Shinhotaka Ropeway: fares, hours and bus from Takayama

The fares below cover both sections. Child fares are for elementary school students⁶.

• Junior high school students and older pay the adult fare.⁶
• Preschool children ride free with an adult.⁶
• Uphill tickets are valid only on the day of issue.⁶
• Downhill tickets are valid for three days⁶, including the day of issue.

That last pair suits hikers who ride up and walk down over a couple of days.

The ropeway is open year-round⁵. Official hours are 8:30am to 4:00pm from 1 April to 30 November (checked October 2026) and 9:00am to 3:30pm from 1 December to 31 March¹.

Google Maps lists other hours: Mon–Fri 08:30–16:00; Sat–Sun 08:00–16:00⁷. Go by the official ones.

The double-decker gondola is the draw. The operator’s own site calls it Japan’s only two-story gondola, with views from over 2,000 m⁵.

• Going up takes about 25 minutes¹³ when it’s not crowded.
• The ride from the summit down to the middle area takes about seven minutes¹³.
• A visit generally takes two to three hours¹³ in total.

The middle area has a bakery, a view lounge, a footbath and a souvenir shop¹³. The upper station has an observation deck with views of the surrounding mountains and valleys³.

The AlpScape deck is on the roof of Nishihotakaguchi Station and was renovated in July 2025¹³.

The operator says it is an experience everyone can enjoy, from children to seniors⁵. Fares for children are in the table above.

Climbers have their own rules:

• The ropeway asks climbers to submit a climbing registration form¹⁴ with their plan.
• It does not give guidance or information about mountain trails¹⁴, so bring your own route.
• Camping is prohibited.¹⁴

If you’d rather not handle the bus, this tour starts at Takayama Station and covers the ropeway and Kamikochi.

For the ticket alone, Klook’s round-trip e-ticket covers both ropeways on the date you select and can’t be cancelled. Buy it once your date is fixed, since the ropeway can stop in bad weather.