What other travelers are saying about Kurodake Ropeway
This place boasts stunning natural scenery that transforms with each season. Take a cable car up the mountain to enjoy panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks and the surrounding landscapes. Stroll through the area and immerse yourself in the tranquil atmosphere. If you have the time, be sure to spend some time here to fully appreciate the beauty of Hokkaido.
I stayed in Sounkyo for 2 days at the beginning of March 2024. I took the Mt. Kurodake cable-car around 10am - there were only 3 other people in the gondola! I was lucky that the weather was fantastic - clear, blue sky and little wind. The view from the observation platform on top of the cable-car station was amazing - 360 degree mountains as far as you could see. I was the only one on the observation deck when I arrived!
Skiers and snowboarders can take a chairlift which you can walk to from the top cable-car station - only skiers and snowboarders were allowed to take the chairlift. I saw some skiers that climbed further up Mt. Kurodake from the top of the chairlift.
I saw them coming down from the summit - you would have to hike to get that high! I also saw ski tracks off-piste. You can buy an all-day lift ticket for the cable-car and chairlift if you are a keen skier / snowboarder. There is only one on-piste run down the mountain, so I think the people that are skiing all day are advanced and are going off-piste.
If the weather is good, even if you're not a skier the view from the cable-car and observation deck is breathtaking!
The gondola can take up to 101 people , thus the wait to board doesn’t take too long .it takes about 10 min ride on the gondola.
Make sure you buy tickets before you queue .
There are 2 types of tickets ;one without the chair lift , and the other includes chair lift that brings you to 7th station .it takes about 10 min ride on chair lift .
You can then take a hike to the summit of Mt Kurodake 1984m. The climb is about 75 min for us . The trail head starts at 7th station.
View is spectacular on clear day .
Recommended if weather is good .
Wind was too strong and there was heavy rain. We weren't able to go up the mountain the entire day. It really depends on your luck. I'm sure the view would be magnificent up there
There are only 2 cars going up and down. Entry about JPY 2000 per person. It’s slowly going up (and down) the hill. The view is breathtaking. And the staff will play some recording that explains the surrounding area. Car is quite spacious and the ride is very enjoyable.