At a glance

  • Choose a clear day, but keep in mind that wind and clouds on the mountain can affect visibility. Check the day’s service notices in the afternoon.
  • The free shuttle serving Ropeway Iriguchi stop may not run during the daytime on weekdays. Keep the roughly 10-minute walk from the streetcar stop as a backup.
  • The summit restaurant is separate from the night-view area. If you plan to dine there, check its hours and reservation requirements separately.
  • Photos often turn out better after sunset, once the city lights have settled, than right after you reach the observation deck. Set an alarm so you don’t delay your descent to escape the cold and end up short on time for downtown transit.
  • Save your route back downtown from Ropeway Iriguchi tram stop after descending. The tram and shuttle’s last services do not match the mountain’s closing time. It is better to dine after coming down, or eat first and then go just for the night views.

Get off the tram, then ride the ropeway and mini cable car in sequence

There are three stages from downtown to the summit. Tap the points in the three-dimensional illustration for travel guidance at each location and actual maps and directions.

SusukinoTram departure Ropeway IriguchiGet off the tram Base stationBoard the ropeway SummitTransfer to the mini cable car
Consider city travel and mountain rides separately. This is a schematic for understanding the journey. It is not to scale and does not show actual elevation or road alignment.

See the travel guidance for each stop below.

  1. Susukino Tram departure

    Check the direction and route to Ropeway Iriguchi tram stop.

    Open in Google Maps: Susukino

  2. Ropeway Iriguchi Get off the tram

    Get off at Ropeway Iriguchi, not Nishisen Juichi Jo. Outside shuttle hours, the base station is about a 10-minute walk away.

    Open in Google Maps: Ropeway Iriguchi Directions

  3. Base station Board the ropeway

    After ticketing and queuing, travel to the intermediate station. Check that your ticket is a combined round trip to the summit.

    Open in Google Maps: Base station Directions

  4. Summit Transfer to the mini cable car

    Transfer to the mini cable car at the intermediate station. Check descent times on site.

    Open in Google Maps: Summit

Check actual walking exits, bus stops, service status, and last departures on Google Maps and in each facility’s day-of notices.

A Plan That Keeps You on Schedule

On-Site Order

This is a conservative itinerary for first-time visitors. Travel times depend on your accommodation and the weather, so make a final check with map directions.

Before departure · Check service and visibility

Check the summit webcam and operating notices. Aim to reach the summit 30–60 minutes before sunset, while planning arrival at the base station about 90 minutes before sunset to allow for downtown travel, ticketing, and uphill queues. If the queue is long, give up the pre-sunset scenery and see just the night views.

Decide first whether to go up today
  • Service status · Webcam
  • Dinner reservation and descent time
Travel · Tram and two mountain rides

Ropeway Iriguchi tram stop → shuttle or walk → base station → ropeway intermediate station → mini cable car → summit. Even with a web ticket, check whether on-site exchange or queuing is needed. No tram goes directly to the summit.

Get off at Ropeway Iriguchi
  • Ropeway Iriguchi tram stop
  • Ride the ropeway and mini cable car separately
Sunset and night views · Save your return first

Compare the city in daylight with the view after the lights come on. If it is very cold, rest indoors or descend early. Check the mini cable car and ropeway descent times displayed on site, plus the downtown tram’s return times, and travel before those deadlines. Do not read the 21:30 last uphill service as the last descent.

Summit time and last descent
  • Outer layer and slip precautions
  • Check descent and city transport separately

Places and meals

Mount Moiwa Ropeway

Take the ropeway and mini cable car to the summit observation deck.

Google Maps
Mount Moiwa Summit Observation Deck

The summit area for viewing Sapporo’s night scene.

Google Maps

What to Decide First

Decide whether you want just the view or to stay from sunset through the night view. Staying for sunset means a longer visit at the summit, so check the trip to the ropeway station and the last descent as well.

Reality check

Transport

Take the tram from Susukino and get off at Ropeway Iriguchi. Do not confuse it with Nishisen Juichi Jo. Official information gives about a 1-minute walk from the stop to the shuttle boarding point and a 2-minute shuttle ride, with departures every 15 minutes. Service starts at 17:17 on weekdays. On weekends and public holidays, it starts at 10:17, or 10:47 in winter. When the shuttle is not running, add about 0.5 km and 10 minutes on foot to the base station.

Time

Allow 2–3 hours for round-trip travel and lines. Waits may be longer around sunset.

Cost

The combined ropeway and mini cable car round trip costs 2,100 yen for adults and 1,050 yen for children of elementary school age and younger. Use the adult rate from junior high school onward. Closed December 31 and January 1; check official notices for your visit date for maintenance and bad-weather suspensions.

Safety

The summit can be colder and windier than downtown. Stay behind the railings and wear shoes suitable for slippery conditions in rain or snow.

If plans change

On Cloudy Days

Choose an indoor activity such as AOAO SAPPORO, a museum, or a public bath instead of the night view, and reschedule for a clear evening.

When queues are long or you lack time to return

Before buying a summit ticket, check the wait and descent times. If the timing does not work, choose dinner downtown or check that day’s opening hours for JR Tower or the TV Tower, and visit Mount Moiwa another day. Viewpoints may also have poor visibility when it is cloudy.

Small tip

If you lock in a dinner reservation before planning the night views, long queues may force you to give up one of them. Check that day’s service status and summit webcam first, then allow time to reach the base ropeway station about 90 minutes before sunset. This is a planning allowance including queues, not guaranteed boarding.

Final check before departure

  • Check day-of notices for service, wind, and visibility.
  • Set out to reach the summit 30–60 minutes before sunset.
  • Save the final descent time and your downtown return route.

According to official information checked on October 9, 2026, the ropeway operates 10:30–22:00 in April–November and 11:00–22:00 in December–March, with last uphill service at 21:30. The mini cable car runs until 21:50, with last uphill service at 21:40. Check descent from the summit and your return downtown separately, and postpone if strong winds or clouds suspend service or visibility is poor. Closures are listed for December 31 and January 1, and annual maintenance from March 29 to April 28, 2027.

Information checked: 2026-10-09

Google Maps

Check the location on the map

Use Google Maps to review the location and nearby route. Recheck opening hours and prices with the official source before visiting.

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