Mt. Shosha Ropeway

The Shoshazan Ropeway is a ropeway in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, connecting the foot of Mount Shosha to the area near Engyo-ji Temple on the mountain (elevation 371 meters). The line is about 780 meters long with an elevation difference of about 210 meters, and it takes roughly four minutes from base to summit—an enjoyable short aerial ride with pleasant light and breezes. Access is by taking a Shinki Bus from JR Sanyo Main Line Himeji Station (Route 8 bound for Shoshazan Ropeway), with a travel time of about 28 minutes. You can enjoy Mount Shosha’s seasonal beauty throughout the year: vivid Kobano-mitsuba-tsutsuji azaleas in spring, fresh greenery in early summer, colorful autumn leaves, and a lightly powdered winter snowscape. The mountaintop Engyo-ji is a Tendai Buddhist temple and the 27th temple of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. Its status is so high that it has been called the “Mount Hiei of the West,” and in medieval times it was said to be one of the three major Tendai training centers alongside Mount Hiei and Mount Daisen. It is also famous as a filming location for the Hollywood movie “The Last Samurai,” starring Tom Cruise.