There’s something special about watching the seasons begin to change in the mountains, and our visit to the Shinhotaka Ropeway gave us a wonderful glimpse of autumn arriving in the Japanese Alps.

We were a little early for the full autumn colors, but the first hints of reds, oranges and golden yellows were beginning to appear across the mountainsides. Against the backdrop of the towering peaks and endless forests, it was beautiful to see the landscape slowly transitioning into a new season.

One of the most impressive parts of the experience was just how high the double-decker ropeway climbs. Traveling over 3.1 kilometers, the two-stage journey takes you from 1,117 meters above sea level to 2,156 meters, gaining more than 1,000 meters in elevation in around 25 minutes. The changing perspective as you rise above the forest and into the heart of the Japanese Alps is quite something!

At the upper station, we took some time to enjoy the scenery and got creative with a multi-stamp art activity. Using a collection of different stamps, we hunted for each stamp to create our layered artwork – a fun and unexpected souvenir from the day (plus Brian LOVES stamps)!

But one of our favorite parts of the day was getting out on foot and enjoying a lovely hike further into the mountains. The trail wound through the forest, with early autumn colors beginning to peek through the greenery. And as an added bonus, everyone was so friendly, offering a cheerful “Konnichiwa!” as we passed. In our experience, people in Japan tend to be a little more reserved when it comes to greeting strangers, particularly in the cities, so these exchanges felt especially warm and welcoming.

Between the amazing Alpine views, the first signs of autumn, a creative activity and a beautiful forest hike, Shinhotaka Ropeway made for a wonderful day in the Japanese mountains.