Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
ExploreJapanDaily Editorial Team · Last updated: October 9, 2026 · Facts verified: October 9, 2026
The Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway (～河口湖～富士山パノラマロープウェイ) rides from the east shore of Lake Kawaguchiko up Mount Tenjo in about three minutes, to an observation deck at about 1,075 meters facing Mount Fuji across the town. A round trip costs 1,000 yen for adults until 31 October 2026 and 1,200 yen from 1 November 2026. It does not run from 7 to 18 December 2026 for its annual inspection, and wind or thunder can stop it on any day, so check the operator notice before you go.
Photo: 663highland, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; resized
- Area
- Fujikawaguchiko
- Best For
- Mount Fuji views, Lake views, Short hike, Families
What the ropeway is for
This is the quickest way above Lake Kawaguchiko. The gondola climbs from the lakeside station on the east shore to Fujimidai Station near the top of Mount Tenjo (天上山), where the deck looks south across Fujiyoshida to Mount Fuji and north over the lake. On clear days the operator says the view reaches the Southern Alps.
Photo: 663highland, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; resized
The mountain is the setting of the folk tale Kachi-kachi Yama, retold by the writer Osamu Dazai, which is why rabbit and tanuki figures ride on the gondolas and sit around the deck, and why the ropeway was long called the Kachi Kachi Yama Ropeway. At the top are a bell facing Mount Fuji, a small rabbit shrine, clay-disk throwing, a cantilevered lookout, a swing over the drop, and a tea house selling grilled dango.
The view is the reason to go, so the weather decides the visit: when Mount Fuji is in cloud you still see the lake, but not the mountain. The Lake Kawaguchiko guide covers the rest of the shore and the cruise.
What to do on Mount Tenjo
How to Get to Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
The lakeside station is on the east shore of Lake Kawaguchiko, close to Kawaguchiko Station.
- •Park in the free prefectural lot by the lake, as the operator asks; its own parking is limited.
- •There are coin lockers at the lakeside station.
- •The last ride down can be brought forward in bad weather, and in thunder or sudden wind the ropeway may stop and ask visitors to walk down.
Map
Best Time to Visit Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway
Best time to visit Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway: Early morning on a clear day; winter for the clearest air; November for autumn color. Weekday mornings are generally quieter than weekends and public holidays.
- •Go early. The operator recommends mornings for shorter queues in both directions, and Mount Fuji is more often clear before cloud builds.
- •Winter brings the clearest air and less rain, according to the operator, but last rides are earlier from December to February.
- •November is autumn-color season and one of the busiest months; the ropeway is also closed from 7 to 18 December 2026.
- •The operator posts a bear-sighting caution for the Fuji foothills; keep to the paths on the walk down.
Individual round-trip fares rise to 1,200 yen for adults and 600 yen for children. Group fares change on 1 April 2027.
Shortened hours (last ride up 15:00) on the October and November dates; no service at all from 7 to 18 December.
The operator names these as its busiest periods. Mornings are quieter on both the ride up and the ride down.
Entry Fee & Hours
| Category | Price (JPY) | Approx. (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult round trip (junior high and older) | ¥1,000 | ~$6.70 |
| Child round trip (elementary school) | ¥500 | ~$3.30 |
| Adult one way | ¥600 | ~$4 |
| Child one way | ¥300 | ~$2 |
| Category | Price (JPY) | Approx. (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult round trip | ¥1,200 | ~$8 |
| Child round trip | ¥600 | ~$4 |
Fares from the operator, read on 9 October 2026. The operator had not published new one-way fares at that date. One preschool child rides free with each adult. JPY amounts are official; USD amounts are approximate and change with the exchange rate.
- •There are no reservations: buy tickets at the lakeside station and queue. Gondolas run every 5 to 10 minutes.
- •Small and medium dogs ride for a fee in a hard carrier; the pet fare also rises from 1 November 2026. Large dogs cannot ride.
- •Discounted set tickets combine the ropeway with the lake cruise, the sightseeing buses or the Fujikyuko Line; check the operator for current prices after the fare change.
- •The swing at the top costs 500 yen, runs from 9:30 to 16:00 and closes in rain or strong wind; riders must be at least 110 cm tall and under 100 kg.
- •Both stations have stairs (64 steps at the lakeside station, 112 at the top), and the operator says wheelchair use is difficult. A gentle slope links the top station to the main deck.
Nearby Attractions
Easy to combine around Kawaguchiko Station
Lake Kawaguchiko
Oishi Park
Fuji-Q Highland
Chureito Pagoda
- •Lake Kawaguchiko (At the foot of the ropeway): The Fuji Five Lakes base most visitors use, with free shoreline views of Mount Fuji, a sightseeing cruise and easy train and bus links to Tokyo.
- •Oishi Park (Back to Kawaguchiko Station, then about 30 minutes by retro bus): A free flower walk on Lake Kawaguchiko's north shore, facing Mount Fuji across the water, best known for early-summer lavender and red autumn kochia.
- •Fuji-Q Highland (One stop by train from Kawaguchiko Station): A free-entry roller coaster park at the foot of Mount Fuji, with record-setting coasters, Thomas Land for small children and a variable-price One-Day Pass.
- •Chureito Pagoda (Four stops by train from Kawaguchiko Station to Shimoyoshida): A five-story memorial pagoda on the hillside above Fujiyoshida, 398 steps up, framed against Mount Fuji from its viewing deck.
The ropeway in a Kawaguchiko day
Ride up first thing, then spend the rest of the morning on the lake.
East shore morning
Morning
Walk from Kawaguchiko Station to the lakeside station and ride up as early as you can
Late morning
Walk down the hiking course, or ride down and take the lake cruise from the pier nearby
Afternoon
Retro bus to Oishi Park on the north shore
Frequently Asked Questions
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