Miyajima Ropeway

The Miyajima Ropeway connects the base of Mount Misen to near its summit on Miyajima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture, offering visitors access to one of Japan's most sacred mountains. The ropeway system opened in 1959 and was renovated in 2003, consisting of two segments: a larger gondola line covering the first section and a smaller two-cabin line completing the journey to Shishi-iwa Station, located approximately 30 meters below the 535-meter summit.

Mount Misen holds profound spiritual significance in Japanese Buddhism, with temples and religious sites dating back over 1,200 years to the time when Kobo Daishi, founder of Shingon Buddhism, practiced asceticism here. The mountain is considered one of the most sacred in Japan, and the Eternal Flame burning in the Daishoin Temple's Reikado Hall is said to have been lit by Kobo Daishi himself and has burned continuously for over a millennium. The mountain's virgin forest has been designated a Natural Monument and forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Itsukushima Shrine.

The ropeway journey takes approximately 15 minutes total and provides spectacular views across the Seto Inland Sea, with visibility extending to Hiroshima city on clear days. From the upper station, visitors face a 20 to 30-minute hike along maintained trails to reach the actual summit, where panoramic observation decks offer 360-degree views. The mountain features several hiking trails of varying difficulty, ancient temple buildings, unusual rock formations, and wild deer and monkeys that inhabit the forested slopes. The summit area includes rest facilities and the Misen Hondo temple hall.

Access to the ropeway begins at Momijidani Station, located about 25 minutes' walk from Miyajima Pier through Momijidani Park, a famous maple valley. Alternatively, a free shuttle bus operates between the pier area and the ropeway station. A round-trip ticket costs ¥2,000 for adults and ¥1,000 for children, with one-way tickets also available.