Beppu Ropeway: The Fog-Cloaked Cherry Blossoms Were Beyond My Wildest Dreams!

Next, Elmo and I headed to “Beppu Ropeway” in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. This famous tourist spot features one of the largest gondolas in Kyushu—carrying up to 101 passengers—and whisks you up to the 1,300-meter summit of Mount Tsurumi.

…However, our timing wasn’t exactly perfect.

As we approached Beppu, the sky turned increasingly ominous. Clouds thickened rapidly, and the mountains were swallowed in a wall of white. Raindrops began to splatter against the windshield, growing larger by the minute. As I drove, I started to worry: “This might be too much to keep Elmo outside for very long.”

Elmo, on the other hand, was leaning out from the back seat with sparkling eyes, as if to say, “Hey, hey! Where are we going next?”

Since we had come all the way to Beppu, and the blossoms were supposed to be in their prime, I made a decision: “Let’s just go as far as we can.” With that, I steered the car toward the mountains.

What is Beppu Ropeway? A Prime Blossom-Viewing Spot Right from the Base

Beppu Ropeway is located in the mountains of Beppu City. It connects Beppu Kogen Station (elevation 500m) to Tsurumi Sanjo Station (elevation 1,300m) in about 10 minutes.

The gondola is one of Kyushu’s largest, and the views from the top are truly dynamic—on a clear day, you can see the entire city of Beppu, Beppu Bay, and even as far as Shikoku. The beauty of the ropeway lies in its dramatic seasonal changes: cherry blossoms in spring, Kyushu azaleas in early summer, vibrant foliage in autumn, and silver rime ice in winter. Looking at the brochures and website, you’ll see phrases like “Grand Panorama” and “Seasonal Colors.” It’s the kind of place where the ride itself is the destination.

In spring, the blossoms at the base—in the Tsurumidake Natural Park “Shiki-no-Sato”—are breathtaking. Approximately 2,000 cherry trees blanket the slopes, and from the gondola, it looks as though you are gliding over a pink carpet.

During my visit, the rain and fog prevented me from seeing that “pink carpet view,” but in its place, I was treated to a landscape that was incredibly dramatic.

Fog, Blossoms, and the Ropeway: A “Cinematic” View Born of a Rainy Day

By the time we reached the Beppu Ropeway parking lot, the rain was in “serious mode.” The moment I turned off the wipers, the windshield was covered in water. I decided that a long walk for Elmo was out of the question. I let him out for a quick stretch and a bathroom break near the parking lot, then had him wait comfortably in the car.

Near the station building, the cherry blossoms were blooming beautifully, with the gondola slowly passing behind them. As I followed the gondola with my eyes, it reached a certain point and suddenly vanished, as if being sucked into the thick fog.

The pink of the blossoms.

The damp, deep green of the mountainside.

The wall of pure white fog beyond.

And the ropeway being swallowed into that boundary… it looked exactly like a scene from a movie.

I found myself whispering under my breath, “Wow, this is incredible. It’s so beautiful.”

Small clusters of cherry blossoms dotted the distant slopes, appearing three-dimensional as they emerged through the veil of fog. Photos tend to flatten the image, but seeing it with your own eyes, the sense of depth was overwhelming.

Honestly, at that point, I went into full “photographer mode.” Even as the rain soaked both me and my camera, I couldn’t stop clicking the shutter. My hands were freezing and my clothes were damp, but a switch had flipped in my head: “I have to capture this; this view only exists right now!”

I truly realized then just how beautiful the blossoms at Beppu Ropeway are.

More Than Just a Summit View

Our visit to Beppu Ropeway was a bit of a spontaneous detour after Nagayu Onsen. To be honest, before arriving, I only had a vague image of it being “a ropeway with a great view from the summit.”

But after experiencing it, my takeaway was this:

“The cherry blossoms and fog at the base of Beppu Ropeway are a main attraction in their own right.”

Thanks to the rain and fog, the combination of the blossoms and the ropeway exceeded my expectations in the best possible way. The moment the gondola disappeared into the mist and the colors of the blossoms floating on the mountainside are memories that are now permanently etched into my mind.

From a dog owner’s perspective:

• Pets are not allowed on the ropeway (only service dogs), so keep that in mind if you plan to go to the summit.
• However, the parking area is spacious, and during blossom season, the base alone offers a wonderful walk.
• Rainy or foggy days have a high potential to become “mystical photo spots” for your walk.

It’s not a place to skip just because you can’t take your dog on the ride; it’s a spot where you can find a way to enjoy it specifically because you are with your dog.

I’m already planning my “revenge” trip for a sunny day! I’m imagining a full loop around the parking lot for blossom-viewing with Elmo, followed by taking turns to enjoy the view from the summit. As I look through the photos in my “mental folder”—and my very wet camera—I feel like I came away with something truly special.

If you’re planning a dog-friendly drive through Oita, I highly recommend adding Beppu Ropeway to your route as a “Summit View + Base Camp Blossom Walk” combo. You won’t be disappointed.