Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway

What kind of place it is

This ropeway links the lakeside with the top of Mt. Tenjo, the hill rising above the northern shore of Lake Kawaguchi. It opened in 1959 and climbs a slope length of 460 metres, a vertical rise of 219 metres, in about three minutes. The lower Kawaguchiko-han station stands at 856 metres above sea level, and the upper Fujimidai station at 1,075 metres. Mt. Tenjo is said to be the setting of Kachi-Kachi Yama, one of the tales in Osamu Dazai's Otogizoshi, and for decades the line was affectionately known as the Kachi-Kachi Yama Ropeway. It took its present name in April 2018, and statues of the rabbit and the tanuki from the story still stand in the gondolas and at the stations.

Highlights

From the observation deck at Fujimidai station, Mt. Fuji rises straight ahead beyond the surface of Lake Kawaguchi, its long lower slopes spreading to either side. Tenjoyama Park at the top is dotted with small attractions: the Bell of Heaven (Tenjo no Kane) facing Mt. Fuji, the little rabbit shrine of Yumemi Usagi, whose head you stroke to be granted wisdom, a kawarake-nage spot where visitors toss unglazed clay discs, and Tanuki Chaya, a teahouse for a meal or a rest. The Kachi-Kachi Yama Scenic Swing, added in 2021, and the Zekkei Yagura viewing platform jutting out from a cliff at 1,110 metres are both popular photo spots. Around Nakabadaira, halfway up the slope, some 100,000 hydrangeas have been planted, at their best from early July to early August.

How to enjoy it, fares and time needed

As of 2026, a round trip costs 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children, while a one-way ticket is 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. Riding up and back and taking photos on the observation deck takes about an hour; allow half a day if you want to linger at the teahouse or walk down the roughly 70-minute hiking trail that runs from the summit to the foot of the hill. Operating hours are normally 8:30 to 17:00 (last descent 17:20), extended to 18:00 (last descent 18:20) from 20 July to 31 August. Mt. Fuji tends to show itself more readily in the morning, so an early ride is recommended. Fares and operating conditions may change, so please check the official website for details.

Getting there from our hotel

Our hotel is in Fuji City, close to the Fuji IC on the Tomei Expressway. Take the Nishi-Fuji Road onto National Route 139 and head for Lake Kawaguchi via Shiraito Falls and the Asagiri Highlands, roughly one hour by car. Beside the boarding point there is a free prefectural car park for about 300 vehicles, and the lakeside station is a short walk from there.