Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway

Yes, there’s a queue—how long depends on the season, but we waited about 30 minutes. And yes, the gondola ride is crowded, so not everyone will get the perfect shot of the ascent or descent. But honestly, the experience is worth it. The views are absolutely stunning, offering a sweeping panorama that makes the whole journey feel magical. Once you’re at the top, there’s plenty to explore: a charming café serving roasted tea and rice flour sweets, a souvenir shop, several viewing platforms, and even a small shrine dedicated to rabbits (adorable, right?). You’ll also find swings, lantern-lit photo spots, and a general buzz of lively energy that adds to the charm. For the ambitious, there’s a six-hour hike you can continue from here, but we decided to skip that adventure. If you’re traveling with luggage, there’s storage available, and yes, pets are welcome—though you’ll need to pay a bit extra and use a special crate for the ride. All in all, it’s a vibrant experience that’s as much about the journey as the destination.

This cable car is the reason to visit here. I believe that you can hike up and down the mountain, which would also be a great experience, but with a pregnant wife, that's not an option at the moment. We were there on a Friday at 2 pm and had to wait about an hour. While you are on the lineup, buy your ticket at the booth for 100 Yen per person. The cable cars have windows all around, but the best view is the window facing the lake. When you get to the top, the view is spectacular. We were very fortunate to be blessed with partial clear skies, and we were able to get some decent pictures of the naked (no snow) Mt Fuji. The swing is well worth the 500yen per person, so please give that a try and let your inner child out of a few moments. I highly recommend this place.

Absolutely jam packed with annoying tourists at 1pm on a Wednesday in late January. BUT if you venture to the top of the mountain and avoid the touristy area (about an 8 minute hike, with paths but can be steep / slippery in a couple places), you will get a killer, unobstructed view of Mount Fuji without anyone around. Took an hour to get to the cable car, 2-3 minute ride to the top, and 30 minute wait to get back down. Simply too many tourists. When I was leaving around 330pm, the line to go up was very short. There was no line to buy a ticket (on the right side facing the ropeway entrance) but you'll need to wait in the waiting line to board.

Must visit during any trip to Kawaguchiko. This place allows you to take spectacular sunrise or sunset together with Mount Fuji. Quite a queue, I guess best time is the early morning where the early birds catch the worms.

If you are visiting Mount Fuji then you should visit this Ropeway to get good views. There are multiple platforms from where you can get best shots. There is a sling ride also which will be a good thing to try for good photos. There's a small shop also from where you can buy eatables and souvenirs. But they have only two cable cars which can carry around 30 people but still you will get waiting line of more than 30 min on weekends. You can walk to your place from Kawaguchiko station, no need to take bus. And if you are a adventurous person then you can take trail to go to the top and avoid paying money for ropeway.

Visited on the 1st Dec 2024. I arrived early to the ropeway station around 9am from the red line bus at Kawaguchiko station, purchased my return ticket from the vending machine, and waited in line for about 15 minutes to board the cable car. The ride took around three minutes to reach the observation deck at 1000 meters. The view from the observation deck was breathtaking. On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji's majestic snow-capped peak and the Japanese Alps in the distance. It is advisable to arrive early in the morning to avoid a long queue and to obtain a clear view of Mount Fuji without any cloud obstructions.

Be careful of Cable car malfunction! It was a great sunset session and beautiful moment with my kids. Sunset was beautiful. Disaster struck when both cable cars malfunction and couldn’t get down. It was dark and cold. Lucky no snow and dry and we had to hike on foot 60 mins down due to the human traffic. Dark scary but with the public light and support we all got down safely. The worst part! The staff left and walk down themselves. The only staff on mountain left were cable car operators in blue uniform. No announcement or information. Everyone was confused and lost! This is not the irresponsible Japanese culture and lack of leadership. I had to ask the operator and then announce myself to English speaking crowd to walk down! I gave two star because I return the next day to complain and got 40% refund. Please have a procedure to help the paying public!

We enjoyed the trip up the cable car. We had read that it can get crowded, so we showed up right when it opened in the morning. There was no wait. We bought our tickets at the vending machine and walked straight into the waiting car. It was not at all full. We were getting ready to climb Mt. Fuji the next day, so it was fun to see the views of the mountain from the lookout point. There is a small kiosk at the top, and there are some vending machines. Besides that and the look-out points, there is not much else to do unless you decide to hike to Mt. Mitsutoge. But this attraction is all about the views, and it delivers on that front. It is definitely worth doing if you can get there early, but I would not wait an hour to ride up.

Yes, there’s a queue—how long depends on the season, but we waited about 30 minutes. And yes, the gondola ride is crowded, so not everyone will get the perfect shot of the ascent or descent. But honestly, the experience is worth it. The views are absolutely stunning, offering a sweeping panorama that makes the whole journey feel magical. Once you’re at the top, there’s plenty to explore: a charming café serving roasted tea and rice flour sweets, a souvenir shop, several viewing platforms, and even a small shrine dedicated to rabbits (adorable, right?). You’ll also find swings, lantern-lit photo spots, and a general buzz of lively energy that adds to the charm. For the ambitious, there’s a six-hour hike you can continue from here, but we decided to skip that adventure. If you’re traveling with luggage, there’s storage available, and yes, pets are welcome—though you’ll need to pay a bit extra and use a special crate for the ride. All in all, it’s a vibrant experience that’s as much about the journey as the destination.

This cable car is the reason to visit here. I believe that you can hike up and down the mountain, which would also be a great experience, but with a pregnant wife, that's not an option at the moment. We were there on a Friday at 2 pm and had to wait about an hour. While you are on the lineup, buy your ticket at the booth for 100 Yen per person. The cable cars have windows all around, but the best view is the window facing the lake. When you get to the top, the view is spectacular. We were very fortunate to be blessed with partial clear skies, and we were able to get some decent pictures of the naked (no snow) Mt Fuji. The swing is well worth the 500yen per person, so please give that a try and let your inner child out of a few moments. I highly recommend this place.

Absolutely jam packed with annoying tourists at 1pm on a Wednesday in late January. BUT if you venture to the top of the mountain and avoid the touristy area (about an 8 minute hike, with paths but can be steep / slippery in a couple places), you will get a killer, unobstructed view of Mount Fuji without anyone around. Took an hour to get to the cable car, 2-3 minute ride to the top, and 30 minute wait to get back down. Simply too many tourists. When I was leaving around 330pm, the line to go up was very short. There was no line to buy a ticket (on the right side facing the ropeway entrance) but you'll need to wait in the waiting line to board.

Must visit during any trip to Kawaguchiko. This place allows you to take spectacular sunrise or sunset together with Mount Fuji. Quite a queue, I guess best time is the early morning where the early birds catch the worms.

If you are visiting Mount Fuji then you should visit this Ropeway to get good views. There are multiple platforms from where you can get best shots. There is a sling ride also which will be a good thing to try for good photos. There's a small shop also from where you can buy eatables and souvenirs. But they have only two cable cars which can carry around 30 people but still you will get waiting line of more than 30 min on weekends. You can walk to your place from Kawaguchiko station, no need to take bus. And if you are a adventurous person then you can take trail to go to the top and avoid paying money for ropeway.

Visited on the 1st Dec 2024. I arrived early to the ropeway station around 9am from the red line bus at Kawaguchiko station, purchased my return ticket from the vending machine, and waited in line for about 15 minutes to board the cable car. The ride took around three minutes to reach the observation deck at 1000 meters. The view from the observation deck was breathtaking. On a clear day, you can see Mount Fuji's majestic snow-capped peak and the Japanese Alps in the distance. It is advisable to arrive early in the morning to avoid a long queue and to obtain a clear view of Mount Fuji without any cloud obstructions.

Be careful of Cable car malfunction! It was a great sunset session and beautiful moment with my kids. Sunset was beautiful. Disaster struck when both cable cars malfunction and couldn’t get down. It was dark and cold. Lucky no snow and dry and we had to hike on foot 60 mins down due to the human traffic. Dark scary but with the public light and support we all got down safely. The worst part! The staff left and walk down themselves. The only staff on mountain left were cable car operators in blue uniform. No announcement or information. Everyone was confused and lost! This is not the irresponsible Japanese culture and lack of leadership. I had to ask the operator and then announce myself to English speaking crowd to walk down! I gave two star because I return the next day to complain and got 40% refund. Please have a procedure to help the paying public!

We enjoyed the trip up the cable car. We had read that it can get crowded, so we showed up right when it opened in the morning. There was no wait. We bought our tickets at the vending machine and walked straight into the waiting car. It was not at all full. We were getting ready to climb Mt. Fuji the next day, so it was fun to see the views of the mountain from the lookout point. There is a small kiosk at the top, and there are some vending machines. Besides that and the look-out points, there is not much else to do unless you decide to hike to Mt. Mitsutoge. But this attraction is all about the views, and it delivers on that front. It is definitely worth doing if you can get there early, but I would not wait an hour to ride up.

Hours 9:00am to 5:10pm (March through November) 9:30am to 4:40pm (December through February) Departures every five to ten minutes Admission: 800 yen (roundtrip), 450 yen (one way) We laughed when they offered us a one way ticket. But come to find out there are hiking trails you can take down the mountain to get back into town. The Kachi Kachi Ropeway is a tram that ascends Mount Tenjo where a short 10min ride drops you off on an observation area 1000 meters above sea level that provides panoramic views of Lake Kawaguchiko and Mt. Fuji. Great photo ops with the mountain and cute heart shaped statue for lovers. You feel really close to the volcano here. Here's the story behind the name from Japan guide: Mount Tenjo is the setting of Dazai Osamu's folk story "Kachi Kachi Yama", for which the ropeway is named, in which a rabbit gets revenge on a thieving tanuki (Japanese raccoon) by setting him on fire and drowning him in a river. Cute cartoon characters of the animals decorate the ropeway cars and observation point and are surprisingly kid friendly considering their gruesome background. There are souvenir shops, sweets, ice cream and vending machines at the top. Bring your camera and money. The tram gets a bit crowded with a steep incline so that's a warning for claustrophobics and acrophobics.

If you want a good view of Mt. Fuji without the hassel of driving and climbing it, visit Panoramic Ropeway. Family and I took a bus to get there around the lake, we then took a ski lift up to the top. We went on a really nice day. The skies were clear and there many beautiful photo opportunities. The idea of this place is based on a fictional story. There is food here which is nice cause we were able to have a few snacks while enjoying the view.

We were unlucky, because the day we went there was zero visibility of Fuji-san. Still, one must recognise the amazing location and possibilities, and feel a debt towards those who built this cable car for later generations to benefit. So, no ungrateful whining about the staff packing the cars full; have some sweet Japanese strawberries and take in the peace.

Nice small (really small) ropeway at the "base of Mt. Fuji". You can perfectly combine a Ropeway ticket with the EXcursion boat and get one ride of the Ropeway for free. Ropeway cars are looking nice and well maintained. STaff is friendly. The car does need approx 5 minutes to go to the top of the small montain-/hill. I recommend to go down through the nice trail downhill by feet.

Gorgeous, unobstructed views of Mt Fuji. The ropeway begins at the edge of Lake Kawaguchiko. Be aware that the ticket line and the line for the ropeway are separate. Have someone wait in line for the ropeway, and the other can run up to the ticket machines (or ticket booth if you have a group larger than 10 or 20 I believe). The machines offer Japanese, Chinese, and English menus. Climb some more stairs and get crammed (seriously) into a small ropeway car for a scenic ride up the side of the mountain for a quick 10-minute ride. Enjoy the views of Lake Kawaguchiko, and then at the top, you can enjoy Mt Fuji. There is a shop offering both souvenirs and some snacks like dango and matcha soft serve. There is also a second-floor observation deck on top of the store that many people don't seem to be aware of, so try to make your way up and you can easily get a photo with Mt Fuji without your fellow tourists wandering around and getting in your shot! There is also a small shrine dedicated to the legend of the raccoon and rabbit, which I don't remember the details of, but neat to check out. Walk past the store, and there is a trail leading to the top of the mountain (not Mt Fuji, the mountain where the viewing station is located) which takes about 6 hours to trek through if you plan it out well. Also important. Clean, modern toilets and no squat toilets!

Objective: Located on the eastern side of the main road that encircles Kawaguchiko Lake, this ropeway ascends up Mount Tenjo to an observation deck that provides amazing views of Mount Fuji. The ride is less than 5 min (one-way); cost was about 720 yen for a round-trip. A small gift and snack stand is located at the observation deck. There are several available hiking trails from the observation desk to various points along Mount Tenjo (did not do them) Subjective: Would recommend going as close to opening time as possible. We went around 9:30 am and the wait was less than 10 min. The rush hour seems to start around 10-11 am with a wait at that time probably close to 45 min. For the relatively cheap price, this is a no-brainer if you have time in the area as the views of Mount Fuji are gorgeous. I would note that they seem to making renovations to the ticket office/waiting area. It is fairly cramped in the actual ticket office itself (see the photos from another reviewer). The staff did seem to be making a very concerted effort to help any elderly or people with disabilities be comfortable. Although the mascots are depicted as two cute, furry animals, the backstory (depicted in Japanese on the walls of the waiting area) is a little weird (no spoilers here). For the relatively cheap price, this is a no-brainer if you have time in the area as the views of Mount Fuji are gorgeous (see photo), but go early to avoid waiting.