The convenience and accessibility of Mount Moiwa makes it feel like no more hassle than a trip to the mall. That can’t be said about most mountain peaks! But going up Mount Moiwa doesn’t even require one to leave Sapporo. The trip up to the summit is two quick rides – barely even ten minutes total from the base to the top, and you get some beautiful views in transit.
Sample Itinerary
| Time | Expenses | Agenda |
| 9:00am | ¥360 | Depart Sapporo Station (Namboku Line) for Ōdōri Station, then take the Sapporo Shiden (Streetcar – Local Counter-Clockwise) to the closest stop to the Ropeway Entrance Station – Hokkaido (ロープウェイ入口駅（北海道）). |
| 9:40am | Free! | Take the Mount Moiwa Ropeway Shuttle Bus to the Ropeway. |
| 9:45am | ¥2,100 (¥1,050 for children) | Arrive at the Ropeway entrance and purchase your ticket. |
| 9:55am | (Included in ticket) | Take the Ropeway to the mid-point, then transfer to the Mo-risu mini cable car to reach the summit. |
| Take in the view, ring the Bell of Happiness, and enjoy the cold! | ||
| 10:30am | (Depends on how much shopping and eating you want to do!) | Optional: peek through the coin-operated binoculars, use the photobooth, and buy souvenirs and snacks. |
| 11:00am | (Included in ticket) | Take the Mo-risu Car and Ropeway back down to the base. |
| 11:10am | Free! | Take the Mount Moiwa Shuttle Bus back to the streetcar station. |
| 11:15am | ¥360 | Take the streetcar back to Ōdōri Station, take the Namboku line back to Sapporo Station. |
| 11:50am | Arrive at Sapporo Station. | |
| ~3 hours | ¥2,820 + souvenirs and snacks |
NOTE: Prices may change; conversion rates will certainly change. As of writing, JPY2,820 is approximately PHP1,141.
Before you go
The Ropeway will sometimes close for inspections and maintenance, or due to dangerous weather conditions. It is also closed on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Before heading out there, be sure to check their official website to see whether they are open. The website also shows a live update on weather conditions and what time the sun is expected to set.
If you want a live visual of the weather on top of Mount Moiwa, you can visit their 24-hour summit camera feed on YouTube.
Hiking
Mount Moiwa offers a few different options for hikers, with straightforward, beginner-friendly trails as well as more challenging (but also more scenic) trails. The time it takes to complete the paths ranges from around an hour to two hours one way, depending on your pace.
There is no fee for hiking. Some hikers opt to hike up then take the Ropeway down, or ride up then hike down to be close to nature without putting too much strain on the legs and lungs. If you only take the Ropeway and cable car one way, you can get a single-leg ticket. However, there’s no discount – the price is still JPY2,100.
Souvenirs
The souvenir shop at the summit station is well-stocked with food, drink mixes, apparel, and cute little trinkets. Most of their products are in the JPY400-1,000 range; clothing items are priced higher, in the JPY2,500-7,000 range.
We picked up two coasters, a handful of stickers, a refrigerator magnet, and some packs of pourover coffee. (Coffee not photographed because it’s gone.)
Finding yourself in Sapporo?
There’s a wealth of food options waiting for you when you come back down the mountain. Read more on the Hokkaido region food blog.
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