minutes to go one way. Each gondola could accommodate up to 6 passengers. Its transportation capacity was 1,800 passengers per hour.
Sayonara (good-bye) and arigatou (thank you), Shirane-kazan Ropeway. I shall never forget you.
On January 23, 2018, Motoshirane Peak (2,171 meters above sea level) of Shirane Mountain abruptly erupted for the first time in 3,000 years. Volcanic conglomerates hit the gondolas and the station roof of the aerial lift. They were severely damaged. Half a month later, the mayor of Kusatsu Town eventually decided to abolish the Shirane-kazan Ropeway. That was very sad news.
Shirane-kazan Ropeway was a single rope - automatic circulation type gondola lift. It was originally opened by Kusatsu Town in 1960. Connecting Sanroku station (1,545 meters above sea level) and Sancho station (2,017 meters above sea level), its route length was 2,407.53 meters. The height difference between the two stations was 472 meters. Its maximum inclination was 28.82 degrees. There were 22 struts on the route. The gondolas were built by CWA in Switzerland. They were operated counterclockwise with a speed of 5 meters per second. It took 8 to 10 minutes to go one way. Each gondola could accommodate up to 6 passengers. Its transportation capacity was 1,800 passengers per hour.
Sayonara (good-bye) and arigatou (thank you), Shirane-kazan Ropeway. I shall never forget you.
