Mount Hiei Cable Car & Ropeway Tickets
Ride the cable car and ropeway up Mount Hiei, the forested peak overlooking Kyoto that's home to the UNESCO-listed Enryaku-ji Temple.
- Ride both the cable car and ropeway up Mount Hiei's forested slopes
- Reach Enryaku-ji Temple, headquarters of the Tendai Buddhist sect since ancient times
- Explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed in 1994
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Passengers
Mount Hiei One-way Ropeway
Choose your date
September 2026
Change the date or party above
What's included
- One-way journey on the Mount Hiei Ropeway
About this ticket
This ticket provides a single journey on the Mount Hiei Ropeway. You can use it for either the ascent or descent, covering the upper part of the route.
What's not included
- Cable car journey
- Mountain tram journey
- Admission to Enryaku-ji Temple
Practical info
This ticket is booked for a specific date and can be used at any time on that day. It is valid for adults and children.
How to redeem
You will receive an e-ticket by email. On arrival, open the e-ticket link on your phone, tap "Use", and show the screen to staff. An internet connection is required to open the ticket; screenshots or printouts are not accepted.
Important notes
- This ticket is non-refundable once booked.
- Service may be suspended due to bad weather; check the official website before you travel.
A one-way ticket for the ropeway section of the journey up or down Mount Hiei.
Choose your date
September 2026
Change the date or party above
Mount Hiei One-way Cable Car
A one-way ticket for the cable car section of the journey up or down Mount Hiei.
One-way journey on the Mount Hiei Cable Car
Non-refundable
From
£3.05
per person
What's included
- One-way journey on the Mount Hiei Cable Car
About this ticket
This ticket provides a single journey on the Mount Hiei Cable Car. You can use it for either the ascent or descent, covering the lower part of the route.
What's not included
- Ropeway journey
- Mountain tram journey
- Admission to Enryaku-ji Temple
Practical info
Book this ticket for a specific date and use it at any time on that day. It is valid for adults and children.
How to redeem
An e-ticket will be sent to your email. At the venue, you must open the e-ticket link on your phone, tap "Use", and present the screen to staff. You will need an internet connection; screenshots and printouts are not accepted.
Important notes
- This ticket is non-refundable once booked.
- Operations may be suspended in bad weather, so check the official website before your visit.
A one-way ticket for the cable car section of the journey up or down Mount Hiei.
Mountain Train + Round-trip Cable Car Ticket
This ticket combines a round-trip cable car ride with a journey on the mountain train.
Round-trip journey on the Mount Hiei Cable Car · Mountain train journey
Non-refundable
From
£9.70
per person
What's included
- Round-trip journey on the Mount Hiei Cable Car
- Mountain train journey
About this ticket
Your ticket covers a return journey on the Mount Hiei Cable Car and a trip on the mountain train. This combination ticket covers two of the main transport sections on the mountain.
What's not included
- Ropeway journey
- Admission to Enryaku-ji Temple
Practical info
Book your ticket for a specific date and use it any time during opening hours on that day. Adult and child tickets are available.
How to redeem
You'll receive an e-ticket by email. When you arrive, open the link on your phone, tap "Use", and show the screen to the staff. You must have an internet connection to activate your ticket; screenshots or printed copies are not accepted.
Important notes
- This ticket is non-refundable once booked.
- Service can be suspended in poor weather. Please check the official website before travelling.
This ticket combines a round-trip cable car ride with a journey on the mountain train.
Mountain tram + mountain cable car round trip ticket
This ticket provides a round-trip journey on both the mountain tram and the cable car.
Round-trip journey on the mountain tram · Round-trip journey on the mountain cable car
Non-refundable
From
£10.35
per person
What's included
- Round-trip journey on the mountain tram
- Round-trip journey on the mountain cable car
About this ticket
Your ticket includes a return journey on the Mount Hiei Cable Car and the mountain tram. To use it, you must first exchange your voucher for physical tickets at Yase Station.
What's not included
- Ropeway journey
- Admission to Enryaku-ji Temple
Practical info
This ticket is booked for your selected date, but you must exchange your voucher for a physical ticket at Yase Station between 09:00 and 17:00. This ticket is for adults only. Note that service is suspended during winter.
How to redeem
You will receive a voucher with a QR code by email. On your chosen date, go to the ticket counter at Yase Station between 09:00 and 17:00 and present the QR code to redeem your physical tickets for travel.
Important notes
- This ticket is non-refundable once booked.
- Service is suspended during the winter season.
- Operations may be suspended due to bad weather; check the official website for service status before you travel.
This ticket provides a round-trip journey on both the mountain tram and the cable car.
About this experience
Mount Hiei has stood watch over Kyoto for centuries, revered as the sacred mountain that protects the city. This cable car and ropeway combination carries you up its forested slopes, swapping the streets below for mountain air and long views over the surrounding valleys. The mountain is best known as the site of Enryaku-ji, the main temple of Japan's Tendai Buddhist sect, added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1994 alongside Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine nearby.
The journey itself is part of the appeal. Choose between one-way tickets on the ropeway or cable car, or a round-trip combination covering both the mountain tram and cable car sections, and you'll cover ground that would otherwise mean a long hike through the forest. Along the way, the tree cover opens up to reveal views across the Kyoto basin, with the scenery shifting through the seasons — cherry blossoms in spring, deep red and gold foliage in autumn.
Once at the top, quiet forest paths lead toward the temple complex, where incense drifts through the grounds and the pace slows right down. It's a different side of Kyoto to the temples in the city center — higher up, cooler, and considerably quieter.
What to expect
After booking, you'll receive an e-ticket by email, which you open and activate on arrival by tapping "Use" and showing the screen to staff. From the base station, the cable car climbs through dense forest, gaining height steadily as the views over Kyoto open up behind you. Depending on the ticket chosen, you'll transfer to the ropeway or mountain tram to continue higher, with the full round-trip combination covering both legs of the journey.
At the top, forest trails lead toward Enryaku-ji Temple, where you can wander the grounds at your own pace among centuries-old halls and incense smoke. The atmosphere is calm and unhurried, a contrast to central Kyoto below. Allow a few hours in total if you plan to explore the temple complex properly, factoring in time for the cable car and ropeway journeys both up and down the mountain.
Things to note
- Operations may be suspended in poor weather, so check conditions before heading up
- Bring a light jacket even in warmer months, as temperatures drop noticeably higher up the mountain
- Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes for walking the forest paths around the temple grounds
- You'll need internet access on your phone to open and present your e-ticket
- Screenshots or printed copies of the ticket are not accepted, so keep your phone charged
- Check the official Keifuku website for any service updates before your visit
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