Tokushima is the main city of Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku Island, with a population of about 260,000. The city is best known for the Awa-odori, a traditional dance festival held every summer, but that’s not all. Just a short distance from downtown lies Mt. Bizan, a popular sightseeing spot where visitors can enjoy a superb view of the city and the Kii Channel from the summit.
To reach Mt. Bizan, the Bizan Ropeway is very convenient. Operated by the Tokushima City Office, it connects Awa-odori Kaikan and Sancho stations with a route length of 787 meters. It’s a single-cable aerial tramway with a height difference of 242 meters between the two stations, and a maximum gradient of 30.23 degrees. The ropeway first opened in 1957, and the current third-generation gondolas were manufactured by Osaka Sharyo in 1997. Each gondola can carry 15 passengers, making a total of 30 per trip. Their rounded design resembles the Haruna-san Ropeway gondolas in Gunma Prefecture. The system operates every 15 minutes at a maximum speed of 4.1 meters per second, taking about six minutes for a one-way trip. The gondolas have a lovely nickname — “Hyotan (Gourd) View.”
On February 17th, the Tokushima City Office announced that brand-new gondolas will begin service on March 30th — the first renewal in 25 years. According to the announcement, the new cabins will have an angular design and feature large windows, offering even wider views. That sounds exciting.
Sayonara (goodbye) and arigatou (thank you), Hyotan View gondolas.
