The Mt. Aso Ropeway (阿蘇山ロープウェイ, Asosan Rōpuwei) was a Japanese aerial lift line in Aso, Kumamoto, operated by Kyūshū Sankō Tourism (九州産交ツーリズム, Kyūshū Sankō Tsūrizumu).
| Mount Aso Ropeway | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Non-Operational |
| Character | Aerial tramway |
| Location | Mount Aso, Aso, Kumamoto, Japan |
| No. of stations | 2 |
| Open | 10 April 1958 |
| Operation | |
| Carrier capacity | 41 Passengers per cabin, 2 cabins |
| Trip duration | 4 min |
| Technical features | |
| Line length | 858 m (2,815 ft) |
| No. of cables | 2 track cables and 2 haulage ropes |
| Operating speed | 3.6 m/s |
| Vertical Interval | 108 m (354 ft) |
| Maximum Gradient | 17°47′ |
Overview
editIt was opened in 1958, and climbs Mount Aso. Its official website claims it was the first aerial lift in the world to be built on an active volcano.[1] It went up from the west side of the crater edge, each 15-20 min. It only ran during Volcanic Alert Level 1 (normal).
It often stopped operating due to higher Volcanic Alert Levels. The last operation time was in August 2014.
Aso Super Ring
editOn the first floor of the original rope station building, there was a 3D projector showing the Mount Aso scenes of 4 seasons, and the geographic history of craters.
Dismantling
editDuring the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, the cable station and ropes were damaged by volcanic ash and earthquakes. On 28 February 2018, the crater access restriction was lifted, but the ropeway stayed closed. A shuttle bus service runs from the original boarding area, Mount Aso terminal, to the crater's edge as a replacement.[2] On 12 October 2018, it was announced that the station and ropes would be dismantled, with a target to finish by spring 2019.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Mt. Aso Ropeway, Kumamoto, Japan".
- ^ "料金・営業案内｜阿蘇山火口シャトル". www.kyusanko.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-15.
- ^ "「阿蘇山ロープウェー」駅舎や支柱、解体撤去へ 熊本地震で損壊". www.risktaisaku.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-15.
32°52′48.9″N 131°4′46.8″E / 32.880250°N 131.079667°E
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