The ropeway is actually a large cable car, so my fears of folks hanging onto a rope as it pulls them up a ski slope was luckily not realized. It was well organized at the ticket booth and they had the maze set up so everyone had to walk the maze. We used the restrooms and since the indicator signs were new, I took pictures of them. This was of great interest to the folks that had just used the facilities before us. We had to use translator to explain what I was doing and even then they still looked at me a bit oddly. We rode up the cable car and took pictures along the way. It was big and could hold 15 people so it was stable and not a swaying white knuckle experience. Up on top, the sun was intense but there was a nearly constant breeze blowing keeping us cool. We rang the bell of the Lovers Sanctuary, we are feeling the bliss already! On the way back we stopped and went into the photo booth. I don't know that we had much in the way of expectations but we came out of the booth different people entirely! Truly a life changing and unique experience. At the base of the ropeway was a great authentic Japanese lunch.
Old timey kids crossing
I have a bone to pick with you
The /Most portable porta-potty I have ever seen
The mascot is Mo-rishu or Morris. He is a Siberian flying squirrel as is his wife Mo-rishu Mama
Examples of the cables used on the construction
A cemetery seen on the way up
Still more mountain to climb
A temple in the woods
Gaining altitude quickly
Another car heading down
Lots of Sapporo down there
Our second set of cable cars
We have reached the top
Love locks can be purchased onsite
There was a warning that the locks are removed on a regular basis
Sapporo is really large
We are cool as cucumbers on this hot day
A temple next door
Another one down hill
Hokkaido is a mountainous region
The tallest peak is 1488 meters tall, 4880 feet tall
A list of the heights of the surrounding peaks
A hiker heading back down
We are up 1400 feet
The industrial plant we drove by yesterday
Ir is down there if you look close enough
More hikers! I went down a trail a short distance to see the conditions for myself
The Satellite of Lovers Sanctuary
We took screen shots of the webcam
Two sticks passing in the night
Scallop flavored pringles
Toot pants
So many snacks, squid, octopus, salmon, trout, scallops and sardines. The drink to pair with is shown on the top right. REd and white wine, sake and highballs are examples of the drink pairings
Melon pocky sticks
The flying squirrel gets a free ride
On the trail are mini shrines
It is rugged
With only snails to keep you company
Wildflowers line the road
A Meadow Bunting is singing its heart out, a new bird for me
Caterpillars
The mascot is everywhere!
Heading back down
We entered the photobooth. They gave examples of poses and movements we should adopt. Maybe we should have done otherwise
The booth was not designed for tall people
My head got in the way each time
A thoughtful pose enhanced by the "beauty" filter. Perhaps too much digital botox on our foreheads
It even gave us extra eyeshadow
The second leg was just four folks
Ears a popping
It looks like something is hanging on the other wires
The big tower
And we are docked
Walking to liunch
Looks good
Old style building
The waitress is a buzz of movement
But she has style
Lots of weird stuff
17 hours of stewing the pork
Ring that bell
Civil patrol?
Flying squirrels
Great lunch!
Closing shop
Knife shop
A Morris of my own!
