Went here on a weekday by bus. We got the set ticket from Shizutetsu Bus Information Center which includes the roundtrip ticket for the Ropeway. You can also buy the ticket on the venue. It was about 5 minutes each way. The view was really nice. Glad a Ropeway is available to go to Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. They also have a gift shop & restaurant here. The parking area was really spacious.
This is the cable car you use to get to the shrine in the mountain. There is no other way up. We used a taxi to get to the start. Interestingly the cable car dips down the mountain since the shrine is not at the top but part way down. There are only trees to look at on the ride. At the ticket office you can get the ride there and back, the ride and shrine or the ride, shrine and museum. I didn't do the museum. You can't see the shrine from where the ride ends so if you want more than just the view you need shrine tickets. Once there it is a very pretty shrine but beware there are a lot of tall steps to get around. Back at the base station there is food and trinkets for sale. There were no taxis to get back so be sure Uber and Go are on your phone just incase. It opens at 9.10am but they start selling tickets at 9 and take credit cards.
Great experience seeing the east coast from the air.
Waiting time is not too much.
PS. Please look outside just when you are departing... the ground staff will be waving bye bye... you too wave bye bye to them 😉
Lastly, on the Kunozan side, there's a tree that's 500 years old.
The Nihondaira Ropeway is a fun ride. It is pretty busy even though we were there on a weekday. It looks and feels classical, but it has good maintenance. The workers are very friendly and are doing their jobs very well. The ropeway feels safe and well-kept. The Nihondaira Ropeway is one of the famous tourist attractions. But I don't think I will be there again next time.
Beautiful shrine, which you can only visit by cablecar, which is like a fun little 5 minutes. The shrine itself is again beautiful and well worth your time. There is also a small museum dedicated to the local clan who lives there. And after you take the return cable car ride there is a basic eatery with such a great curry.....you won't regret it.
More about Nihondaira Observation Deck & Ropeway from our blog