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Last updated on May 16th, 2026

Check out the stunning aerial views from the summit of Mount Tsurumi, which stands at 792 meters above sea level. You can reach the mountaintop by taking the Beppu ropeway.

As you plan your Beppu itinerary, you may want to visit the Beppu Ropeway and take a ride up to the Mount Tsurumi, an active volcano that is the source of Beppu’s hot springs. The view from Mount Tsurumi is considered one of the most unique in the area, as you can see stunning views of Beppu and Oita. Visitors can reach the top using a ropeway cable car or by hiking up to the observation platform. The observatory at the hilltop offers majestic views of the city.

During our visit to Kyushu, we took the Beppu Ropeway ride to Mount Tsurumi. Read on for more details.

How To Get To Beppu Ropeway

Since we wanted to visit the Ropeway and Hell of Beppu using the bus, we found getting a Kamenoi Bus Pass to be more practical and economical. We purchased the Kamenoi Bus 1-Day Mini Pass for about ¥1,100 at Beppu station, which allows us to travel anywhere in Beppu central including to Beppu Ropeway.

The Kamenoi Bus Pass can be bought at Beppu Station. You can also obtain the Beppu Kamenoi Bus Pass through Klook and exchange it for a physical ticket at Fukuoka Airport.

Pro Tips: If you plan to travel further to Yufuin, you’ll need the Wide Free Pass, which covers the bus ride between Beppu and Yufuin. Additionally, the Kyushu SunQ Pass covers the bus ride to Mount Tsurumi.

Travel Tips: We recommended to stay nearby Beppu Station for easy getting around and food hunting. The Beppu Kamenoi Hotel is located within 5 minutes walk from the station. It has a high reputation by offering great size rooms with a spacious layout. Popular pick in Beppu.

To get to Ropeway station from Beppu Station, take Kamenoi bus number 36. Buses depart from Beppu Station every hour, with 1 to 2 buses available. The bus ride from Beppu Station to Ropeway station is a scenic 30-minute journey through the countryside, offering beautiful greenery and rolling hills along the way.

Beppu Ropeway

Finally, we reached Beppu Kogen Station, the lower station to board the Beppu ropeway. You can purchase the Beppu Ropeway ticket on-site for ¥1,800 per adult.

Please note that they only accept cash.

After purchasing the ticket, we boarded the cable car.

The gondola has an adorable and classic design. It comes with glass window panels providing a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains, forests, the city of Beppu, and Beppu Bay.

During the ride up Mt. Tsurumi, the gondola is operated by one staff member and announcements explain the attractions along the way. There are seats on each side and at the front of the gondola. For those standing, there are metal railings surrounding the gondola, as well as grab handles in the center.

The cable car is 1.8 kilometers long and climbs about 800 meters to the top of the mountain. The ride takes about 10 minutes.

During our Beppu ropeway ride, the weather was sunny and clear, providing a crystal-clear view of the scenic surroundings. Finally, we reached the top at Tsurumi Sanjo Station, standing at 1300 meters high on Mt. Tsurumi.

Mount Tsurumi

Mount Tsurumi (鶴見岳, Tsurumidake) is a 1375-meter-high mountain that overlooks Beppu.

When we got out of Tsurumi Sanjo Station, we were greeted with a picturesque and stunning view of Beppu, Mount Yufu, and the Kuju Mountains. CNN named the ropeway one of Japan’s 36 most stunning locations.

At Mount Tsurumi, you can explore the paved paths and ascend to the mountain’s summit. There is a red Torii gate leading to the Tsurumi Sanjo Gongen shrine on a beautifully laid cobbled pathway. It was charming and tranquil to experience this here.

There are plenty of amenities at the top, including the Sanjo store, Sanjo Gongen Wakudo Ishi, Seven Lucky Gods, and an upper deck Observatory.

Getting to Mount Tsurumi Upper Deck Observatory — Follow the path to Mount Tsurumi Upper Deck Observatory

Following the cobbled pathway, we slowly walked to the Mount Tsurumi Upper Deck Observatory.

View from Mount Tsurumi Upper Deck Observatory

There is a platform that provides a magnificent view of the scenic and panoramic landscapes of Beppu.

Although the view wasn’t as fabulous, the view from the summit is beautiful and makes for a terrific photo opportunity. In total, we spent about an hour and a half at the top.

Beppu Ropeway
Suggested Length of Visit: Around 3-4 hrs (including the traveling time from Beppu Station)
Fare: ¥1,800 roundtrip on the Beppu Ropeway

Lastly, we took the ropeway back to the Beppu Kogen Station, then we took the bus back to Beppu Station. Alternatively, you can extend your trip and continue to Yufuin.

Overall: A Beppu Ropeway Ride

All in all, for stunning views of Beppu, we highly recommend visiting the summit of Mount Tsurumi. The Beppu ropeway takes visitors to the observation platform, offering majestic views of the city. If you have time in your Beppu itinerary, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Related Beppu travel stories:

Lastly, this Beppu ropeway guide is part of my Kyushu travel blog. If you need some inspiration to plan for your trip, check out our trip to some other attractions nearby such as Kurokawa Onsen, Yufuin, Kokonoe, and more. Happy travel to Beppu.

How To Plan Your Kyushu Itinerary: Ultimate Guide

Northern Kyushu (Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Kurokawa Onsen, Beppu, Yufuin, Kitakyushu, and more):

Southern Kyushu (Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Takachiho Gorge):

Last updated on May 16th, 2026

Katsukura, a Kyoto-based restaurant, specializes in tonkatsu (pork cutlets) and prides itself on high-quality ingredients. The restaurant is incredibly popular in Kyoto and throughout Japan.

Katsukura (かつくら) is a tonkatsu restaurant based in Kyoto that is popular among locals and tourists. The restaurant takes pride in serving healthy and high-quality tonkatsu, which is a breaded and deep-fried pork cutlet. Katsukura has several branches in Kyoto and throughout Japan.

I have eaten tonkatsu many times and would like to try Katsukura during one of my visits to Kyoto. This place was a perfect find. If you’re looking for a delicious dinner after a long day of sightseeing, I highly recommend going to Katsukura for a satisfying tonkatsu meal. Here is my food review to Katsukura in Kyoto Station.

Our Food Visit to Katsukura Kyoto

During this trip, we stayed at Hotel Keihan Grande Kyoto, which is conveniently located within 3 minutes from Kyoto Station. There are plenty of dining options to choose from. We decided to try out Katsukura in Kyoto Station due to its many positive reviews.

Katsukura can be found on the 11th floor of the Kyoto Station Building in the Cube. We stopped by for an early dinner. Despite it being early, the restaurant was popular among both locals and tourists. No reservation is accepted and we had to wait for about 40 minutes. However, the wait was definitely worth it.

The interior of Katsukura was bright and welcoming. Diners can choose to sit at the beautiful large wooden communal table for solo or small parties, or opt for traditional tables for family dinners.

What To Order at Katsukura

While waiting in line, we were provided with a menu to choose our food from. The menu was in English and also included instructions on how to eat the dishes.

Katsukura offers set menus with different courses as well as a la carte options. Meat portions come in three sizes of 80g, 120g (optimum), 180g. Even if you’re not a fan of pork, there are other non-pork options available here, such as crab cream croquettes, fried shrimp, and even seasonal special set.

I opted for the popular pork tenderloin with prawn cutlet and my friend choose the pork cutlet set menu. The set meal includes the main meal, and free refill of rice, cabbage salad, and miso soup. The time from ordering to delivery was about 12 minutes after we seated.

Tonkatsu Cutlet Souces

Special mention must be made of the tonkatsu sauce here. There were two dipping sauces for the cutlets: Katsukura Original Sauce and Spicy Sauce. All the sauces are made in-house with an original blend of red wine and fruit chutney. Make sure you try all the sauces!

Katsukura Tonkatsu - Grind the sesame seeds

What’s also unique here is that you can blend your dipping sauce at the table.

Here’s what to do if you’re eating tonkatsu for the first time:

Firstly, grind the sesame seeds and add the sauce of your choice. As you grind the seeds, they will release their oils and aromas, which is intoxicating. My vote goes for the Katsukura original sauce. Then, stir in your sauce(s) of choice and adjust the dipping sauce to your liking. You can even add some mustard if you wish!

Additionally, there is a Yuzu Salad Dressing for the cabbage salad. We enjoyed the way the cabbage salad was enhanced by the strong yuzu flavor. The tantalizing and aromatic yuzu perfectly complements the richness of the meal.

Katsukura Kyoto: The Food

Katsukura - Pork tenderloin with prawn cutlet Set — Pork tenderloin with prawn cutlet Set

Take a look at our tempting pork cutlet set!

For set menu, you’ll also got the free flow of rice, soup, and cabbage salad. While the barley rice was simple, I enjoyed how hearty the miso soup was, especially on a cold night. The soup included an assortment of vegetables, such as sliced carrots, mushrooms, onions, lotus root, bamboo shoots, and seaweed. It was flavorful, light, and delicious, which complemented the rich tonkatsu.

The flavor of the pickled vegetables was interesting, with a sweet, salty, and citrusy taste. Some of the cabbage were soft, while some pieces were crunchy.

Next, for the main star of the Katsukura. The pork was thick and meaty. The portion size was quite generous for the amount that we ordered (you can choose your portion).

The deep-fried cutlet was perfect with the meat still moist. It wasn’t as dry as I was expecting and it tasted great. I highly recommend going for the highest quality pork – you won’t regret it. I am happy with the tonkatsu given the price paid.

Overall: Katsukura Food Review

All in all, we highly recommend Katsukura in Kyoto. The food may not be traditional Kyoto cuisine, but it is truly delicious and simply incredible. Considering the quality of the ingredients, the prices are also reasonable. If you’re ever near Kyoto Station, why not stop by and try Katsukura? Just be prepared to wait in line.

Related Kyoto Food Blog:

Lastly, if you’re heading to Kyoto, feel free to also check out my Kyoto travel stories:

Beppu Ropeway: Ride Up to Mount Tsurumi