Talk about timing - we were literally next in line for the Akechidaira Ropeway when the winds picked up and shut the whole operation down! From what we could see, this is THE spot to get those money shots of Kegon Falls and Lake Chuzenjiko. Just... maybe check the weather forecast before you go.

Fair warning: they really pack people into those gondolas - we're talking sardine-style efficiency here. But considering it's only a three-minute ride, and you get what's supposed to be the best view of one of Japan's most famous waterfalls, it seems worth getting cozy with strangers for a few minutes.

For anyone luckier with the weather than we were: this is apparently prime leaf-peeping territory during autumn. We'll just have to imagine how spectacular those views must be - or come back when the wind's a bit more cooperative!