What to know
Mount Tsurumi (鶴見岳, Tsurumidake) is a 1375-meter peak towering over Beppu. The Beppu Ropeway carries visitors nearly 800 meters up the steep slopes to a small park near the summit. From multiple observation decks, you can enjoy panoramic views of Beppu, Oita City, Mount Yufu, and even the Kuju Mountains on clear days.
The summit park features a network of walking paths leading to various viewpoints. The actual summit of Mount Tsurumi is a 15-minute walk from the upper ropeway station. For more adventurous hikers, trails connect Mount Tsurumi to neighboring peaks. Alternatively, you can skip the ropeway and hike the entire mountain in about two hours from the lower station.
The scenery around Mount Tsurumi changes with the seasons. In early to mid April, over 2000 cherry trees bloom near the lower ropeway station, making it one of Beppu's most popular hanami spots. Rhododendrons color the slopes from mid May to early June.
Fall colors begin at the summit in early October and gradually descend over five to six weeks. In winter, from December to mid March, hoarfrost coats trees and bushes around the summit in a delicate crystalline ice layer.
The lower station of the Beppu Ropeway is on the main road connecting Beppu and Yufuin. Take bus number 36 from Beppu Station (about 20 minutes, 500 yen one way, 1-2 buses per hour).
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:00 to 17:00 (until 16:30 from mid November to mid March)
- Closed
- Infrequent irregular closures due to maintenance and strong winds
- Admission
- 1800 yen (~$11.52) (roundtrip), 1200 yen (~$7.68) (one way)
- English name
- Beppu Ropeway
- Original name
- Mount Tsurumi
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.