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Joshin’etsukogen NP, Gunma
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When the ropeway opened in 1960, it transformed the summit approach: hikers who once needed about 6 hours from Doai Station could ride to Tenjindaira and reach the summit in roughly 2.5 hours on foot.
The signature Tanigawadake pan gratin is baked in a hollowed loaf, with about twice the usual sauce allowed to spill over. This European alpine-style dish’s rugged shape is a tasty nod to the mountain’s cliffs.
Although Tanigawa’s summit is only 1,977m, its ridges look like a much higher alpine world: the tree line lies around 1,600m, and Pacific- and Sea-of-Japan-side weather helps bring unusually heavy snow.
The cabins hang from 2 widely spaced cables—a Funitel design known for stability in mountain crosswinds. The current system began operating in 2005, making this 15-minute ride unusually smooth for a steep mountain route.
At Tenjindaira, local ecotourism volunteers divide and replant native Nikko kisuge lilies. They also dig up deep-rooted yabukanzo and other plants, as the spread of yabukanzo raised concern about declining lilies.
At the Tenjin Cafe near 1,500m, even the coffee has a local ingredient: the original Tanigawa Blend is brewed with water from Tanigawa itself, served at a viewpoint high above the valley.
Since Dec. 1, 2024, the ropeway area has been called Tanigawadake Joch. Joch is German for a saddle or dip between peaks—a fitting description of Tenjindaira’s hollow, mid-mountain setting.
At the annual summer-season opening, the nearby information center hosts pre-dawn safety prayers and local Mikuni-taiko drumming. The ropeway adds a special 5 a.m. service so climbers can start early.
By 1966, 455 climbers had died in Tanigawa accidents. Gunma responded with a mountain-safety ordinance requiring plans for its designated high-risk south-face zone—not for every visitor taking the ropeway.
