Mt. Yashima Ropeway – Takamatsu, Japan - Atlas Obscura

Mt. Yashima Ropeway

Takamatsu, Japan

Nestled amid the trees lies an abandoned funicular railway that dates back to the 1920s. 


Along the slopes of Mt. Yashima lies a treasured relic of the past. The now-abandoned Yashima funicular railway is one of the oldest ropeways in Japan. Constructed during the late 1920s, the cable car offered a relaxing way to reach the summit of Mt. Yashima and was a popular attraction. 

During the 1940s however, Japan was deep in the midst of World War II. The cable car suspended activities, along with other attractions across the country. The fate of the ropeway was uncertain, as the metal from several similar cars and structures were repurposed into aircraft and munitions. 

But as luck would have it, the cable car survived the war and began operating once again in the 1950s. It continued operations until the early 2000s when it was forced to close for good. 

Today, the cable car stands much as it did during its illustrious past, however now shrouded amid the overgrowth of vegetation at the base of the mountain. While the carriage has experienced some damage, it’s still in good condition.  

Know Before You Go

It's possible to walk up the steep railway tracks to the summit. Awaiting at the top is the upper terminal and a second cable car. 

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