Hakone Ropeway

The Hakone Ropeway is a 4-kilometre aerial gondola line connecting Sounzan, at the top of the Hakone Tozan Cable Car, to Togendai on the northern shore of Lake Ashi, in Kanagawa Prefecture. Operating since 1969, the ropeway forms the most dramatic section of the Hakone Round Course — the classic tourist circuit linking all of Hakone's major transport modes: mountain railway, cable car, ropeway, sightseeing boat, and highway bus. The line operates in three segments with interchanges at Owakudani and Ubako stations.

The journey's visual highlight is the passage over the Owakudani volcanic valley — a 5-minute crossing during which the gondola traverses directly above steam vents, sulfur-stained cliffs, and active geothermal pools. The contrast between bubbling volcanic activity at eye level and the surrounding Hakone hillsides creates one of the most arresting views from any aerial transport in Japan. On clear days, particularly in winter and early spring, Mt. Fuji appears above the southern horizon as the gondola descends toward Togendai, providing an elevated Fuji panorama not easily matched elsewhere in the region.

The gondola cars carry approximately ten people each and depart every few minutes during operating hours. The full journey from Sounzan to Togendai takes about 30 minutes. Visitors using the Hakone Free Pass (¥3,000 from Odakyu at Shinjuku) ride the entire ropeway at no additional cost. During periods of elevated volcanic activity at Owakudani, the Sounzan–Owakudani section closes while the Owakudani–Togendai section may remain operational; real-time status is posted on the Hakone Ropeway website.

The ropeway is most congested on weekend and holiday mornings between 10:00 and 13:00. Arriving at Sounzan by 09:15 avoids the worst queues and delivers the morning light most favourable for Mt. Fuji photography.