Shinhotaka Ropeway

We reached near the Ropeway after one hour journey from Norikura.  As per the instruction given by our guides who walked in front  with their `blue` flag, we accompanied them forming two lines. 

At 2.15pm, we reached the Nabedaira Kogen from where starts the ropeway. The guide handed over our tickets for the ropeway . The next cabin will be at 2.45pm only and so we moved out to enjoy the nature surrounded with white mountains on all sides.

The Ropeway of Shinhotaka

Ropeway entry pass

At 2.45pm, we entered the lower decker of the cabin. The Shinhotaka Ropeway is the largest of its kind in Asia. From Nabedaira Kogen, it climbs over 800 metres up the side of the Hotake Mountain range, which includes Oku-Hotakedake, Japan`s third highest peak. The  double decker gondola cars are the distunguishing feature of this ropeway, which are of the first of their kind in Japan.Each decker accommodates 50 people in it. I got a little scared of thinking the fact that there are 100 men accommodated inside the cabin which is moving through a ropeway upto this much heights. As the gondola moved up, I forget about all these fears and it as quite interesting experience to ride over the thick woods from the foot to the gradually changing white peaks along with the interesting sight of snowy mountains around us. While moving up, we could see the parking place here our bus have been parked. All the vehicles in the beginning looked like perfectly arranged matchboxes and later seen as small dark dots and disappeared at last.

Shinhotaka Ropeway

A view from the ropeway

Oh! we reached the top - at the upper Nishi-Hotaka Station at an altitude of about 2150 meters. It has a restaurant, gift shops and an observation deck. We climbed up through the stairs to reach the observation deck which is at the forth floor. We get a grand panoramic view from the observation platform there.  The snowy valley with coniferous trees peeping out at some places resembled some pictures I had seen in some X`mas cards earlier where the Santa Claus came riding over the rain-deer driven cart along similar paths. At the observation deck, there are boards at all sides with the name, picture and heights of the mountains surrounding there using which we can easily identify them. 

At the mount-view observation deck.

A Snap from the mount-view observation deck.

Photo taken from the mount-view observation deck.

A view from the mount-view observation deck.

At the mount-view observation deck.

After half an hour, we walked down the stairs , bought some sweets from the gift house there and moved towards the cabin. 

Sweet packet from the shop at the upper  ropeway station.

We were at the right time and get inside the upper decker and started our ride down.It took about 6 minutes to reach the upper station and the same time to reach down. There is another 45 minutes or the bus to took off from here. 

We entered the museum at the lower floor of the station where we could see beautiful drawings, wood carvings etc. After that, we walked out to the small garden there. There is a small pool with lightly hot natural water from the mountains (it resembled a mini-Onsen that were present in most places of Japan). Like all, we also dipped our feet for some minutes in that water and then walked towards our bus. It is about to rain by that time. As the bus started its journey back, it started heavily raining out...