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Eizan Cable Car and Ropeway

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Eizan Cable Car and Ropeway

Take an aerial journey to the summit of Mount Hiei while admiring spectacular scenery that changes with the seasons.

3.20 3

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Supervised by :  Keifuku Electric Railroad Co., Ltd.

Travel from Yase in Kyoto to the summit of Mount Hiei by cable car and ropeway while taking in spectacular views.

The cable car runs from Cable Yase Station to the middle of Mount Hiei. The 561-meter elevation difference between the first and last stations is the greatest of any cable car route in Japan, and the cable-drawn cars take about 9 minutes to climb the steep slope. From the mountainside, transfer to the ropeway for the 486-meter journey to the summit of Mount Hiei, which takes about 3 minutes. The ride offers an aerial journey with panoramic views of Kyoto and the mountain scenery as it changes with the seasons, from fresh spring greenery to fall foliage.

Panorama Plaza, a scenic lookout, is located on the mountainside of Mount Hiei where passengers transfer between the cable car and ropeway. When the cable car and ropeway operate at night during the summer, the plaza offers beautiful nighttime views of Kyoto. Visitors can also try kawarake-nage, a custom in which wishes or prayers for protection from misfortune are written on small earthenware discs called kawarake before they are thrown at a target.

At Hieizan-Sancho Station, the ropeway’s final stop, visitors will also find Garden Museum Hiei, an open-air museum featuring ceramic reproductions of paintings by Impressionist artists such as Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh. Buses also run from the station to Enryaku-ji Temple, which extends across Kyoto and Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, making the cable car and ropeway an ideal way to explore the Mount Hiei area.

Highlights

  • Travel from Yase to the summit of Mount Hiei while admiring the natural scenery.
  • Experience the excitement of riding the cable car with the greatest elevation difference in Japan.
  • Visit scenic viewpoints and tourist attractions on the mountainside and near the summit station.

Photos

  • The cable car makes its way up the steep slope

    The cable car makes its way up the steep slope

  • The ropeway offers the sensation of traveling through the sky

    The ropeway offers the sensation of traveling through the sky

  • View of Kyoto from Panorama Plaza

    View of Kyoto from Panorama Plaza

Reviews

3

Some reviews are AI-translated.

  • 金己田
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    The most enjoyable way to get from Kyoto to Mt. Hiei is via the Eizan Railway. Starting at Demachiyanagi Station, take the Hiei sightseeing train to Yase, then walk to the Eizan Cable station. The cable car climbs steadily up the mountainside, reaching the ropeway station in about 9 minutes. From there, transfer to the ropeway for the ride to the summit of Mt. Hiei.

    Getting to Enryakuji requires several transfers, but the whole journey feels like a fun adventure with a variety of transportation along the way. I especially loved the Eizan Railway’s deep green and gold color scheme—it looks sophisticated and stylish.

    Since I was heading to Shiga for more sightseeing after coming down the mountain, I bought the Mt. Hiei Free Pass. It didn’t save me much money, but the convenience made it worthwhile. One pass made the entire trip seamless.

  • 明帆
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    Taking the cable car up to Mt. Hiei is super convenient and quick. You can see views of Kyoto along the way, and if you go in the right season, it's even more beautiful.

  • Paul Chen
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    Mt. Hiei sits right on the border between Shiga and Kyoto. To reach the summit, you need to take a cable car and then transfer to a ropeway. As you go higher, the scenery keeps changing. From the top, you get a clear view of Lake Biwa.

Details

Name in Japanese
叡山ケーブル・ロープウェイ
Postal Code
606-0067
Address
Cable Yase Station, Kamitakano Higashiyama, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
Phone
075-781-4338 (Cable Car Office)
Closed on
Closed during winter
Hours
Eizan Cable Car: 9:00 a.m.–6:15 p.m.; Eizan Ropeway: 9:15 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Nighttime service is available during certain periods.
Admission
Cable car round trip: adults ¥1,200, children ¥600; ropeway round trip: adults ¥800, children ¥400
Access
The Cable Yase boarding area is about a 5-minute walk from Yase-Hieizanguchi Station on the Eizan Railway.
There is no parking near the station. Please use public transportation, such as trains or buses, when visiting the Eizan Cable Car and Ropeway.
Credit Cards
Not accepted
Official website
Official website (Japanese)
Hokkaido Tohoku Kanto Chubu Hokuriku Kansai Chugoku Shikoku Kyushu Okinawa