Mount Moiwa Ropeway

The Mt. Moiwa Ropeway (藻岩山ロープウェイ) is Japanese aerial lift line in Sapporo, Hokkaidō. This is the only line Sapporo Development (札幌振興公社) operates, while the company also operates a ski jumping course and an amusement park. Opened in 1958, the line climbs Mount Moiwa (藻岩山). The observatory is built for the panoramic view of the city. There also is a ski resort.

Basic data

 * System: Aerial tramway, 2 track cables and 2 haulage ropes
 * Distance: 1.2 km
 * Vertical interval: 366 m
 * Passenger capacity per a cabin: 66
 * Cabins: 2
 * Stations: 2
 * Time required for single ride: 5 minutes

The line was originally opened on 5 July 1958 as a gondola lift with 30 8-seat gondolas which departed in 1-minute intervals, with the ride taking 10 minutes. This was closed in September 1970 to be rebuilt for greater safety, capacity and speed for the 1972 Winter Olympics and was reopened in its current form with two 66-seat gondolas in 1971.

The ageing of the equipment led to the suspension of services from April 2005. In 2010, the Mount Moiwa Ropeway was closed for renovation, including the replacement of the two gondolas, and was reopened on 23 December 2011.