Let me pick up where I left off in my last post. After getting off the Yahiko-yama Climbing Car at the summit park, I enjoyed a superb view for a while. It was a precious time for me, but there was another spectacular lookout on this mountain. Please look at the top photo: you can see a tall column with a cylindrical observation deck. What is it?
The answer is the Yahiko-yama Panorama Tower. This is a rotating and lifting observation tower located right beside the climbing car. The cylindrical deck slowly rotates as it ascends the central column. The tower stands 85 meters high, with the top reaching about 605 meters above sea level—higher than the top of the climbing car track. The Panorama Tower was built in 1970, at the same time as the climbing car, by the Yahiko-yama Ropeway Company. It is the oldest rotating and lifting tower in Japan. The deck accommodates up to 52 passengers, operates every 15 minutes, and each ride lasts about eight minutes. Pets are even welcome at no extra charge—what a wonderful offer!
Now please look at the photo below. I’m really fond of this retro atmosphere. On top of that, the operating sound of the rotating deck somehow feels nostalgic, with its unique rattling noise. The seats inside the cabin are covered with red moquette fabric, reminding me of old commuter trains in Tokyo. From there I fully enjoyed the breathtaking 360-degree panorama of the Niigata Plain, Sado Island, and the Sea of Japan. Time really does fly when you’re having fun—eight minutes passed by in the blink of an eye.
