Shinhotaka Ropeway

𝟏. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Nice to meet you all, I am Hayashi. I am in charge of ropeway operation. I also work as a guide and have been working for 10 years in this company.

The Shinhotaka Ropeway has been operating since 1970. This year is the 50th anniversary. For the occasion the station building has been renewed and the gondola has been replaced with a new model. Compared to the previous gondola, the windows are wider and there is a better view. Actually, there are two gondolas. From Shinhotaka Onsen Station, you take the first ropeway and change to the second ropeway to Nabehira Kogen Station to reach Nishihotakaguchi. It takes about 25 minutes from the beginning to the top including transfer time.

𝟐. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜

Ropeways are rare in the world and Shinhotaka's gondola is a two-floor gondola. There are only four in the world.

𝟑. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Our mission is to have our guests enjoy their trip on the gondola. It is important to us to ensure their safety while they enjoy this unique experience.

𝟒. 𝐆𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞

We have a lot of guests from Japan, but most of our visitors came from overseas. In particular, from countries without winter such as Taiwan or Indonesia. They look forward to see a snowy scenery and we are very happy to satisfy them. Of course, we have a lot of guests from Europe and America as well.

𝟓. 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬

When I joined the company, I accompany 2 guests from Italy, a father with his son, on the ropeway. Even though I couldn't speak Italian, I remember them being very friendly and we were able to somehow communicate with each other. I think to be able to have an exchange with our visitors, even only with body gestures, is funny and very rewarding.

𝟔. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐛

Understanding the weather conditions is crucial. We are up on the mountains, so it's dangerous if the wind is strong. We have to decide stopping the gondola or not. That kind judgment is essential. Customer safety is the number one priority.

𝟕. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐦𝐚

I especially love the cafe called Fukyuan. The food is delicious there, you can rent kimono, and the building itself has a nice atmosphere.

𝟖. 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬

The staff is wearing masks. The disinfectant is provided at the entrance, desks, restaurants and bathrooms. The staff is equipped with disinfectant kit to able to use disinfectants if needed.

The number of people riding the gondola at once has also been reduced.