The Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway (〜Kawaguchiko〜 Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway) is an aerial cableway located in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, operated by the Fujisanroku Electric Railway. The ropeway connects the shores of Lake Kawaguchi with the summit of Mt. Tenjō, allowing passengers to enjoy magnificent panoramic views of both Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi from above.
The ropeway originally opened on July 11, 1959, under the name “Kawaguchiko Mt. Tenjō Ropeway.” In 2001, after a complete renovation, it reopened with the theme of the famous folktale Kachi-Kachi Yama from Otogizōshi (a collection of Japanese fairy tales). As Mt. Tenjō is believed to be the setting of Osamu Dazai’s retelling of Kachi-Kachi Yama, statues of the story’s rabbit and raccoon dog characters were installed at the stations and inside the gondolas. This fairy tale theme, along with the addition of new observation decks, made the ropeway especially popular with families and tourists.
Following the inscription of Mount Fuji as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 2013, the number of international visitors increased rapidly. To better accommodate global travelers, the ropeway’s official English name was changed to “Mt. FUJI PANORAMIC ROPEWAY” in 2018, and the Japanese name was updated to its current form, “〜河口湖〜 富士山パノラマロープウェイ.” Nevertheless, the fairy tale decorations and theme have been retained.
Since 2023, the ropeway has been operated by the second-generation Fujisanroku Electric Railway, a subsidiary of Fujikyu, which continues to manage daily operations and services.
