Tanigawadake Joch by Hoshino Resorts (谷川岳ヨッホ by 星野リゾート), a year-round spot in Gunma Prefecture where visitors can enjoy the mountain beyond climbing it, will hold the "Snow-Dancing Gondola Cruise Afternoon Tea" (雪舞うゴンドラクルーズアフタヌーンティー) from December 6, 2026 to April 2, 2027. In this private-space plan, guests stay on the ropeway for one and a half laps (about 45 minutes) while enjoying an aerial walk over snowy scenery and finger food.
This year, traditional Swiss sweets made by Patisserie Lien (パティスリーリアン), a well-known shop in Gunma, appear for the first time. A newly available rental of vests and headdresses inspired by traditional Swiss costume also lets guests take photos in the gondola.
Snowy Mountain Views, Even Without Winter Sports
Minakami Town in Gunma Prefecture, where Tanigawadake Joch is located, is known as one of the heaviest snowfall areas in the Kanto region. In winter the area is busy with ski resorts, but the "Snow-Dancing Gondola Cruise" was created with the idea that people who do not do winter sports should also be able to enjoy the overwhelming beauty of the snowy mountains without stress.
The ropeway used for this plan is a "Funitel" (フニテル) type, one of only three in Japan. It is resistant to shaking and highly stable, and its spacious cabins hold 22 people. Making full use of this infrastructure, a large gondola that normally carries 22 people is reserved for a single group of up to 4, offering an aerial tour through the silver-white scenery.
Feature 1: A Mountain-Hut-Style Private Space Scented With Golden Eagle Wood
The interior of the dedicated gondola is designed to evoke a hut in the European Alps. The tables and chairs use "Inuwashi wood" (イヌワシ木材, golden eagle wood), thinned timber that comes from a nature restoration project in Minakami Town, which was registered as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2017. The project, the Akaya Project (赤谷プロジェクト), secures hunting grounds for the endangered golden eagle.
In the spacious cabin, the warmth of the wood greets guests as soon as the door opens. Together with the dynamic snowy view of the Tanigawa mountain range outside the windows, the space is comfortable enough that guests may want to linger. Each group has the completely private space for one and a half laps (about 45 minutes) to take in the panoramic view of the glittering white landscape.
Feature 2: Swiss Traditional Sweets From a Gunma Patisserie and an Original Stand
The finger food that accompanies the aerial walk through the snowy scenery draws on Swiss elements. For the first time, the menu includes popular items from Patisserie Lien (パティスリーリアン), a patisserie in Gunma: the Swiss traditional sweet "Engadiner" (エンガディナー) and cookies. These are paired with savory items such as cheese and quiche that suit the 45-minute ride.
An original afternoon tea stand modeled on the ridgeline of the Tanigawa mountain range is set up inside the gondola, so the set can be enjoyed for its looks as well as its taste.
Feature 3: New Rental Costumes Inspired by Swiss Traditional Dress
To help guests immerse themselves in the world of the gondola cruise afternoon tea, rental costume items inspired by traditional Swiss dress are newly available. Wearing a vest with charming embroidery and a headdress makes the gondola feel like a mountain hut in the Alps. With the snowy view outside as a backdrop, guests can take a one-of-a-kind photo.
"Snow-Dancing Gondola Cruise Afternoon Tea" Overview
- Period: December 6, 2026 to April 2, 2027
- Hours: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM (last boarding at 2:15 PM). Each ride takes about 45 minutes.
- Fee: ¥7,000 per person (tax and service charge included)
- Included: Ropeway fare (for two round trips), afternoon tea set (finger food), and black tea (other drinks cost extra)
- Capacity: Up to 4 people per group
- Reservations: Accepted on the official website until 11:00 AM the day before the date of use (if seats are available, until before the start of the ride on the day). Reservations open on Friday, November 6, 2026 at 1:00 PM.
- Note: Contents may be partially changed, or the plan may be cancelled, depending on the weather and operating conditions. Dishes and the origin of ingredients may partially change depending on supply conditions.
About Tanigawadake Joch by Hoshino Resorts
"Joch" is a German word meaning "saddle" (鞍部). Located on the slopes of Mt. Tanigawadake, one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan, it is a "360-degree sky park" where visitors can experience new sides of the mountain beyond climbing to the summit. Two hours from the Tokyo metropolitan area, a ride on the ropeway and lift leads to a different world at 1,500 meters above sea level, with seasonal views, signature mountain dishes, and activities that make it easy to enjoy nature.
- Address: Yubiso Yubukiyama National Forest, Minakami, Tone District, Gunma Prefecture 379-1728
- Phone: 0278-72-3575
- Access: About 40 minutes by bus from Jomo-Kogen Station on the JR Joetsu Shinkansen, or 20 minutes by car from Minakami IC on the Kan-etsu Expressway
- Website: https://tanigawadake-joch.com/
