Awesome Awe-tumn: Spectacular ropeways at Yuzawa and Zao Onsen
Is autumn (秋 aki) your favourite season in Japan? Many visitors would pick the season as their favourite because of the beautiful foliage that they can see during this period, with landscapes painted in varying vivid hues of red, yellow, and orange. One of the best ways to enjoy these autumn landscapes is from the sky, and what better way to do that than by riding a ropeway!
Locations of Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway and Zao Sky Cable. (Image credit: Google Maps illustAC)
Personally, I love ropeways for the same reason, and Eastern Japan has several ropeways that feature some of the most incredible autumn views in the country. I got to visit two of them just recently—Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway (湯沢高原ロープウェイ) at Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture (新潟県), and Zao Sky Cable (蔵王スカイケーブル) at Zao Onsen (蔵王温泉 Zaō-onsen) in Yamagata Prefecture (山形県)—and in this article, I will share with you my personal experience of my time there as well as some interesting discoveries I made during my visits.
If your favourite season is autumn, then this article is definitely right up your alley, so get ready for an awe-some autumn adventure!
① Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture
I went on a day trip to the town of Yuzawa (湯沢) in Niigata Prefecture, which has always been famous for two things: hot springs and ski resorts. When it comes to ski resorts, it is also a favourite winter sports destination among many Tokyo dwellers because of its railway connectivity: you can reach Yuzawa directly from Tokyo in less than 1.5 hours, thanks to the Jōetsu Shinkansen (上越新幹線).
Echigo-Yuzawa Station. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
To get to Yuzawa, I hopped on the Jōetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa Station (越後湯沢駅 Echigo-Yuzawa-eki), which is the starting point for travellers to the town. Being able to reach the town straight from Tokyo was one of the reasons why I loved going there, and since it was my first time visiting in autumn, I couldn’t wait to see what the scenery would look like.
Footbath in front of Echigo-Yuzawa Station. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
Right after stepping out of the train station, I came across something that immediately lit up my day: a footbath (足湯 ashiyu)! It is free and open to the public to use, and it is just one of the many that can be found around the town. Soaking my feet on a chilly day was the greatest feeling ever, and was exactly what I would expect from a hot spring town.
Walking around Yuzawa. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
Did you know that Yuzawa has one of the highest annual snowfalls in Japan? Due to its geographical location in Niigata, the prefecture overall experiences higher snowfall compared to others in Japan, thereby earning the name “snow country” (雪国 yukiguni). Hence, there are over a dozen ski resorts in the town alone, making it a highly popular destination among winter sports enthusiasts.
As I walked around Yuzawa, I saw many hot spring inns and restaurants that lined the main avenue, as well as ski resorts in the surrounding areas. In the distance, I could see mountain slopes covered with emerging shades of yellow, brown, and red, showing signs of autumn arriving in the town. I was excited by what I could see around me, and I hadn’t even reached the best part of my day trip here.
Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
After walking for a few minutes from Echigo-Yuzawa Station, I finally reached the main objective of my day trip to the town: Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway. It is one of Yuzawa’s most popular attractions, and upon arriving at the ropeway’s mountain base station, I spotted several group tours there too.
Riding the Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
I was also really looking forward to riding the Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway for another reason: it is one of the biggest ropeways in Japan. Each cable car can accommodate up to 166 passengers, and I was surprised by its sheer size when I first saw it. With many passengers onboard the car, I could feel the exciting atmosphere already just when we were about to make our ascent up the mountain.
Magnificent autumn scenery from the ropeway. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
And indeed, as the cable car made its way up to the summit station, the passengers onboard and I were treated to the stunning scenery of the surrounding mountain slopes and the town of Yuzawa below. The mountain slopes were a blend of vivid greenery and autumn foliage that featured vibrant shades of yellow and orange.
The whole ropeway ride took around 7 minutes, and the car travelled for a total distance of 1,300m. That entire 7 minutes of ascending the mountain was one of the most scenic experiences I’ve ever had in my life.
Yuzawa Kogen Panorama Station. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
When the cable car reached the summit station, I set foot on the Yuzawa Kogen Panorama Station (湯沢高原パノラマステーション), and indeed, as the name suggested, the area featured a wonderful panoramic view of Yuzawa below with mountains in the far background. There were even couches where visitors could freely take a seat and enjoy the views, and a footbath that was free for everyone to use.
Apart from its incredible views, what I was pleasantly surprised to learn is that the Panorama Station is also selected as a Lover’s Sanctuary by Katsura Yumi. Such spots are selected for their romantic atmosphere, and they can be found all over Japan. So for all you lovebirds out there, do check this place out and ring the bell too!
Exploring the areas around Yuzawa Kogen Panorama Station. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
After enjoying the views of Yuzawa and the mountains, I continued exploring the area around Yuzawa Kogen Panorama Station. There were some restaurants and a play park where children could frolic and have fun, but more importantly, the area was surrounded by autumn colours that covered the mountain slopes in the distance.
I was delighted not just by the vivid autumn colours, but also by a field of Kochia bushes that covered the slopes. The crimson-coloured bushes are commonly seen during autumn, and they were a wondrous sight to behold.
Fun activities around Yuzawa Kogen. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
Apart from exploring Yuzawa Kogen and admiring the surrounding views, visitors could also take part in several outdoor activities at the park, such as bobsledding, mini-golf, and ski lifts. A great place not just for sightseeing but for spending fun times with friends and loved ones, don’t you think?
Observatory at Yuzawa Kogen. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
Still can’t get enough of Yuzawa Kogen’s amazing views? Then check out the observatory located behind Yuzawa Kogen Edelweiss restaurant, where visitors can get another splendid view of Yuzawa and the mountain range in the distance. It’s a place that I found on a whim, and it was the perfect way for me to wrap up my brief visit to the park.
One last look at Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway’s view. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
As we all know, all good things must come to an end. As I wrapped up my visit to Yuzawa Kogen, I rode the ropeway back down to the mountain base station and took the opportunity to admire the mesmerising autumn foliage around me one last time.
I arrived at Yuzawa Kogen with much anticipation, and the place left an indelible impression on my mind with its sheer seasonal beauty. Would I want to visit Yuzawa Kogen again? I sure do, and not just in autumn, but for other seasons as well.
Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway (湯沢高原ロープウェイ)
Address: 490 Yuzawa-machi, Minami Uonuma, Niigata 949-6101
Nearest station: 10-minute walk from JR Echigo-Yuzawa Station (JR越後湯沢駅)
*Operating hours:
Winter season (17 December 2022–26 March 2023): 8:40am–5pm (last ascent at 4:20pm)
Admission fees: ¥2,400 per adult per round trip
*The start of the winter season depends on the snowfall, and the start date for the next Green Season is to be confirmed. Refer to the official website for the latest information.
② Zao Onsen, in the mountains of Yamagata
On the following day, I moved from Tokyo to Yamagata by taking the Yamagata Shinkansen (山形新幹線). Blessed with grand mountains and heavenly hot springs, Yamagata is a prefecture that visitors ought to visit if they want to experience some of Tohoku’s most beautiful natural beauty. If there’s one place in Yamagata where visitors want to have the best experience of hot springs and magnificent autumn views, it would be Zao Onsen (蔵王温泉 Zaō Onsen).
Gyūniku Domannaka. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
Do you know the one thing I highly recommend anyone to do while riding the shinkansen? Eat ekiben (駅弁 railway lunchbox)! I always find pleasure in enjoying one while travelling by train in Japan, and when it comes to Yamagata, one definitely has to try Gyūniku Domannaka (牛肉ど真ん中). The lunchbox features stewed Yonezawa beef and ground beef on top of rice, with a side of fishcake, pickled radish, and egg roll. This ekiben is highly sought after and I was luckily enough to land myself a box just before hopping on the Yamagata Shinkansen. It was scrumptious, and I finished every morsel in the box before reaching Yamagata Station (山形駅 Yamagata-eki).
Taking the bus to Zao Onsen Bus Terminal. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
Zao Onsen is a hot spring town located on the slopes of Mount Zao (蔵王山 Zaō-san), and can be accessed from Yamagata Station by taking a bus to Zao Onsen Bus Terminal (蔵王温泉バスターミナル). During the bus ride, I was treated to pleasant views of Yamagata’s serene countryside where the surroundings were slowly showing autumn colours.
Zao Onsen’s autumn foliage. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
When I stepped out of the bus terminal, I was astounded by Zao Onsen’s beautiful landscape. Autumn had indeed arrived in the town, and I could see vivid shades of yellow and orange everywhere. It was my first time at Zao Onsen, and I already had a great first impression just a few minutes into my visit.
Hot springs were everywhere at Zao Onsen. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
Just like Yuzawa, Zao Onsen is a town that is highly popular for its abundant hot springs. The town draws its hot spring water supply from Mount Zao, and visitors can enjoy the hot spring water at any of the numerous hot spring hotels around the town.
When I arrived at Zao Onsen, the first thing I noticed was the unmistakable sulphuric smell of hot springs. Hot spring water was running throughout the whole town, and I found it very tempting to stay at one of the many hot spring hotels that I passed by. How unfortunate that I didn’t have the opportunity to do so this time round!
Sukawa Onsen Shrine. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
Do you know what I love about exploring a new place on foot? I often get to make interesting discoveries along the way. For Zao Onsen, one serendipitous discovery I made was Sukawa Onsen Shrine (酢川温泉神社), a Shintō shrine located at the top of a flight of stairs that is a short walk away from Zao Onsen Bus Terminal.
What drew me to the shrine was how the flight of stairs was surrounded by stunning shades of yellow and orange autumn colours. As I made my way up the stairs, I feasted my eyes on the foliage, and once I reached the shrine, I saw even more autumn leaves around the complex!
Sukawa Onsen Shrine (酢川温泉神社)
Address: 3 Zao-onsen, Yamagata, 990-2301
Access: 15-minute walk from Zao Onsen Bus Terminal
Zao Sky Cable. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
After visiting Sukawa Onsen Shrine, I walked for a few minutes before reaching the main objective of my trip to Zao Onsen: the Zao Sky Cable. It is one of the three ropeways that visitors can ride in the town, along with Zao Ropeway and Zao Chuō Ropeway, the latter which I originally planned to ride. Unfortunately, Zao Chuō Ropeway was closed for the day but thankfully, visitors could ride the Zao Sky Cable instead.
Incredible views from Zao Sky Cable. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
I arrived at Zao Sky Cable expecting to see some autumn foliage during the ride, and I was not disappointed at all by the views around me. As the cable car made its ascent up the mountain, I witnessed some of the most striking autumn colours I had ever seen, with orange and yellow leaves covering the entire mountain slopes in the far distance. The weather was also perfectly clear so I got to see the colours clearly, and I couldn’t help myself from snapping away photos incessantly.
Dokkonuma Marsh. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
When I reached the summit station, I decided to explore the area around it on foot and saw something of interest on the map: Dokkonuma Marsh (ドッコ沼 Dokko-numa), which was a short walk away from the station. The marsh was a picturesque sight to behold, and it also surprised me to see many of the trees around it were bare, with the leaves already fallen to the ground. It felt like winter was approaching, and it then struck me that I was experiencing a seasonal transition between autumn and winter.
Brilliant autumn foliage, as seen from Zao Sky Cable. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
After a leisurely stroll around Dokkonuma Marsh, I headed back to the Zao Sky Cable and made my descent to the mountain base station. Of course, I still couldn’t get enough of the incredible views of the autumn foliage around me, so I ended up taking even more photos. The ropeway ride took around 5 minutes per one-way, and I felt like taking the ride multiple times just to enjoy the views!
Zao Sky Cable (蔵王スカイケーブル)
Address: 794 Zao Onsen, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata 990-2301
Access: Take a 40-minute bus ride from Yamagata Station (山形駅) and alight at Zao Onsen Bus Terminal (蔵王温泉バスターミナル). Take a 10-minute walk to reach Zao Sky Cable’s Uwanodai Station (上の台駅).
Operating hours: 8:30am–5pm
Admission fees: ¥1,500 per round trip per adult (non-winter season)
More autumn foliage around Zao Onsen. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
After the ropeway ride, I still had some spare time before my bus at Zao Onsen Bus Terminal, so I wondered “why not explore Zao Onsen on foot even more?”. It was such a wonderful experience just walking around the town and simply following the vibrant autumn foliage whenever I went. For instance, the leaves along Uwanodaikita Street (上の台北通り Uwanodaikita-dōri) were so yellow, it looked as though the trees were covered in gold!
An observation deck with a glorious view of Zao Onsen. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
Remember what I said about making serendipitous discoveries by exploring on foot? Well, I discovered yet another amazing spot in the form of an observation deck that offered a sweeping, panoramic view of Zao Onsen and mountain slopes in the far distance. The spot was called 名山霊泉洗世塵 (Meizan-reisen-sejin-wo-arau), and the view here simply left me speechless. Just look at the magnificent scenery!
Lake Sakazukiko. (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
Before I wrapped up my day at Zao Onsen, there was still one more place I found that had a wondrous view of the town’s autumn colours: Lake Sakazukiko (盃湖). The lake was only a short walk away from Zao Onsen Bus Terminal, and it was the last spot I found whose painting-like scenery made my day. I read that the lake is beautiful in other seasons as well, and I could only imagine how amazing it must be during other times of the year.
Closing
Autumnal views of Yuzawa Kogen Ropeway (top) and Zao Sky Cable (below). (Image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang)
I have taken many ropeways in Japan before, and they have never failed to impress me with their unique views. Autumn in particular is a wonderful time, as I would get to see mountain slopes covered in vibrant warm colours. Yuzawa Kogen and Zao Sky Cable are two ropeways that made their way into my list of ropeways covered in Japan, and they reminded me why ropeways will always have a place in my heart.
If you’re a big fan of ropeways like me, you would definitely want to make your way to Yuzawa and Zao Onsen and check out their respective ropeways, especially in autumn. I’m very sure it would an “awe-some” autumn trip that you won’t forget!
JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area)
The JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) and where you can use it. (Image credit: JR East)
Want to check out Yuzawa and Zao Onsen? Then check out the JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area), an affordable pass that offers unlimited rail travel on JR East lines (including bullet trains) in the valid area for 5 consecutive days at only ¥30,000. You can also make seat reservations for bullet trains, some limited express trains and Joyful Trains online for free, up to 1 month in advance, on the JR-EAST Train Reservation.
The JR-EAST Train Reservation. (Image credit: JR East)
The JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) can be used for automatic ticket gates, and foreign passport holders living in Japan are also eligible to use this pass.
Header image credit: JR East / Nazrul Buang, illustAC
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