Mt. Moiwa Ropeway: How to See the Best View in Sapporo

Last Updated on March 3, 2026 by Charlotte

The Mt. Moiwa Ropeway is one of Sapporo’s iconic attractions, sweeping you high above the city for panoramic views of the Ishikari Plain and, on clear days, all the way to the sea. Whether you visit in the morning for peaceful snow-globe vibes or in the evening for views of the twinkling city skyline, it’s a worthwhile stop on any Sapporo itinerary. We visited on our first morning in Sapporo, and it set the tone for the whole trip in the best possible way.

Just a heads-up: some links on this site are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase. Your support helps to keep the blog running.

Our Winter Visit to Mt. Moiwa

We visited Mt. Moiwa in mid-February as part of a full day exploring Sapporo, after a morning wander around the nearby Sapporo Fushimi Inari Shrine.

Riding the Gondola + Cable Car

Because we arrived right at opening at 11 AM, our gondola was blissfully uncrowded, which let us admire the view from all cardinal directions as we swiftly glided up the mountainside.

The ride in the gondola was smooth, which I appreciated because I can sometimes get motion sick. As we climbed in elevation, I really loved that the gondola gave us the chance to see Sapporo from a bird’s eye view.

There were white squalls of snow on the horizon, and the patterns of the city blocks that stretched all the way up to the base of the mountains.

I could see why this spot is super popular at night, to admire the skyline with all of the twinkling city lights.

At the mid-station, we had a quick shuffle to the cable car, and the cable car (which was a very short 5-minute ride) took us the last bit of the way up the mountain to the summit.

Exploring the Summit of Mt. Moiwa

From the Mt. Moiwa summit station, we first took a look around outside to check out a nearby shrine before exploring the observation deck.

It had dumped snow the night before, which was perfect for making snow angels and playing in the powder!

So we were on top of Mt. Moiwa, and we kept hearing the faint tingling of bells. And my dumb ass thought, “Oh! How charming, there is a handbell choir performing up here in the woods!” If you don’t know what a handbell choir is, check out this video.

Then, we head back inside, and there is a HUGE SIGN posted on the door saying BEWARE OF BEARS!!! They were not handbells, they were BEAR BELLS!! The snowshoers were wearing BEAR BELLS!

I think what’s even worse is that this is not our first run-in with bears on our travels. Does being from Hawaii make me just like a penguin because I am not accustomed to having any natural predators on land? Anyways… I digress.

The Bell of Happiness

Next, we checked out the Summit Observation Deck, which is the main area you’ll explore if you visit Mt. Moiwa. At the Summit Observation Deck, there is a bell that you can ring together with your loved one for good luck and happiness.

You’ll also see “love locks” attached to the nearby handrails, with a legend that says if a couple writes their names on the lock, they will never break up.

The locks are heart-shaped and sold just inside the doorway that leads to the summit observation deck in a vending machine for just ¥1,000! Funny enough, Travel Buddy and I were too busy mentally processing our possible “bear encounter” to buy a lock and pledge our eternal love. But that’s alright.

Once we’d had our fill of the views, we lined up to ride back down, and I was shocked to see that the cable car coming up was jam-packed with people! It did not look like a very comfortable ride.

Plan Your Visit to Mt. Moiwa

Now that you’ve lived your bear-bell moment vicariously through me, here’s the practical things you know to plan your own visit to Mt. Moiwa.

Best Time of Day to Visit Mt. Moiwa

Morning

We visited right at opening in the morning, and it was a peaceful experience that was also absolutely stunning! The snow-covered mountains, the crisp winter air, and the relative lack of crowds made it feel like we were inside a snowglobe. This attraction can get SUPER BUSY later in the day, with long queue times to get on and off the gondolas.

Evening

However, the night view from the summit of Mt. Moiwa is famous, and Sapporo’s city lights have been named one of Japan’s New Three Major Night Views. From over 531 meters (~ 1742 ft) up, the city genuinely looks like scattered jewels across the Ishikari Plain. If you are looking for a romantic evening with your beau, go at night.

How to Get to Mt. Moiwa

From central Sapporo, you can take the streetcar to the Ropeway Iriguchi stop, and then either hop on the free shuttle bus (which runs every 15 minutes) or walk about 8 minutes uphill to the base station. If you’re unsure of how to get to the entrance to Mt. Moiwa from your own location, you can use something like Google Maps or Japan Travel by Navitime to plan your route.

We visited Mt. Moiwa right after exploring the Sapporo Fushimi Inari shrine, and it was only a brief 12-minute walk to the Mt. Moiwa Base Station entrance.

Ropeway Tickets

The Mt. Moiwa Ropeway is a two-stage ride. First, you take the ropeway from the base station up to the mid station, then transfer to the adorable mini cable car (locally known as the Morisu Car) from the mid station up to the summit.

As of February 2026, the combo round-trip ticket is ¥2,100 for adults and ¥1,050 for children, and you can purchase tickets at the window on arrival or book in advance online. During our visit, their credit card reader was not working, so we had to pay in cash. I am not sure if this is always the case, so be sure to bring some yen on hand just in case you need to pay in cash.

Facilities and Accessibility

The good news first: toilets are available at every station — base, mid-mountain, and summit — so you’re well covered no matter where you are on the mountain.

Restaurants

At the summit, the restaurant The Jewels serves meals with panoramic views, which sounds dreamy until you see the menu prices. Expect to pay around ¥2,500 for a main dish, so it’s more of a special occasion splurge than a casual lunch stop.

There’s also a takeout corner if you just want something warm to hold while you take in the view, and a souvenir shop if you need to bring something back for people at home.

Accessibility

One thing worth knowing before you go: there’s a fair amount of standing and waiting involved. You have to queue for the ropeway, then wait again to transfer to the mini cable car at the mid-station. For most visitors, this is a minor inconvenience, but if you or someone in your group has mobility challenges and cannot stand for up to thirty minutes straight, it’s worth factoring in.

However, the facility itself is fully barrier-free and wheelchair accessible all the way to the summit observation deck, which is genuinely great.

Weather & Visibility

If you want to have the best experience, aim for a clear day. We were treated to crisp blue skies with snow squalls on the distant mountains, and the views were absolutely surreal.

How Much Time to Budget for the Mt. Moiwa Ropeway

We spent around 1.5 hours visiting the Mt. Moiwa ropeway, with no waiting in lines, and no crowds. This experience might take you a lot longer if it is busy.

Was It Worth the Trip?

For us, yes. The Mt. Moiwa Ropeway was a great low-energy activity for our first day in Sapporo when we were very jetlagged. But I don’t think that I would like to wait in a 2-hour-long line to see the summit. Realistically, there is just not that much to do at the summit of Mt. Moiwa, and the summit restaurant was really expensive for Sapporo.

Ready To Plan Your Trip to Hokkaido?

If you’re visiting Sapporo, be sure to check out three of my absolute favorite specialty coffee shops in the city. And if you’re looking to explore the wilder side of Japan’s northern island, you can’t miss the Asahiyama Penguin Walk and the stunning Shirahige Waterfall. Lastly, check out my 1-Day Sapporo Itinerary to see how this ropeway fits into a day of sightseeing.

Lastly, I am working on a full winter wonderland of Hokkaido guides on the best things to do, so subscribe to my newsletter, or keep checking back for more in Hokkaido. I am so excited to share all of these adventures with you!