Hakkoda Ropeway

The Hakkoda Ropeway in Aomori Prefecture boasts beautiful scenery all year round. From high up in the air, passengers can enjoy fresh verdure in spring and early summer, colorful foliage in autumn, and frost-covered trees in winter; during the ride up the mountain, even far-off Hokkaido can be seen. The ride from the Base Station to the Summit Park Station, located on Tamoyachi-dake Peak at an elevation of 1,324 meters, takes about ten minutes. The gondola cars have large windows, so passengers can enjoy a 360-degree view of their surroundings during the trip.
After reaching the top of the mountain, visitors can take leisurely walks around the wetlands on a nature trail and enjoy views of the high moors and mountain greenery. A bit further out towards Otake and Sukayu one will also find two popular hiking trails. The arrival of winter brings the skiing season, which usually lasts from late November through mid-May, but in some places the slopes stay open as late as August for summer skiing. In addition, in mid-August an event called the “Sunset Ropeway” is held, during which the hours of operations are extended and visitors can enjoy a beautiful view of the mountains’ silhouettes against the evening sky. The hours are extended again in mid- to late September for the “Starry Sky Ropeway,” during which visitors can gaze out at the stars and the nighttime scenery of the Tsugaru Plains and Mutsu-wan Bay.