Beppu Ropeway and Mt. Tsurumi: Panoramic Views from the Summit

The Beppu Ropeway is a popular sightseeing ropeway connecting central Beppu City to the summit station of Mt. Tsurumi (Tsurumidake, elevation 1,375m) by an aerial stroll of about 10 minutes. Its charm is the grand panorama, taking in the Beppu townscape with rising hot-spring steam, Beppu Bay, and on clear days even the mountains of Shikoku and the Chugoku region. It is a spectacular spot where you can view at a glance, from the sky, the charm of the hot-spring town of Beppu.

The Beppu Ropeway and Mt. Tsurumi

The Beppu Ropeway lets you enjoy a powerful aerial stroll, climbing the roughly 1.8 km distance in one go. Board one of Kyushu's largest gondolas and Beppu's hot-spring town and Beppu Bay spread out rapidly below. Mt. Tsurumi is an active volcano that can be called the very source of Beppu Onsen, and the view from its summit is exceptional. The charm is being able to casually enjoy from the sky the mountain's natural scenery, which changes through the seasons.

The Grand Panorama from the Summit

Around the summit station of Mt. Tsurumi at elevation 1,375m, observation spots and promenades are maintained. Below is the Beppu townscape with rising steam and the blue Beppu Bay, and turning around there is the majestic figure of Mt. Yufu (Yufudake). On clear days you can view all the way to the distant mountain ranges of Shikoku and the Chugoku region. The summit also has stone statues of the Seven Lucky Gods and a bell, so you can enjoy a spectacular-view stroll while paying your respects.

The Nature of the Four Seasons

Mt. Tsurumi shows various expressions of nature through the four seasons. In spring, cherry blossoms and Miyama Kirishima azaleas color the slopes, and in summer it becomes a cool, lush green space. The autumn foliage is also superb, and in winter a fantastical world spreads where rime ice (muhyo) decorates the trees in white. It is a mountain full of natural beauty that makes you want to visit each season.

Access & Basic Information

For access, take a Kamenoi bus or similar from JR Beppu Station to the Beppu Ropeway boarding point. The ride is about 10 minutes each way to the summit station. Operation generally begins with a 9:00 first cabin, and the times of the last ascending and descending cabins differ between the warm season (roughly mid-March to mid-November) and the cold season (roughly mid-November to mid-March). Because the last cabin is earlier in winter, plan your descent with time to spare. Fares, timetables, and suspension information can change with the weather, so check the official website for the latest details.

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: You can enjoy different spectacular views each season—cherry blossoms and Miyama Kirishima in spring, foliage in autumn, rime ice in winter. On clear days the distant views are exceptional. For scenery, mornings, when visibility tends to open up, are ideal.
• Time needed: About one to two hours combining the ropeway ride with a summit stroll and the views.
• Avoiding crowds: Weekends during the azalea and foliage seasons get busy. Just after opening, or on weekdays, is more relaxed.
• What to wear: The summit is colder than the town and often windy, so a layer to put on is reassuring in any season. Dress warmly in winter.
• Nearby real spots: It pairs easily with the Beppu Hell Tour and the springs of the Beppu Hatto, making it easy to plan a day combining Kannawa's steam and jigoku-mushi cuisine.

A Word of Advice

The summit is cooler than the town and exposed to wind, so bringing a jacket makes for a comfortable visit. The ropeway may be suspended in strong wind or bad weather, so check the day's operating status before heading out. Visiting together with Beppu's Hell Tour and hot springs makes for a trip where you can fully enjoy the charm of Beppu, the hot-spring paradise.

📚 Sources

For information on the Beppu Ropeway and Mt. Tsurumi, the main references are the official site of the Beppu Ropeway and the tourism guidance published by the Beppu City Tourism Association. Operating times (with a last car that differs between the summer and winter seasons), fares, and information on the summit views and walking paths can be traced through the official site's guidance. Fares, operating times, and suspension information also vary with the weather, so please confirm the latest details through official sources before you visit. Service may be suspended in strong winds or bad weather.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: The ropeway ride (about 10 minutes one way) plus a walk and the views at the summit take about 1 to 2 hours.
• What to bring: The summit is cooler than the city and often windy, so bring an extra layer in any season and dress warmly in winter; also prepare the fare.
• Suggested route: From Beppu Station head to the boarding point and ride to the summit, touring viewpoints, walking paths, and the Seven Lucky Gods stone statues. For views, mornings offer clearer sightlines, and after descending, combine with the Beppu Jigoku Tour or the Beppu Hatto hot springs.
• Note: In winter the last car runs earlier, so plan your descent with time to spare.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Operating hours (summer season: March 15 to November 14): First service 9:00, last ride up 17:00, last ride down 17:30.
• Operating hours (winter season: November 15 to March 14): First service 9:00, last ride up 16:30, last ride down 17:00.
• Fares (adults): 1,800 yen return, 1,200 yen one way.
• Fares (seniors aged 70 and over): 1,700 yen return, 1,200 yen one way.
• Fares (children aged 4 and over up to elementary school age): 900 yen return, 600 yen one way.
• Discounts: Visitors with disabilities pay half price.
• Equipment and journey time: A large gondola carrying 101 passengers, with a cable length of 1,816 m, a vertical rise of about 800 m and a ride of about 10 minutes.
• Altitude: Beppu Kogen Station stands at 500 m and Tsurumi Sanjo Station at 1,300 m (the summit of Mount Tsurumi is 1,375 m).
• Sights at the top: Tsurumi Sanjo Gongen Ichi-no-Miya shrine stands in front of the summit station, and there are walking paths for the Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage and the pilgrimage of sacred sites.
• Parking: In addition to the large car park there is a multipurpose car park (2 spaces).
• Access: About 5 minutes from the Beppu IC on the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway along Prefectural Route 11 towards Yufuin. About 20 minutes by Kamenoi Bus from the west exit of JR Beppu Station, about 40 minutes on the "Yufurin" bus from the east exit of Beppu Station, and about 30 minutes from in front of Yufuin Station. About 45 minutes by car from Oita Airport.

*The fares are the amounts published on the official website as being "current as of February 1, 2023". Parking charges are not stated on the official website. Services may be suspended in strong winds or bad weather.

(Sources: the official Beppu Ropeway website)