Beppu Tsurumi-Dake Cold Weather Competition

Celebrate winter with unique contests at the Beppu Ropeway.

What happens?

Got a competitive streak and a love of the bitter cold?

The Beppu Tsurumi-dake Cold Weather Competition features a variety of contests: racing, devouring shaved ice and somen noodles, and a shochu-tasting challenge that tests your palate.

Also expect an icicle-clinging contest where contestants grip a two-meter-long icicle and see who can hold on the longest — someone’s idea of fun. The record in 2025, by the way, was 2 minutes and 27 seconds!

Tickets 2026

Note: Registrations have closed.

The entry fee is ¥1,800 per person. This includes a round-trip ropeway ticket, insurance, and a special souvenir to commemorate your frosty adventure. Register online from 9 a.m. on January 4, 2026.

How to get there

From Oita Airport, take the Airport Express Bus to Beppu Station (approximately 40 minutes). From Beppu Station, you can catch a bus to Beppu Ropeway, which takes around 20 minutes.

For those driving, it’s a 5-minute trip from the Beppu Interchange on the Higashi Kyushu Expressway.