New Gondolas on Mt. Bizan

Bizan Ropeway in Tokushima City

(Photo: Nicolai Okkels)

I recently received something I had been hoping for again from a Danish railfan. During his trip around Shikoku Island in Japan, he took many photos, and today I would like to introduce one of them. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Nicolai Okkels, who kindly shared this picture with me.

Please look at the photo above—the new gondolas of the Bizan Ropeway. You can see blue and red box-shaped cabins standing out against the urban scenery. They look gorgeous.

As I wrote before, the Bizan Ropeway is convenient access to the popular sightseeing spot, Mt. Bizan, in Tokushima City on Shikoku Island. It is a single-cable aerial tramway. It connects Awa-odori Kaikan and Sancho stations. The route length is 787 meters, the height difference is 242 meters, and the maximum gradient is 30.23 degrees. The system operates every 15 minutes, and the maximum speed is 4.1 meters per second. It takes about six minutes for a one-way trip.

This aerial tramway opened in 1957, and the current fourth-generation gondolas started operation on March 30 last year. One unique feature of this system is the double gondolas to secure enough transportation capacity. Each gondola can carry up to 14 passengers, so a total of 28 people can ride on each trip.

For your reference, I would also like to share the older, third-generation gondolas. Please look at the photo below. These round-shaped gondolas are the ones I boarded two years ago. The present cabins obviously have larger windows, so the views are even wider. They have really evolved.

By the way, you may wonder why I posted a topic about an aerial tramway on this “railway” blog. To be honest, there is no deep meaning. But if I have to say something, in Japan, the operation of aerial tramways is governed by the “Railway Business Act.” That is a good excuse!

Third-generation gondolas (December 2022)

Related link:

• Official information from Tokushima City (Japanese only)

Sayonara, "Hyotan View" Gondolas

Bizan Ropeway in Tokushima City

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.

Superb view from Mt. Bizan

Official announcement by Tokushima City (in Japanese):

https://www.city.tokushima.tokushima.jp/shisei/mayor/mayor_press/press_2024/kaiken20250217.files/kaiken2025021701.pdf

Aerial Tramway for Pilgrims

Tairyuji Ropeway in Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku Island

Shikoku is the fourth largest island in Japan, located about 800 kilometers west of Tokyo. The Shikoku Pilgrimage is a unique spiritual journey to 88 Buddhist temples scattered across the island. Walking the entire route from one temple to the next adds up to more than 1,400 kilometers. It may sound daunting, but please don’t worry — pilgrims are free to use public transportation along the way if they wish.

Tairyuji Temple in Tokushima Prefecture is a good example. Perched near a steep mountain summit 618 meters above sea level, it can be reached conveniently by the Tairyuji Ropeway. This aerial tramway, operated by Shikoku Cable Company, opened in 1992. It’s a four-cable, cross-type system connecting Washinosato and Sancho stations. The route is 2,775 meters long, with a height difference of 422 meters and a maximum incline of 30 degrees. Swiss-made gondolas operate every 20 minutes, taking about 10 minutes for a one-way trip. Each gondola can carry up to 101 passengers.

There are two support towers along the route. The first tower, standing 42 meters tall, is the highest of its kind in the world. I observed this impressive structure on my way to the temple. That morning, the mountaintop was lightly dusted with snow, adding to the tranquil atmosphere. Incidentally, I wasn’t a pilgrim but simply a tourist. I must admit — I’m a bit of a wimp, so I didn’t dare to attempt the 1,400-kilometer pilgrimage!

The first strut of Tairyuji Ropeway

Official Website, Tairyuji RopewayーShikoku Cable Company (in Japanese):

http://www.shikoku-cable.co.jp/tairyuji/index.html

Lake-Ocean View in Hakone

Gondora "Ashinoko" of the Komagatake Ropeway

You may remember my visit to Hakone, which I introduced to you last November. Today, I’d like to show you another precious view from the summit of Mt. Komagatake.

Please look at the photo below. You can see two different water surfaces. What are they? They are a lake and the ocean. The one in the foreground is Lake Ashinoko, while the one in the background is the Pacific Ocean. It’s quite a rare view, isn’t it?

As far as I know, there are several places in Japan where you can see both a lake and the sea at the same time. For example, you can view Lake Saroma and the Sea of Okhotsk together on Hokkaido Island—but those two are actually connected. In other words, the difference in elevation between their water surfaces is zero meters. In contrast, the elevation difference between Lake Ashinoko and the Pacific Ocean is about 723 meters. Doesn’t it seem as if the water from the lake could easily leak out? According to specialists, Lake Ashinoko is a caldera lake formed in the Hakone Mountains. This means that it is surrounded by hard, dense volcanic rock. I truly enjoyed this unique and dynamic view from Mt. Komagatake.

Well, I can’t finish here, since this is a transportation blog. Taking this opportunity, let me also introduce another gondola, Ashinoko (No. 1). Along with “Komagatake (Number 2)”, Ashinoko was built by CWA in 1986 and can accommodate up to 101 passengers. The Komagatake Ropeway has been operated by an automatic control system since 1990.

Lake Ashinoko (foreground) and the Pacific Ocean (background)

Hakone-Komagatake Ropeway (in Japanese):

https://www.princehotels.co.jp/amuse/hakone-en/ropeway/

2024 Late Autumn Visit to Hakone

Gondola No. 2 “Komagatake”, Hakone Komagatake Ropeway

Autumn is making steady progress in Japan, and the trees around Tokyo are beginning to show their first touches of color—reds, yellows, and soft browns. Wanting to enjoy the season at its early peak, I took a family trip to Hakone, a place well-known not only for its scenery but also for its many interesting transport systems. Our main destination was Mt. Komagatake, a 1,356-meter peak that stands quietly within the central Hakone Caldera.

To reach Mt. Komagatake, the Hakone Komagatake Ropeway is the most convenient option. The ropeway was originally opened by the Izu-Hakone Railway in 1963 and is currently operated by Seibu Prince Hotels Worldwide. It is a four-cable, cross-type aerial tramway connecting Hakone-en, located on the shore of Lake Ashinoko, and Komagatake-Chōjō Station at the summit. The route length is 1,783 meters, with a height difference of 590.8 meters between the two stations. The maximum gradient is an impressive 30.3 degrees. Gondolas depart every 20 minutes, and a one-way trip takes about seven minutes. The current gondolas—Ashinoko (No. 1) and Komagatake (No. 2)—were built by CWA in 1986 as the second-generation cars. Each gondola can carry up to 101 passengers.

After arriving at Komagatake-Sanchō Station, we enjoyed beautiful autumn colors around Mt. Komagatake, along with the serene view of nearby Lake Ashinoko. To our delight, we also had a clear view of Mt. Fuji (3,776 meters above sea level) in the northwest. However, due to lighter snowfall than usual this year, the summit was not snow-capped. I couldn’t help wondering if this was another sign of global warming.

Mt. Fuji (3,776 m) seen from Mt. Komagatake

Japan's Shortest Aerial Tramway

Atami Ropeway

Let me resume the topic of my mid-summer trip to Atami City. After enjoying train photography at Atami station, I headed to Atami Port to take a sightseeing boat. To tell the truth, I preferred to take an aerial tramway and visit Atami Castle rather than take the sightseeing boat in the sea, but I refrained. My family wanted to enjoy a boat cruise. It must not be forgotten that I took time for the train photography earlier. Instead, I tried to shoot photos of the aerial tramway from the sightseeing boat.

The aerial tramway in Atami City was inaugurated by Atami Ropeway Company in 1958. It's a three cables-cross type aerial tramway constructed by Tokyo Sakudo. Connecting Sanroku (Korakuen) and Sancho (Hachimanyama) stations, its route length is 286 meters, which is the shortest aerial tramway in Japan. The height difference between the two stations is 96 meters. Its maximum inclination is 25.18 degrees; meanwhile the average inclination is 17.85 degrees. The present gondolas, namely number 1 and 2, were built by Osaka Sharyo in 1982. Glass-walled bodies are still beautiful. Each gondola can accommodate up to 30 passengers. Its maximum payload is 1,800 kilograms. The gondola is operated every 10 minutes on average. It takes about 3 and a half minutes to go one way. Gondolas are operated with a speed of 2.5 meters per second.

The gondola was pretty far from the sightseeing boat, but I could shoot it using a telescopic lens. What a relief!

Atami Port

Official website, Atami Ropeway: https://www.atami-ropeway.jp/en/

Midsummer Journey to the Holy Mountain

Gondola Number 2, Ho-on, Minobusan Ropeway

It's very hot this mid-summer in Tokyo. The maximum daytime temperature is often over 35 degrees Celsius. I evacuated from the urban heat island, and visited the cool mountain in Yamanashi Prefecture for a while with my family. Our destination was Mt. Minobu, which is located about 180 kilometers west of Tokyo. It's a holy mountain where a famous Buddhist, Nichiren (1222 - 1282), founded Kuonji temple in 1274. Its main peak is 1,153 meters above sea level.

Minobusan Ropeway is a convenient access to this holy mountain. The route was opened by Minobu Tozan Railway in 1963. It's a three cables - cross type aerial tramway. Connecting Kuonji and Okunoin stations, its route length is 1,665 meters. The height difference between the two stations is 763 meters. Its maximum inclination is 33 degrees. The tow line is operated by a 200kW electric motor. The gondola is operated every 20 minutes. It takes about 7 minutes to go one way. The present gondolas, namely Chion (Number 1) and Ho-on (Number 2), were introduced last year. Each gondola can accommodate up to 41 passengers.

The 763-meter elevation difference caused me an unforeseen effect. My ears were popping due to decreasing pressure all the while on boarding. After arriving at Okunoin station, we visited Okunoin temple near the summit. We couldn't enjoy the scenery as the mountain was shrouded in a heavy mist, but it was nice and cool. We felt a holy and mysterious atmosphere in the precincts of the temple.

Okunoin temple

Official website, Minobusan Ropeway:

http://www.minobusanropeway.co.jp/

Gondola Lift to Mt. Nyukasa

The gondola lift and a mountain bike lover in the Fujimi Panorama Resort

It's early summer in Tokyo. The maximum daytime temperature reaches 25 degrees Celsius every day. I recently visited Nagano Prefecture to experience the cool breeze with my family. Our destination was Mt. Nyukasa, which is 1,955 meters above sea level. The view from the summit was fantastic. We could clearly see snow-capped Mt. Kaikoma (2,967 meters above sea level) under the strong sunlight.

To visit Mt. Nyukasa, Gondola lift of the Fujimi Panorama Resort is convenient. It's a single rope automatic circulation type gondola lift. Connecting Sanroku (1,050 meters above sea level) and Sancho (1,780 meters above sea level) stations, its route length is 2,488 meters. The height difference between the two stations is 730 meters. Its maximum inclination is 37.97 degrees. There are 27 struts on the route. This aerial lift was opened in 1992 to transport skiers in winter as well as sightseers in summer. The cable line was constructed by Tokyo Sakudo technically assisted by Von Roll in Switzerland. The gondolas were built by CWA also in Switzerland.

Gondolas are operated with a speed of 5 meters per second. It takes 10 minutes to go one way. Each gondola can accommodate up to 8 passengers. Its transportation capacity is 2,400 passengers per hour. One of the features of this aerial lift is that passengers can take mountain bikes on the gondola. A maximum of 2 bikes and 2 passengers per gondola can be loaded. I saw many mountain bike lovers, who enjoy biking on the slope of the mountain.

View of Mt. Kaikoma (2,967 meters above sea level) from Mt. Nyukasa

Official website, the Fujimi Panorama Resort (in Japanese):

https://www.fujimipanorama.com/summer/

Hakone Ropeway: Update

Hakone Ropeway

After getting off the Hakone Tozan Cable Car, I stopped by Sounzan station on the Hakone Ropeway after a long absence. Hakone Ropeway is a gondola lift opened in 1959. Connecting Sounzan and Togendai, its total operating length is 4.05 kilometers. The height difference between the lowest and the highest points is 303 meters. The route is currently divided into two sections, so, the passengers have to change the cabin at the intermediate Owakudani station. The operating system of Hakone Ropeway is "Funitel", which has two arms attached to two parallel overhead cables, providing more stability in high winds. Hakone Ropeway is officially recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records as the busiest aerial lift, since two million passengers per year are on board.

What's new with Hakone Ropeway? The company plans to replace the gondolas. The new gondolas will be TARIS built by CWA in Switzerland. TARIS is larger than that of the present gondola. It also has a wider door; thus, passengers can ride on or off safely and easily. Although it's delayed further than the first plan probably because of the COVID-19 calamity, I hope that the new gondolas will be commissioned soon.

Now is the time when we are getting deeper into autumn in the Hakone Mountains. I then visited Shissei-kaen (Botanical Garden of Wetlands) located in the northern part of Hakone. The forest and mountain around the Shissei-kaen glowed red, yellow and brown. It made a nice contrast with the blue sky.

Autumn colors in Shissei-kaen

Official website, Hakone Ropeway:

https://www.hakoneropeway.co.jp/foreign/en/

Access to the Recently Erupted Volcano

Usuzan Ropeway and Showa-shinzan

After visiting Mt. Hakodate, we headed north. Our next destination was a recently erupted volcano near Muroran City.

Showa-shinzan (new mountain of Showa-era) is a rhyolite volcanic lava dome with about 400 meters in height. It was abruptly created in an upland cropping area in 1944. Although it was in the middle of WWII, a local postmaster, Mimatsu Masao, surveyed the growing volcano in great detail. His research was very precious, and has been highly regarded among specialists.

For viewing the whole image of Showa-shinzan, Usuzan Ropeway is convenient. It's four cables - cross type aerial tramway. Connecting Showa-shinzan Sanroku (foot of Showa-shinzan) and Usuzan-sancho (summit of Mt. Usu) stations, its route length is 1,370 meters. Usuzan Sancho station is located 560 meters above sea level. The height difference between the two stations is 356 meters. Its maximum inclination is 24.17 degrees. The route was opened in 1965. The present gondolas, namely number 1 and 2, were built by CWA in Switzerland in 2020. Each gondola can accommodate up to 96 passengers including a conductor. The gondola is operated every 15 minutes with an operating speed of 5 meters per second. It takes about 6 minutes to go one way.

After arriving at the Usuzan-sancho station, we enjoyed a beautiful view of Showa-shinzan and adjacent Lake Toya. The brickish red-colored mountain face was very beautiful and impressive. It must be one of the best sceneries in the southern part of Hokkaido Island.

To be continued...

Close-up of Showa-shinzan

Official information about Usuzan Ropeway: http://usuzan.hokkaido.jp/en/

Superb View Spot in Hakodate City

Sancho station and a gondola (center left) of Mt. Hakodate Ropeway

After returning from Mt. Esan, we planned to visit Mt. Hakodate near the downtown Hakodate area. A night view from Mt. Hakodate has been famous since the old days, and is one of the three best night views in the world together with Hongkong and Napoli. In other words, most tourists visit this spot in the evening, but it was still 3pm. What shall we do? We headed for Mt. Hakodate straightway as time was precious.

To get to the summit of Mt. Hakodate, an aerial tramway is convenient, but we found that the operation starts at 5pm in the evening. We had to drive ourselves to reach the summit, which is located 334 meters above sea level. It took ten minutes or so from the foot of the mountain. The daytime view from the summit was indeed beautiful. It might be more fantastic than that of the night view. We were glad we could come here in the daytime.

Incidentally, the aerial tramway, named Mt. Hakodate Ropeway, was opened in 1958. It's a three cables - cross type aerial tramway. Connecting Sanroku (Foot of the mountain) and Sancho (Summit) stations, its route length is 835.06 meters. The height difference between the two stations is 278.5 meters. Its maximum inclination is 28.97 degrees. Current gondolas are the fifth generation ones built by Osaka Sharyo in 2014. Each gondola can accommodate up to 125 passengers. The gondola is operated every 15 minutes. It takes about three minutes to go one way.

To be continued,,,

Daytime view from Mt. Hakodate

Official information about Hakodate Ropeway: https://334.co.jp/en/

Opening of the Urban Aerial Lift in Yokohama City

Yokohama Air Cabin

I recently visited Yokohama City in Kanagawa Prefecture, as I had something to do. After finishing my meeting, I stopped by the Minato-Mirai area to see an urban-type aerial lift line, which was freshly opened on April 22nd, 2021.

The new aerial lift is called "Yokohama Air Cabin". It's a single rope - automatic circulation type gondola lift. Connecting Sakuragicho and Unga Park stations, its route length is 630 meters. The highest points is about 40 meters above the ground. There are five struts on the route. The gondolas are built by Nippon Cable. They are operated clockwise with a speed of 2.5 meters per second. It takes five minutes to go one way. Each gondola has an air conditioner, and can accommodate up to eight passengers. 36 cabins in total are operated. Although it was during the Covid-19 pandemic, 50 passengers were getting in line, so, I gave up the ride, and just took a gondola photo.

For your information, Yokohama is located about 25 km south of Tokyo, and is the main city of Kanagawa Prefecture. It's the second largest city in Japan in population after Tokyo. Yokohama was developed rapidly as Japan's prominent port city after opening up the country in the 19th century, because while it was being opened, the government aggressively accepted Western culture and technology. You can still see, for example, the historic ex-red brick warehouse in the Minato Mirai area. It's currently popular among visitors as a fashionable shopping mall.

The historic ex-red brick warehouse in the Minato Mirai area

Official information about Yokohama Air Cabin: https://yokohama-air-cabin.jp/en/about/

Memories of Shirane-kazan Ropeway

Shirane-kazan Ropeway (July, 2013)   

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.

Yugama crater lake of Shirane Mountain (July, 2013)

Gondola Lift to Nikko-Shirane Mountain

Nikko-Shiranesan Ropeway

It's very hot this mid-summer in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The maximum daytime temperature is often over 35 degrees Celsius. I evacuated from the urban "heat island", and visited the cool mountain in Gumma Prefecture with my family last weekend. Our destination was Nikko-Shirane Mountain, which is located about 160 kilometers north of Tokyo. It's a stratovolcano in Nikko National Park. Its main peak named Okushirane is an andesite lava dome, 2,578 meters above sea level. 

Nikko-Shiranesan Ropeway is a convenient access to this high mountain. It's a single rope automatic circulation type gondola lift. Connecting Sanroku (foot of the mountain) and Sancho (summit) stations, its route length is 2,493 meters. The height difference between the two stations is 602 meters. Its maximum inclination is 38.97 degrees. There are 22 struts on the route. Nikko-Shiranesan Ropeway is owned by Nippon Paper Development Company. The route was constructed by Nippon Cable in 1999. The gondolas were built by CWA in Switzerland. They are operated counterclockwise with a speed of 5 meters per second. It takes about 15 minutes to go one way. Each gondola can accommodate up to 8 passengers.

Sancho station is located about 2,000 meters above sea level. After getting off at the station, we enjoyed the forest walking. Okushirane main peak was often seen from the footpath. The temperature was about 20 degrees Celsius, which was 15 degrees cooler than that of Tokyo. It's very comfortable and refreshing.

There were many pleasures in Nikko-Shirane Mountain.

View of Okushirane Peak from Sancho station, Nikko-Shiranesan Ropeway

Official information about Nikko-Shiranesan Ropeway (in Japanese):

https://www.marunuma.jp/green/ 

Aerial Tramway to Hakkoda Mountain

Hakkoda Ropeway in Aomori Prefecture

Hakkoda Mountain is a generic name of 10 peaks located in the northern part of Towada-Hachimantai National Park in Aomori Prefecture. It's an active volcano with a large caldera. Its main peak named Oodake is 1,584 meters above sea level. Visitors can see unique alpine plants in summer, while it's known for frost-covered trees which can be seen in winter. I recently visited this beautiful mountain with my family during the short summer vacation.

Hakkoda Ropeway is a convenient access to this beautiful mountain. It's four cables - cross type aerial tramway. Connecting Sanroku (Foot of the mountain) and Sancho-koen (Summit park) stations, its route length is 2,459.7 meters. Sancho-koen station is located 1,314 meters above sea level. The height difference between the two stations is 649.5 meters. Its maximum inclination is 25.72 degrees. The route was constructed by Nippon Cable in 1968. To operate the aerial tramway, two 150 kW DC main motors and a 124 kW/1,800 rpm backup diesel engine are installed at the Sancho-koen station.

The gondolas, namely number 1 and 2, were the third generation ones built by CWA in Switzerland in 2003. Each gondola can accommodate up to 100 passengers. The gondola is operated every 15 minutes (or 20 minutes) with an operating speed of 5 meters per second. It takes about 10 minutes to go one way.

After arriving at Sancho-koen station, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery. The problem at the office seemed so petty when I looked down on the world from the mountain.

The summer scenery of Hakkoda Mountain

Official information about Hakkoda Ropeway (including promotion movies):

http://www.hakkoda-ropeway.jp/english 

Aerial Tramway to the Granite Mountain

Gondola No.1, "Fukuchan", Shosenkyo Ropeway (June, 2020)

On May 25th, the state of emergency declaration caused by the new coronavirus was lifted nationwide by the Japanese government. The long-awaited day has come. I visited Shosenkyo in Yamanashi Prefecture for sightseeing with my family for the first time in seven years.

Shosenkyo is a gorgeous valley, where tourists can enjoy walking along the fresh stream and in the open air in the forest. It's located about 130 kilometers west of Tokyo. My favorite landscape is giant granite rocks along the Arakawa river. The granite body was generated deep underground about 15 to 12 million years ago. It was then uplifted later due to the collision of three plates. The highest topographic point is Mt. Yasaburo-dake, which is 1,058 meters above sea level. It's known as a gorgeous view point and a place of worship.

To get to the summit of Mt. Yasaburo-dake, an aerial tramway named "Shosenkyo Ropeway" is convenient. Shosenkyo Ropeway was opened in 1964. Connecting Sengataki and Panorama-dai stations, the route length is 1,015 meters. The height difference between the highest and lowest points of the route is 300 meters. Currently, the second generation gondolas are operated on the route. They are Fuku-chan (number 1) and Yume-chan (number 2), which were built by CWA in Switzerland in 1988. Each gondola can accommodate up to 45 passengers. The gondola is operated every 20 minutes with an operating speed of 5 meters per second. It takes about 5 minutes to go one way.

We'll go back to our normal lives.

A granite rock and a view from Mt. Yasaburo-dake (March, 2013)

Official information, Shosenkyo Ropeway (including promotion movie):

http://www.shousenkyo-r.jp/

Aerial Tramway to the Mountain Castle

Matsuyama Castle Ropeway

Matsuyama is the largest city on Shikoku Island. The population now stands at 0.51 million. Matsuyama is famous for its sightseeing spot, namely Dogo hot springs, in the downtown area, but please don't forget one more. It's Matsuyama castle rising to the sky.

The castle was constructed on the summit of Mt. Shiroyama (131 meters above sea level) in 1603 by Kato Yoshiakira. The main tower was destroyed by fire after that, but reconstructed by Matsudaira Katsuyoshi in 1854. It was designated as an Important Cultural Property by the government in 1950. I visited this historical spot in the fall of 2013. It was a fine holiday, so that many families were visiting and enjoying it there. To visit this mountain castle, the nearest stop is Okaido on the Matsuyama city tram line of Iyo Railway. I recommend you go by a famous "Botchan-train" there. After getting off the tram, you should transfer to an aerial tramway, Matsuyama Castle Ropeway.

The aerial tramway was opened in 1955. Connecting Shinonomeguchi and Chojanagaru stations, the route length is 327 meters. The height difference between the highest and lowest points of the route is 62 meters. The maximum inclination of the route is 23.1 degrees. Currently, fifth generation gondolas are operated on the route. They were built by Osaka Sharyo in 2013. Each gondola can accommodate up to 47 passengers. The gondola is operated every 10 minutes with an operating speed of 3.6 meters per second. It takes about 3 minutes to go one way.

Matsuyama castle

Official information about Matsuyama Castle Ropeway (in Japanese):

https://www.matsuyamajo.jp/ropeway/
Official promotion movie, Matsuyama Castle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JPQePYrG9g&feature=emb_logo

Aerial Tramway to the Superb Island View

Gondola number 1, Shimoda Ropeway

Shimoda is a sightseeing city located about 170 kilometers southwest of Tokyo. It's famous for the beautiful ocean and the mountains, but Shimoda is also known as a historical city, where the Tokugawa Shogunate opened a port to the U.S. in 1854 after their long isolation policy. I recently visited this historical resort for the first time in a year.

To get to Shimoda, Izukyu Railway was convenient. After getting off Izukyu-Shimoda terminal, I went to Shin-Shimoda station of Shimoda Ropeway. It took only one minute's walk from the terminal. Shimoda Ropeway is a jig-back type aerial tramway opened in 1961 just before the inauguration of Izukyu Railway. Connecting Shin-Shimoda and Nesugatayama (Mt. Nesugata) stations, the route length is 540 meters. The height difference between the two stations is 156 meters. Last year, ultramarine colored new gondolas, namely number 1 and 2, were launched. At the same time, the traction motor was replaced by an induction motor controlled by an inverter system. Each gondola can accommodate up to 39 passengers. They are operated every 15 minutes.

Mt. Nesugata has an elevation of 200 meters. The view from the summit was fantastic. I could see not only historical Shimoda City but also the beautiful Izu Islands on the Pacific Ocean. Triangle shaped Toshima Island was especially impressive. It's a volcanic island located 37 kilometers offshore from Shimoda City. There is a small village with a population of 300 on the island. I want to visit there one day.

Superb view from Mt. Nesugata

Official information about Shimoda Ropeway:

http://www.ropeway.co.jp/english%20language/english.html

Official movie about Shimoda Ropeway:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmmtFD0eySI

Gondola Lift to the Natural Park

Tateshina Ranch Gondola Lift

Shirakaba (white birch) Highland is located in the eastern part of Nagano Prefecture, about 200 km northwest of Tokyo. It is a cool highland more than 1,500 meters above sea level. I visited this superb highland with my family in the early autumn this year.

To get to the most famous sightseeing spot named Gosen-en Natural Park, Tateshina Ranch Gondola Lift, also known as Shuttle Venus, is convenient. Connecting the mountain foot (about 1,530 meters above sea level) and the summit (about 1,830 meters above sea level) stations, its operating length is 1,260 meters. The height difference between the lowest and the highest points of the route is about 300 meters. The mountain foot station is located near beautiful Tateshina Ranch and a mysterious lake named Megami-ko (Lake Venus). It takes about seven minutes from the mountain foot to the summit station.The route was opened in 1985. Six-seater gondolas are operated. The current gondolas were introduced in 2003 as the 2nd generation ones.

After getting off at the summit station, we visited Gosen-en Natural Park. It was a flat highland with a dense forest and a foggy swamp. We enjoyed strolling and found Gypsy rose (Scabiosa japonica) and Japanese thistle (Cirsium japonicum) blossoms in a bush. Gypsy rose is a rare species, since it is only seen in grasslands of high mountainous areas in Japan. It had about a 4 centimeters across tiny blossom with a light purple color.

There were many pleasures in Shirakaba Highland.

Japanese thistle (left) and Gypsy rose (right)

Aerial Tramway to Glacial Topography

Komagatake Ropeway

Kiso Mountains, also known as the Japanese Central Alps, is famous for its glacial topography called Senjojiki Kar (Senjojiki Cirque). It was formed during the last glacial period about 19,000 to 17,000 years ago. A kar is a bowl-shaped topography, which is often seen below the summit of high mountains. Senjojiki Kar is one of the largest kars in Japan. It is a very beautiful and unforgettable scenery.

To visit this heavenly paradise, the nearest railway station is Komagane on the JR Central Iida line. After getting off the train, you should take the bus service to Shirabidaira, and transfer for an aerial tramway, "Komagatake Ropeway". It takes about 5 hours from Tokyo to Senjojiki Kar.

Komagatake Ropeway was opened in 1967. Connecting Shirabidaira and Senjojiki stations, the route length is 2,334 meters. Senjojiki is known as the highest aerial tramway station in Japan. It is located 2,612 meters above sea level. The height difference between the highest and lowest points of the route is 950 meters, which is also the largest in Japan. The maximum inclination of the route is 34.9 degrees.

Currently, the fourth generation gondolas, which were built by Osaka Sharyo, are operated on the route. Each gondola can accommodate up to 61 passengers and they are operated every 30 minutes. Extra operations are also scheduled during the peak sightseeing seasons. The maximum operating speed is 7 meters per second. The travel time between the two stations is 7.5 minutes. It took only a moment.

Senjojiki Kar near Senjojiki station on the Komagatake Ropeway

Official information about Komagatake Ropeway:

https://www.chuo-alps.com/lang/en/