Mt. Moiwa Ropeway

This camera watches the ropeway that climbs Mt. Moiwa, the 531-metre peak on Sapporo's southwestern edge. The ride runs from the base station up to a midway point, where a small cable car called Morris carries passengers the rest of the way to the summit.

The mountain is best known for the view from the top, rated among Japan's three great new night views. But the ride itself is worth watching: the city opens out progressively as the cabin climbs, and in winter the forest below is completely white.

Watching the ropeway before you go tells you what the summit will be like. If cloud is sitting on the mountain the cabins disappear into it partway up, which is a reliable sign the view from the observation deck will be nothing at all.