Stunning Cityscape views, excellent value, and peaceful on weekday afternoons.
TL;DR – Yes, Kinkazan Observatory is 100% worth the ¥1,100 ropeway ticket.
- 3-minute ride → 360° Gifu views that beat most famous lookouts.
- Weekdays before 4 PM = golden light + empty deck.
- Weekends = night views until 8 PM.
- Castle & restaurant are optional — the panorama is the real star.
While I was traveling in Nagoya, I happened to see some beautiful images of an old Japanese Village on a poster with the words Gifu at the bottom. It was one of the most surreal places I have seen and I made it a mission to visit this place while I was here.
The problem? I didn’t know what the name of this village was. I thought Gifu was the village. Imagine my shock when I arrived in Gifu Station the next day seeing a really big city with tall modern buildings – no old buildings in sight.
I then headed for the highest point in Gifu City in an attempt to locate this surreal historic village. This lead me to the Kinkazan Observatory on Mount Kinka.
- How do I get there?
- Gifu Park
- Mount Kinka Ropeway Tickets & Cost
- Mount Kinka Ropeway – Breath Taking Views
- Kinkazan Observatory – Be Prepared for a Short Hike!
- Gifu Castle
- Resturant – Le Pont de Ciel
- Gifu Kinkazan Squirrel Village
- Some Tips
- Would I Recommend it?
- Can I walk up Mount Kinka? And how long does it take?
- FAQ – Kinkazan Observatory & Mount Kinka Ropeway
- TL;DR – Yes, Kinkazan Observatory is 100% worth the ¥1,100 ropeway ticket.
All photos on this page are mine, shot on an iPhone 11 pro.
Photos shot by Tessa Leong were shot with a Sony a7iv with Tamron 28-200mm lens.
How do I get there?
Reaching Gifu is really convenient. If you’re traveling from Nagoya Station (most probably you will be), its about a 25 minute train ride on the Tokaido Line at ¥480. There is also the Meitetsu Limited Express at ¥630. I didn’t take the Meitetsu Limited Express however as the Tokaido Line was more frequent and the traveling time was about the same.
Once you reach Gifu Station, you want to exit the shopping mall for the bus interchange, where you can take buses N41, N43, N73, N80 and N37. There’s a board with the live bus departure times, so you can just hang around somewhere and wait for the bus that is leaving next.
It’s about a 20 minute ride and it would take you straight to Gifu Park. I was unsure where to alight so I stopped one stop too early. It did however give me the opportunity to take some nice pictures from the foot of the mountain.
If you decide to drive there, you can park your car at Gifu Tsutsumigai Parking Lot. It’s free for the first hour and ¥310 per visit after that. You can’t drive up Mount Kinka to the observatory in case you were wondering.
Gifu Park
When you alight, you would be greeted by the peaceful Gifu Park. It is a nice place to take some photos from the foot of the mountain, and to plan where to go next once you have explored Mount Kinka. Besides the park, there is also a Japanese Pagoda. Gifu Park is free and opened 24 hours.
Mount Kinka Ropeway Tickets & Cost
Here is a quick rundown on the ticket prices. Prices unchanged since 2024, but check for holidays. You may check their website for more information. You may pay for the ropeway tickets using various payment methods. However, cash is only accepted at the attractions at the summit of Mount Kinka. (Squirrel Village, Observation Restaurant & Cafe etc.)
| Category | Round Trip Fare | One Way Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (age 12+, incl. junior high) | 1300 yen | 800 yen |
| Children (age 4 to 11) | 650 yen | 400 yen |
| Group Rate (over 30 persons) | ||
| Adults | 1170 yen | 720 yen |
| Junior high & high school students | 1000 yen | 600 yen |
| Children | 500 yen | 300 yen |
Tour Guides
There are volunteer tour guides (dressed in blue) on the weekends and public holidays. If you would like paid tour guides, please contact ORGAN at (058-269-3858).
Mount Kinka Ropeway – Breath Taking Views
Once you have purchased the tickets, you might want to get some food or drinks before you take the ropeway up. There are some vending machines near the ticketing areas, but do they take note that you are not allowed to consume them in the ropeway itself.
The ropeway leaves every 15 minutes and you make take the ropeway anytime (no set time for trip.) The ticket is only valid for one trip and for that day only. Also take note that they won’t re-issue the ticket if you lose it. So take good care of it!
Also there are coin lockers available before taking the ropeway up to the observatory. It’s ¥500 for large locker (35cm X 75cm X 40cm) and ¥300 for a small locker (35cm X 36cm X 40cm).
As we were taking the last ropeway up to Kinkazan Observatory, I was given a ‘private’ tour with the guide giving a commentary on the scenery that could be seen out of the ropeway. As I did not understand Japanese at the time, I was not able to understand the guide. But I appreciated their commitment even though there were only two of us in the ropeway, and we did not understand what the guide was saying.
The ropeway ride lasts about 4 minutes, giving you plenty of time to take in the Gifu cityscape. If the ropeway is packed, you might want to stand at the side facing the city, so you can take photos of the scenery while going up. It’s okay however if you are unable to do so as the best is yet to come.
Do take note of the Mount Kinka Ropeway Operating Hours:
| Direction | Days | First Train | Last Train | Frequency | Ride Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upbound (to mountain) | All days | 9:00 | – | Every 15 min | ~4 min |
| Last upbound | Weekdays | – | 16:30 | – | – |
| Last upbound | Sat, Sun & holidays | – | 20:00 | – | – |
| Last downbound | Weekdays | – | 17:00 | – | – |
| Last downbound | Sat, Sun & holidays | – | 20:30 | – | – |
Kinkazan Observatory – Be Prepared for a Short Hike!
Once you exit the ropeway, there is a short hike up 2 flights of stairs (15 steps each) to reach the Kinkazan Observatory. The stairs are quite steep and so you want to pace yourself or else you would run out of breath by the time you reach the top. But either way, the views that you would see at the top will literally take your breath away.
I don’t have many words to describe the view, so I will let the pictures here describe them for you. But if you love looking at cityscapes like I do, you will probably be there for quite awhile.
Drone photography is allowed (not on the ropeway though), however you would need to apply for permission from either:
– Gifu Forest Management Office (TEL: 058-263-0153)
– Gifu City Tourism and Convention Division (TEL: 058-265-4141)
Once you are done, it’s just a simple ropeway ride down again. The only thing left to do is to admire the pictures that you have taken. (And maybe make some of your friends jealous.)
Don’t forget your Omiyage (お土産)
There is also a Ropeway Souvenir shop where you can buyお土産 (Omiyage – Souvenirs) for your friends. The Japanese have the Omiyage Culture where they buy souvenirs for their friends, family members and colleagues after traveling or visiting a new place.
Gifu Castle
Unfortunately, I arrived too late and was not able to visit the Gifu Castle. That’s the problem with being spontaneous I guess. But if you intend to visit Gifu Castle, be prepared as it is a bit of a ‘hike’ of 250 stair steps (7-10 minutes) to reach Gifu Castle from the ropeway station.
Please take note that it is not accessible by wheelchair as there are no elevators or ramps. It’s a mountain path with many stairs.
| Gifu Castle | ||
|---|---|---|
| Days | Hours | Notes |
| Weekdays | 9:30 – 16:30 | Last entry 15 min before closing |
| Weekends & holidays | 9:30 – 20:00 | |
Collect your Castle Seals – Goshuin Atsume 御朱印集め
If you are familiar with the culture of collecting seals in Japanese Culture (Goshuin Atsume 御朱印集め), you may collect Gifu Castle’s “Castle Seal” from the base station souvenir shop. Show off to your friends who are in the know without mentioning whether you made the hike to Gifu Castle anot.
Resturant – Le Pont de Ciel
Yes the restaurant was also closed by the time I got there, even though I didn’t have any plans to eat there. But I believe the views from restaurant overlooking the city would be spectacular. Reservations are not needed. Check out their menu here.
| Observation Restaurant (Le Pont de Ciel) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Days | Facility Hours | Meal Service |
| Weekdays | 10:00 – 16:30 | 10:30 – 15:30 |
| Weekends & holidays | 10:00 – 16:45 / 17:00 – 20:00 | 11:00–16:00 & 17:00–19:00 |
Gifu Kinkazan Squirrel Village
Again, because I arrived late, the Gifu Kinkazan Squirrel Village was already closed and I was not able to see it. It looked quite small and while I’m sure it would have been interesting, it’s probably something you won’t be traveling too far to see. It seemed more like it was to keep the kids entertained while mom and dad hike up to the Kinkazan Observatory.
If you are keen to visit the Gifu Kinkazan Squirrel Village, it is included in the ticket price. They are open everyday from 9:30am – 4:30pm and have roofs so it stays open even in the rain. Children have to be over 4 years old to feed the squirrels. If not, their parents can do it on their behalf.
They don’t allow strollers in the zoo however as there is a risk of squirrels jumping into them or the stroller running over them. You may enter the Squirrel Village in a wheelchair, but you have to be careful of the squirrels jumping in and where you roll the wheelchair.
TLDR: Basically just be careful where you step as the squirrels are small and can be hard to see! Oh and also don’t feed them your own food.
| Gifu Kinkazan Squirrel Village | ||
|---|---|---|
| Days | Hours | Last Entry |
| All days | 9:30 – 16:30 | 16:15 |
Some Tips
1) Arrive Early! The last ropeway up the mountain leaves just before 4.30pm and the last one down leaves at around 5.00pm.
2) Be Prepared! It is a steep climb with a lot of stairs from the ropeway station to Kinkazan Observatory itself.
3) Stay Hydrated! There are vending machines at the ropeway base station, be sure to get drinks before heading up. You can’t eat or drink on the ropeway however.
4) Bring your inhalers if you are asthmatic. But it should be fine as long as you don’t rush up the stairs.
5) Toilets are available near the Kinkazan Observatory so not to worry.
6) You may bring your stroller or wheelchair, but you would have to carry your baby or child up to Kinkazan Observatory. It is recommended to leave the stroller at the base of the mountain.
7) If you are in a wheelchair, the staff will assist you up the stairs. (Please contact them beforehand.)
8) Consider visiting on the weekends for night views as it opens later than the weekdays.
9) I’m not sure about rainy views, but if you did visit on a rainy day let us know how it went!
Would I Recommend it?
I would absolutely recommend taking the Mount Kinka Ropeway to the Kinkazan Observatory for the beautiful views (as you can see from the photos). Even if you don’t make it to Gifu Castle or eat at the restaurant. If you want to do some night photography, or just simply want to see the night view, consider coming on a weekend as the closing time is later.
My Rating: 4.5 / 5
Stunning views, excellent value, and surprisingly peaceful on weekday afternoons.
There is however one more question that needs to be answered…
Can I walk up Mount Kinka? And how long does it take?
For the more adventurous, optimistic or slightly crazy ones among us, YES you may hike up to Mount Kinka. It takes about an hour to hike from the Ropeway Base Station to Gifu Castle. I have not done the hike myself but as always plan ahead and prepare before climbing as it is mostly made of bedrock. If you would like to take on this challenge, here is a Mount Kinka Climbing Guide (Nanamagari Mountain Trail) from Gifu City website.
FAQ – Kinkazan Observatory & Mount Kinka Ropeway
1) Can I drive up Mount Kinka?
I don’t believe that you can drive up Mount Kinka. Not to Kinkazan Observatory and Gifu Castle at least.
2) Can I bring a stroller up to Kinkazan Observatory?
I think it will be challenging to bring the stroller up to Kinkazan Observatory itself. As the steps are quite steep. It might be better to carry your baby up. It is recommended to leave the stroller at the base of the mountain.
3) Does the Mount Kinka Ropeway close?
Mount Kinka Ropeway is open everyday. However there are 1 to 2 non-operating days each year for inspections and maintenance. Check their website for closing notices.
4) Is the Mount Kinka Ropeway safe?
Yes it is safe and stable. However, the ropeway may be temporarily suspended when winds of 15 meters per second or more are constantly blowing or when there is a lightning warning.
5) Can I board Mount Kinka Ropeway with a Wheelchair?
Yes you may board the ropeway with a wheelchair. There is no elevator up to Kinkazan Observatory so the staff will assist you up the stairs. You may have to contact the staff if you plan to visit after 6:00pm as they might not be able to assist you depending on the situation.
6) Can I bring my pets on the ropeway?
Dogs up to medium sized are allowed to ride in the ropeway in a cage. The cage must be big enough for the dog to fit its entire body including it’s head. Mount Kinka Ropeway offers free cage rentals but it is recommended to bring your own as numbers are limited. You can’t however bring the cages up to the Kinkazan Observatory because of the stairs.
| Quantity | Width | Height | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 pieces | 35 cm | 50 cm | 55 cm |
| 3 pieces | 29 cm | 38 cm | 45 cm |
| 2 pieces | 23 cm | 28 cm | 40 cm |
| Total: 8 pieces | |||
7) Can I bring my pets to the Squirrel Village?
No pets are not allowed in the Squirrel Village.
8) Where can I park my car?
You may park your car at the Gifu Park Tsutsumigai Parking Lot. The first hour is free, and after which it would be ¥310. Large tour buses require reservations 3 months in advance.
Also if you are still wondering which village I saw in the photos (thank you for reading all the way), stay tuned for that…
Timothy Leong
Timothy is a Singapore-born, Japan-based digital marketer turned hidden-gem hunter. After ditching spreadsheets for Google Maps, he now lives full-time in Japan, chasing quiet towns, real ramen, and off-grid train routes. Every photo and tip on Nihon Travel Guide is 100% his — no AI, no fluff, no Tokyo Tower.
