From Matsuyama Airport to the foot of Mt. Ishizuchi, Sanroku-Shimotani Station of the ropeway, with winter road rules
From Matsuyama Airport to Sanroku-Shimotani Station of the Ishizuchi Ropeway in Saijo. The official travel time is counted "from Matsuyama city", not from the airport. This article covers the rain-based closures on Prefectural Road 12 and the winter rules.
Summary
- The end point is Sanroku-Shimotani Station of the Ishizuchi Ropeway. You cannot drive to the summit of Mt. Ishizuchi.
- The official travel time is about 1 hour 30 minutes "from Matsuyama city (exit at Iyo-Komatsu IC)". It is not a time from the airport.
- Ehime Prefecture lists Prefectural Road 12 from Nakano-ohashi to Omiyabashi (20.7 km) as a section with advance closures by rainfall.
- The winter closure and night closure apply to the Ishizuchi Skyline. No winter closure was found for Prefectural Road 12 on the Saijo side.
- On snowy or icy roads, Ehime Prefecture's rules require chains, snow tires, or similar equipment.
This article is based on official sources and maps. A record of the operator actually driving this route will be added after the drive.
A driving video is in preparation. When it is published, it will appear here with chapters numbered the same as the points below.
Map and points
Point locations: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) ・ License
Matsuyama Airport Passenger Terminal (松山空港 旅客ターミナル)
StartThe starting point. Under "Saijo direction", Matsuyama Airport's official page lists the expressway route in this order, from Iyo-Saijo IC to the expressway, Matsuyama IC, the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road, and Matsuyama Airport.
Location 33.829008, 132.704103 · Source 空港までのアクセス|交通アクセス|松山空港
Prefectural Road 18, Matsuyama Airport Line (県道18号 松山空港線)
PassPrefectural Road 18 runs near the airport. Official guidance does not confirm which road to use from here to Matsuyama IC.
Location 33.833355, 132.710480 · Source OpenStreetMap(way/27808268)
Matsuyama Expressway, Matsuyama IC (松山自動車道 松山IC)
Merge / splitThe interchange where you enter the Matsuyama Expressway. This IC also appears in the expressway route for Saijo on Matsuyama Airport's official page.
Location 33.793636, 132.777405 · Source OpenStreetMap(node/1976376164)
Matsuyama Expressway, main line (Ikado-cho, Matsuyama) (松山自動車道 本線(松山市井門町))
PassThe main line of the Matsuyama Expressway east of Matsuyama IC. From here you drive east to Iyo-Komatsu IC.
Location 33.795606, 132.782954 · Source OpenStreetMap(way/474759357)
Iyo-Komatsu IC (いよ小松IC; the official spelling is 伊予小松IC)
Merge / splitThe Ishizuchi Ropeway Co., Ltd. and Saijo City say "exit at Iyo-Komatsu IC" (伊予小松IC). The map data spells it いよ小松IC.
Location 33.884374, 133.088335 · Source OpenStreetMap(node/722037458)
National Route 11 (Omachi, Saijo) (国道11号(西条市大町))
PassNational Route 11 in Omachi, Saijo. The sources do not confirm where you leave Iyo-Komatsu IC onto National Route 11, or at which intersection you enter National Route 194.
Location 33.908012, 133.191078 · Source OpenStreetMap(way/914802729)
National Route 194 (Saijo) (国道194号(西条市))
PassThe northernmost section of National Route 194 in Saijo found in the range of the map data that was checked.
Location 33.895113, 133.188914 · Source OpenStreetMap(way/162214074)
Nakano-ohashi Bridge (中野大橋)
PassEhime Prefecture writes the start of the advance-closure section of Prefectural Road 12 as "Nakano-hei, Saijo (Nakano-ohashi)". In the map data, a bridge with this name is recorded as a bridge on National Route 194.
Location 33.887090, 133.183062 · Source OpenStreetMap(way/162214088)
National Route 194 (near Unoyama-ko, Saijo) (国道194号(西条市兎之山甲付近))
PassThe section where National Route 194 comes closest to Prefectural Road 12 in the map data. The intersection where you turn onto Prefectural Road 12 has not been confirmed.
Location 33.874713, 133.174095 · Source OpenStreetMap(way/162214089)
Prefectural Road 12, Saijo-Kuma Line (Nakano-otsu, Saijo) (県道12号 西条久万線(西条市中野乙))
PassThe northern end of Prefectural Road 12, Saijo-Kuma Line. In Ehime Prefecture's guidance, Sanroku-Shimotani Station is just before the end of Prefectural Road 12.
Location 33.877868, 133.170627 · Source OpenStreetMap(way/35152974)
Prefectural Road 12 (Ohoki, Saijo) (県道12号(西条市大保木))
PassPrefectural Road 12 in Ohoki, Saijo. In the map data, this section is recorded as overlapping with Prefectural Road 142.
Location 33.846880, 133.145572 · Source OpenStreetMap(way/1316626217)
Prefectural Road 12 (Nakaoku, Saijo) (県道12号(西条市中奥))
PassA section in Nakaoku, Saijo, near Sanroku-Shimotani Station. The Ishizuchi Ropeway Co., Ltd. describes the parking as "paid parking along Prefectural Road 12, the access road".
Location 33.812708, 133.138648 · Source OpenStreetMap(way/199646571)
Parking north of Sanroku-Shimotani Station (location in map data) (山麓下谷駅の北の駐車場)
ParkingA parking lot recorded in the map data north of Sanroku-Shimotani Station. It has no recorded name, fee, or capacity, and it is not known whether it is Izumiya or Kyoya Ryokan, the two lots the company lists.
Location 33.804785, 133.148979 · Source OpenStreetMap(way/1065866374)
Sanroku-Shimotani Station, Ishizuchi Ropeway (石鎚登山ロープウェイ 山麓下谷駅)
ArriveThe end point. Iyokan.net writes that the ropeway takes about 8 minutes from Sanroku-Shimotani Station (elevation 455 m) to Sancho-Joju Station (山頂成就駅, elevation 1300 m).
Location 33.803015, 133.148120 · Source 【西条市】石鎚登山ロープウェイ|愛媛のスポット・体験|愛媛県の公式観光サイト【いよ観ネット】
The end point is Sanroku-Shimotani Station of the Ishizuchi Ropeway
The end point of this route is Sanroku-Shimotani Station (山麓下谷駅) of the Ishizuchi Ropeway (石鎚登山ロープウェイ), at 81 Nishinokawa Shimotani-ko, Saijo, Ehime. We chose a place where the official pages confirm both the parking and the opening hours.
You cannot drive to the summit of Mt. Ishizuchi (Ishizuchi Shrine Choju-sha, 石鎚神社頂上社). The “Access and Pilgrimage Guide” of Ishizuchi Shrine (石鎚神社) explains the way beyond the ropeway on foot.
[ 成就社経由 ] 西条I・Cより車にて約1時間でロープウェイ下谷駅到着。約7分乗車し、徒歩20〜30分で成就社到着。同社より徒歩約2時間30分〜3時間(3.6キロ)で頂上社到着。山頂登下山の平均時間は、4時間〜5時間です。
Translation: “[ Via Jojusha ] About 1 hour by car from Saijo IC to the ropeway’s Shimotani Station. Ride the ropeway for about 7 minutes, then walk 20 to 30 minutes to Jojusha. From Jojusha, walk about 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours (3.6 km) to Choju-sha. The average time for climbing up and down the summit is 4 to 5 hours.”
Source: 交通・参詣案内 | 石鎚神社
The ropeway ride time differs between sources. Ishizuchi Shrine writes “about 7 minutes”, and Iyokan.net writes “about 8 minutes”.
We also considered the main shrine of Ishizuchi Shrine (石鎚神社の本社), Omogo Valley (面河渓), and Tsuchigoya (土小屋). For the main shrine of Ishizuchi Shrine, we could not find the number of parking spaces, the fee, or the gate hours on the official page. For Omogo Valley, we could not find an official town page that gives the parking and opening hours of the valley itself. Omogo Valley and Tsuchigoya are on a different route from Matsuyama Airport, through National Route 33. The route to Tsuchigoya goes through the Ishizuchi Skyline, which has a winter closure.
The travel time is explained differently depending on where it is counted from
We could not find an official page that gives the car travel time from Matsuyama Airport to Sanroku-Shimotani Station. None of the guidance we found starts from Matsuyama Airport.
| Time written | Starting point and direction | Which page |
|---|---|---|
| About 1 hour 30 minutes | From Matsuyama city (exit at Iyo-Komatsu IC) | Ishizuchi Ropeway Co., Ltd., “Company Profile” |
| About 1 hour 30 minutes | From Matsuyama city (exit at Iyo-Komatsu IC) | Saijo City (guide to Ishizuchi Ski Resort) |
| About 1 hour | From Saijo IC (to the ropeway’s Shimotani Station) | Ishizuchi Shrine, “Access and Pilgrimage Guide” |
| Expressway, about 1 hour 10 minutes | Iyo-Saijo IC to Matsuyama Airport (the direction toward the airport) | Matsuyama Airport, “Access to the Airport” |
This is the original text from the ropeway company’s “Company Profile”.
[車での案内] 松山市内より(伊予小松IC下車) 約1時間30分 高松市内より(伊予西条IC下車) 約2時間 高知市内より(伊予西条IC下車) 約2時間30分 高知市内より(寒風山トンネル通過)約2時間30分 徳島市内より(伊予西条IC下車) 約2時間30分
Translation: “[Directions by car] From Matsuyama city (exit at Iyo-Komatsu IC): about 1 hour 30 minutes. From Takamatsu city (exit at Iyo-Saijo IC): about 2 hours. From Kochi city (exit at Iyo-Saijo IC): about 2 hours 30 minutes. From Kochi city (through Kanpuzan Tunnel): about 2 hours 30 minutes. From Tokushima city (exit at Iyo-Saijo IC): about 2 hours 30 minutes.”
Source: 会社概要 | 石鎚登山ロープウェイ株式会社
The “Saijo direction” on Matsuyama Airport’s official website is guidance for traveling from Saijo to the airport.
For “By car”, the “Expressway” takes “about 1 hour 10 minutes”. The route is in this order: “Iyo-Saijo IC”, “Expressway”, “Matsuyama IC”, “Matsuyama Outer Ring Road”, “Matsuyama Airport”. The “Local roads” take “about 1 hour 30 minutes”, in this order: “near Saijo City Hall”, “Local roads”, “Matsuyama Airport”.
Source: 空港までのアクセス|交通アクセス|松山空港
The “Iyo-Saijo IC” (いよ西条IC) here is a different IC from the “Iyo-Komatsu IC” (伊予小松IC) that the ropeway company and Saijo City give. This article does not add up the official times to make a new number.
The road is the Matsuyama Expressway to Iyo-Komatsu IC, then National Route 11, National Route 194, and Prefectural Road 12
We checked the road names and interchange names in map data (OpenStreetMap).
| Section | Road |
|---|---|
| Near the airport | Prefectural Road 18, Matsuyama Airport Line (県道18号 松山空港線) |
| Matsuyama IC to Iyo-Komatsu IC | Matsuyama Expressway |
| In Saijo | National Route 11, then National Route 194 |
| To Sanroku-Shimotani Station | Prefectural Road 12, Saijo-Kuma Line (県道12号 西条久万線) |
The IC is spelled “Iyo-Komatsu IC” (いよ小松IC) in the map data, and “Iyo-Komatsu IC” (伊予小松IC) in the guidance of the Ishizuchi Ropeway Co., Ltd. and Saijo City. We have not yet checked how it is written on the guide signs.
The Ishizuchi-san Service Area (石鎚山SA) is past Iyo-Komatsu IC when you drive east from Matsuyama. You cannot use it as a rest stop before you leave at Iyo-Komatsu IC.
The following four things are not confirmed in the sources. None of them is marked as a turn in the points.
- The road from Matsuyama Airport to Matsuyama IC. Matsuyama Airport’s official page says to go through the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road, but the map data records the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road Airport Line, just east of the airport, as under construction.
- The place and direction where you leave Iyo-Komatsu IC onto National Route 11.
- The intersection where you enter National Route 194 from National Route 11. In the map data, we could not identify the position of the intersection.
- The intersection where you leave National Route 194 for Prefectural Road 12. In the map data, we confirmed that the two roads run close to each other, but we could not identify the position of the intersection.
Before you leave, it is safer to check the route on your car navigation system and Matsuyama Airport’s official notices.
In Ehime Prefecture’s guidance, Sanroku-Shimotani Station is just before the end of Prefectural Road 12.
県道12号線終点手前にある為、加茂川沿いサイクリング折り返しの際の休憩にお立ち寄りください。
Translation: “Because it is just before the end of Prefectural Road 12, please stop by for a rest when you turn back during a cycling trip along the Kamo River.”
Source: 石鎚登山ロープウェイ株式会社 - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(東予地方局地域政策課)
Prefectural Road 12 is a section with advance closures by rainfall
On Ehime Prefecture’s “Links for Ehime Road Information”, there is a table of sections with closures during abnormal weather (56 sections). Prefectural Road 12 on this route is listed in the table as follows.
| Route | Closure section | Length | Hourly rainfall | Continuous rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prefectural Road 12, Saijo-Kuma Line (Toyo) | Nakano-hei, Saijo (Nakano-ohashi) to Nishinokawa-otsu, Saijo (Omiyabashi) | 20.7 km | 30 | 200 |
Source: 愛媛県道路情報に関するリンク - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(道路維持課)
The table does not write units for “30” and “200”. The same table also lists the Kumakogen section of Prefectural Road 12 (Tsuchigoya, Kumakogen Town, Kamiukena District, to Wakayama Sekimon, Kumakogen Town, Kamiukena District, 18.1 km), but that is not a road on this route.
The same page explains the advance closures as follows.
事前通行規制とは、豪雨や地震などの異常気象時に、土砂崩れや落石等の恐れのある箇所を被害が発生する前に通行を規制することです。 事前通行規制を行う区間には、一定の降雨量等に達した場合に通行規制する「異常気象時通行規制区間」と、気象・現地の状況等を判断して危険が予想される場合に通行規制する「特殊通行規制区間」があります。 異常気象時通行規制区間(56区間) 規制基準の一項目が基準に達した場合に通行規制します。
Translation: “An advance closure means closing a place where there is a risk of landslides or falling rocks before damage occurs, during abnormal weather such as heavy rain or earthquakes. The sections with advance closures are the ‘sections closed during abnormal weather’, which are closed when a certain amount of rainfall is reached, and the ‘special closure sections’, which are closed when danger is expected after judging the weather and local conditions. Sections closed during abnormal weather (56 sections): the road is closed when one item of the closure standard is reached.”
Source: 愛媛県道路情報に関するリンク - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(道路維持課)
The start of the closure section, “Nakano-ohashi”, is recorded in the map data as a bridge on National Route 194. We could not find the end, “Omiyabashi”, in the map data. We will add both after checking the nameplates on site.
Winter roads: the Ishizuchi Skyline has a winter closure and a night closure
The winter closure and night closure are officially written for the Ishizuchi Skyline (石鎚スカイライン), the Tsuchigoya to Sekimon section of Prefectural Road 12. The Ishizuchi Skyline is a different route that goes to Tsuchigoya. It is not the road in this article, which goes to Sanroku-Shimotani Station. This is the original text from Ehime Prefecture (Kumakogen Civil Engineering Office).
石鎚スカイラインは、落石などによる事故を未然に防止するため夜間通行止め(通年)を実施しています。また、冬期は積雪による通行困難のため、期間通行止めを実施しています。 通行可能時間については、日の出・日の入り時刻を考慮のうえ、下記のとおり設定しております。
Translation: “To prevent accidents caused by falling rocks and similar causes, the Ishizuchi Skyline is closed at night all year round. In winter, it is also closed for a set period because snow makes driving difficult. The hours when the road can be used are set as below, taking sunrise and sunset times into account.”
| Period | Gate opens | Gate closes | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1 to April 28 | 7:00 | 18:00 | |
| April 29 to May 31 | 7:00 | 19:00 | |
| June 1 to June 30 | 7:00 | 20:00 | |
| July 1 to July 10 | 4:00 | 20:00 | Opening of the mountain season (お山開き) |
| July 11 to August 31 | 7:00 | 20:00 | |
| September 1 to November 30 | 7:00 | 18:00 | |
| December 1 to March 31 of the next year | Winter closure period |
土小屋・関門(面河)の2地点それぞれにゲートを設置しており、それぞれ開門時刻に開錠、閉門時刻に施錠を行います。 閉門時刻までに関門(面河)ゲートから出ないと翌朝の開門時刻まで出られなくなりますので、時間に余裕をもって通行してください。 関門~土小屋間は約17.1kmあり、通過するには車で30分程度かかります。 異常気象時【令和3年4月1日更新】 時間雨量40mm若しくは連続雨量200mmの降雨が観測された場合、通行止めを行いますのでご注意ください。
Translation: “There are gates at two places, Tsuchigoya and Sekimon (Omogo). Each gate is unlocked at its opening time and locked at its closing time. If you do not leave through the Sekimon (Omogo) gate by the closing time, you cannot leave until the gate opens the next morning, so please allow plenty of time. The distance between Sekimon and Tsuchigoya is about 17.1 km, and it takes about 30 minutes to drive through. During abnormal weather [updated on April 1, Reiwa 3 (2021)]: the road is closed when rainfall of 40 mm per hour or 200 mm of continuous rainfall is observed, so please be careful.”
Source: 石鎚スカイラインについて - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(久万高原土木事務所)
The update date of this page is April 1, 2021.
Saijo City’s “For those climbing the Ishizuchi mountains in winter” (updated on November 12, 2025) lists the roads and facilities that close in winter as a “guide”.
主な道路・施設など ・石鎚スカイライン(12月1日~3月31日を目安に全面通行止め) 道路管理者:愛媛県 久万高原土木事務所(0892-21-1210) ・UFOライン(11月下旬~4月中旬を目安に冬季閉鎖) 道路管理者:高知県いの町 本川総合支所産業建設課(088-869-2115) ・石鎚山公衆トイレ休憩所(11月中旬~4月下旬を目安に冬季閉鎖) ・瓶ヶ森バイオトイレ(11月下旬~4月中旬を目安に冬季閉鎖)
Translation: “Main roads and facilities: Ishizuchi Skyline (fully closed from December 1 to March 31, as a guide). Road manager: Ehime Prefecture, Kumakogen Civil Engineering Office (0892-21-1210). UFO Line (closed for winter from late November to mid-April, as a guide). Road manager: Ino Town, Kochi Prefecture, Hongawa General Branch Office, Industry and Construction Division (088-869-2115). Mt. Ishizuchi public toilet and rest area (closed for winter from mid-November to late April, as a guide). Kamegamori bio-toilet (closed for winter from late November to mid-April, as a guide).”
Source: 冬の石鎚山系を登山する皆さまへ - 愛媛県西条市ホームページ
This list does not include Prefectural Road 12 on the Saijo side (from where it leaves National Route 194 to Sanroku-Shimotani Station). On the official pages of Ehime Prefecture, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Saijo City, we could not find a winter closure for this section. We also could not find a statement that it is designated as a section with chain rules or winter tire rules.
The ropeway publishes a timetable for the winter months too (see “Ropeway operating hours and fares” below). Saijo City’s guide to Ishizuchi Ski Resort also writes the winter ropeway hours as “8:40 to 17:00”.
Winter tire and chain rules
In Ehime Prefecture, the basis for needing winter tires or similar equipment on snowy or icy roads is Article 12 of the Ehime Prefecture Road Traffic Regulations.
第12条 法第71条第6号の規定により、車両又は路面電車(以下「車両等」という。)の運転者が遵守しなければならない事項は、次の各号に掲げるものとする。 (2) 積雪し、又は凍結している道路において自動車を運転するときは、タイヤチェーン、スノータイヤ等すべり止めに効果のある装置を備え付けること。
Translation: “Article 12: Under Article 71, item 6 of the Act, the matters that drivers of vehicles or trams (hereinafter ‘vehicles’) must follow are as listed in the following items. (2) When driving a car on a road covered with snow or ice, the driver must equip the car with tire chains, snow tires, or another device that is effective against slipping.”
Source: 愛媛県道路交通規則
This provision is not about designated sections. It is a rule about the condition of the road: “a road covered with snow or ice”.
The Shikoku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism also writes about the fine for violations.
都道府県道路交通法施行細則または道路交通規則にて積雪または凍結した路面での冬用タイヤの装着等いわゆる防滑処置の義務が規定されています。(沖縄県を除く)違反行為については、反則金が適用される場合があります。(大型:7千円、普通:6千円)
Translation: “Prefectural enforcement regulations of the Road Traffic Act, or road traffic regulations, set the duty to fit winter tires and take similar anti-slip measures on snowy or icy road surfaces (except in Okinawa Prefecture). A fine may apply to violations. (Large vehicles: 7,000 yen; regular vehicles: 6,000 yen)”
In the photo captions on the same page, it says “fitting studless tires or tire chains is a must when there is snow” and “you cannot enter while the road is closed.”
Source: 冬期は事前の冬用タイヤ・チェーンの装着携行をお願いします|国土交通省四国地方整備局
In the Ministry’s “List of chain regulation sections”, the only section listed for Ehime Prefecture is one section of National Route 56, Tosaka Pass (鳥坂峠) (Uwa-cho, Seiyo, to Kitatada (北只), Ozu, 7.0 km). The roads on this route are not in this list. However, we could not find an update date on that page, so we do not know whether it is this fiscal year’s list.
The Shikoku Regional Development Bureau’s “Preventive closure sections and chain regulation sections in Shikoku” is shown only as a map image, so we could not confirm the section names in text.
Ehime Prefecture’s “Links for Ehime Road Information” writes the following about winter roads.
冬季路面情報 冬場の道路は、積雪や路面温度の低下による路面凍結が起こる箇所があります。 特に山間部の積雪・凍結や橋梁部の凍結には注意が必要です。道路情報の入手で安全な通行を心がけましょう。
Translation: “Winter road surface information: In winter, some places on the road freeze because of snow or lower road surface temperatures. Be especially careful about snow and ice in mountain areas and about ice on bridges. Please drive safely by getting road information.”
Source: 愛媛県道路情報に関するリンク - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(道路維持課)
We could not find an official document that says how much Prefectural Road 12 (Saijo side) freezes. If you plan to drive in winter, check with the rental car company when you book whether you can rent a car with winter tires. This article has not confirmed how rental car companies handle winter tires.
Ropeway operating hours and fares
This is the original text from the Ishizuchi Ropeway Co., Ltd. page “Ropeway and Lift Fares and Operating Hours”.
ロープウェイ営業時間 上り便・下り便 同時刻発車 毎時00・20・40分 (定時20分毎:臨時10分毎) ※季節・曜日によって異なりますので下記時刻表をご参照下さい。 ※気象状況等により運行時間・間隔を変更する場合はご了承下さい。
Translation: “Ropeway operating hours: Up and down cars leave at the same time, at 00, 20, and 40 minutes past every hour (regular: every 20 minutes; extra runs: every 10 minutes). The hours differ by season and day of the week, so please see the timetable below. The operating hours and intervals may change depending on weather conditions.”
| Period | Hours |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026 (元日(R8.1月1日)) | 4:00 to 17:00 |
| January 2 to April 28, 2026 (R8.1月2日~ 4月28日) | 8:40 to 17:00 |
| April 29 to April 30, 2026 (R8.4月29日~4月30日) May and June |
8:40 to 17:00 (weekdays) 7:40 to 18:00 (Golden Week 4/29 to 5/6, weekends and holidays) |
| Ishizuchi Summer Festival period (7/1 to 10) | 8:00 to 18:00 (June 30) 5:00 to 18:00 (July 1) 6:00 to 18:00 (weekdays) 4:00 to 18:00 (Saturdays and Sundays) 6:00 to 18:00 (July 11) The hours may change depending on how the festival is held. |
| July and August | 8:00 to 18:00 (weekdays) 7:40 to 18:00 (weekends, holidays, and the Obon period) |
| September | 8:40 to 17:00 (weekdays) 7:40 to 18:00 (weekends and holidays) |
| October to November 3 | 8:00 to 17:00 (weekdays) 7:40 to 18:00 (weekends and holidays) |
| November 4 to December, every day | 8:40 to 17:00 |
| New Year’s Day, January 1, 2027 (元日(R9.1月1日)) | 4:00 to 17:00 |
| January 2 to March, 2027 (R9.1月2日~3月) | 8:40 to 17:00 |
運 休 令和8年4月6日(月)~4月24日(金) ロープウェイ定期点検実施のため全便運休致します。
Translation: “Closed: April 6 (Monday) to April 24 (Friday), Reiwa 8 (2026). All runs are cancelled for the ropeway’s regular inspection.”
Source: ロープウェイ&リフト料金・運行時間 | 石鎚登山ロープウェイ株式会社
The only full-day suspension written there is the period of the regular inspection in April. The Ehime Prefecture page writes “Hours for inquiries: 9:00 to 17:00” and “Regular holiday: none”, and this does not match the hours on the operating company’s timetable. From both pages, we could not tell which is the hours of the information desk and which is the hours of operation.
These are the tickets for individuals from the fare table “Ropeway fares (revised on April 20, 2023)” (ロープウェイ運賃(R5.4.20改訂)).
| Ticket type | Adult (junior high school and above) | Child (elementary school) |
|---|---|---|
| Round-trip ticket | 2,200 yen | 1,100 yen |
| One-way ticket | 1,200 yen | 600 yen |
※クレジットカード・一部電子マネーは令和2年5月より山麓下谷駅のみ使用可能となります。
Translation: “Credit cards and some electronic money can be used only at Sanroku-Shimotani Station from May, Reiwa 2 (2020).”
Source: ロープウェイ&リフト料金・運行時間 | 石鎚登山ロープウェイ株式会社
There is also a sightseeing lift near Sancho-Joju Station. The official notes are “(Hours) 9:00 to 16:30” and “(Operating period) late April to late November, Reiwa 5 (2023)”. From this page, we cannot tell whether the 2026 operating period is written in the same way.
Parking is in private paid lots along Prefectural Road 12
The parking at Sanroku-Shimotani Station is not a lot of the ropeway company. The ropeway company’s “Company Profile” lists two private lots along Prefectural Road 12.
駐車場(アクセス道の県道12号添い有料駐車場) せとうちバス停横「泉屋」(℡0897-59-0955) 普通車 一日 500円~ 石鎚登山ロープウェイ向かい「京屋旅館」(℡0897-59-0335)※大型バス駐車可 普通車 一日 500円~ (宿泊の場合要追加料金) バ ス 一日 2,500円~ (宿泊の場合要追加料金)
Translation: “Parking (paid parking along Prefectural Road 12, the access road): ‘Izumiya’, next to the Setouchi Bus stop (tel. 0897-59-0955), regular car, per day, from 500 yen. ‘Kyoya Ryokan’, opposite the Ishizuchi Ropeway (tel. 0897-59-0335), large buses can park, regular car, per day, from 500 yen (extra charge if you stay overnight), bus, per day, from 2,500 yen (extra charge if you stay overnight).”
Source: 会社概要 | 石鎚登山ロープウェイ株式会社 (the word 添い is as in the original)
Only the Saijo City page gives a number of spaces.
駐車場 ロープウェイ山麓下谷駅手前に有料駐車場あり(約300台)
Translation: “Parking: There is paid parking before the ropeway’s Sanroku-Shimotani Station (about 300 spaces).”
Source: 【12月下旬シーズン開始】石鎚スキー場で冬遊びを満喫しよう! - 愛媛県西条市ホームページ
The “Parking” field of Iyokan.net gives the fee as a different number.
近隣有料駐車場をご利用下さい。普通車700円/日
Translation: “Please use nearby paid parking. Regular car 700 yen per day.”
Source: 【西条市】石鎚登山ロープウェイ|愛媛のスポット・体験|愛媛県の公式観光サイト【いよ観ネット】
For the fee, the ropeway company writes “from 500 yen” and Iyokan.net writes “700 yen per day”, and the two do not match. We could not find, on any official page, whether you can reserve a space, what to do when a lot is full, or whether the lots are open in winter.
What to check before you leave
- Closures in rainy weather: Prefectural Road 12 from Nakano-ohashi to Omiyabashi is a section with advance closures by rainfall. On a day of heavy rain, check the road information before you leave.
- Ropeway hours: The first and last runs change with the season and the day of the week. All runs are suspended during the regular inspection in April.
- Winter roads and tires: On snowy or icy roads, equipment such as chains or snow tires is required. Check with the rental car company whether you can rent a car with winter tires.
- Road information phone numbers: The Ehime Prefecture page lists contact numbers. Make the call from a passenger seat, or after you have stopped the car.
愛媛県内の道路情報については、日本道路交通情報センター 050-3369-6638 国道11号、33号、56号(中予地方)、192号、196号は、国土交通省松山河川国道事務所 089-972-0034 愛媛県内の国管理以外の国道及び県道については、愛媛県土木部道路維持課 089-912-2720
Translation: “For road information in Ehime Prefecture: Japan Road Traffic Information Center, 050-3369-6638. For National Routes 11, 33, 56 (Chuyo region), 192, and 196: Matsuyama River and National Highway Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, 089-972-0034. For national roads not managed by the national government, and for prefectural roads, in Ehime Prefecture: Road Maintenance Division, Civil Engineering Department, Ehime Prefecture, 089-912-2720.”
Source: 愛媛県道路情報に関するリンク - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(道路維持課)
What comes next for this article
The point numbers will be the same as the chapter numbers of the driving video. This article is written only from official pages and map data, and we have not driven the route yet. The latitude and longitude of each point are the center points of roads and buildings in the map data, or the points of interchanges and stations. They are not the intersections or building entrances themselves.
These are the things we could not confirm from official pages and map data.
- The car travel time from Matsuyama Airport to Sanroku-Shimotani Station
- Which road to take from Matsuyama Airport to Matsuyama IC (whether the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road can be used)
- The direction after leaving Iyo-Komatsu IC, and the intersections where National Route 11, National Route 194, and Prefectural Road 12 split
- Which route Nakano-ohashi belongs to, and the position of Omiyabashi
- The road width of Prefectural Road 12 (Saijo side) and the signs on site
- The number of lots, the number of spaces, and the fees of the parking before Sanroku-Shimotani Station, and how to walk from the lot to the ropeway boarding area
- The hours of the ropeway information desk (the difference between Ehime Prefecture’s “9:00 to 17:00” and the timetable)
- The operating period of the sightseeing lift in 2026
- Whether this route is included in the preventive closure sections and chain regulation sections shown by the Shikoku Regional Development Bureau
- The specific closure schedule for the winter of 2026-27
After we drive the route, we will add the names of the intersections where you turn, the wording on the signs, the condition of Prefectural Road 12, and the condition of the parking.
Parking (3)
| Name | Spaces | Fee | Hours | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Izumiya, next to the Setouchi Bus stop (泉屋(せとうちバス停横)) | — | Regular car, per day, from 500 yen | — | A private lot that the Ishizuchi Ropeway Co., Ltd. lists as "paid parking along Prefectural Road 12" (tel. 0897-59-0955). The number of spaces is not given. | 会社概要 | 石鎚登山ロープウェイ株式会社 |
| Kyoya Ryokan, opposite the Ishizuchi Ropeway (京屋旅館(石鎚登山ロープウェイ向かい)) | — | Regular car, per day, from 500 yen (extra charge if you stay overnight) / Bus, per day, from 2,500 yen (extra charge if you stay overnight) | — | A private lot that the Ishizuchi Ropeway Co., Ltd. lists with the note "large buses can park" (tel. 0897-59-0335). The number of spaces is not given. | 会社概要 | 石鎚登山ロープウェイ株式会社 |
| Paid parking before Sanroku-Shimotani Station (Saijo City's guidance) (山麓下谷駅手前の有料駐車場(西条市の案内)) | — | — | — | Saijo City writes "paid parking before the ropeway's Sanroku-Shimotani Station (about 300 spaces)". Iyokan.net writes "Please use nearby paid parking. Regular car 700 yen per day", which differs from the ropeway company's "from 500 yen". | 【12月下旬シーズン開始】石鎚スキー場で冬遊びを満喫しよう! - 愛媛県西条市ホームページ |
Sources
- 会社概要 | 石鎚登山ロープウェイ株式会社 (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- ロープウェイ&リフト料金・運行時間 | 石鎚登山ロープウェイ株式会社 (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 【西条市】石鎚登山ロープウェイ|愛媛のスポット・体験|愛媛県の公式観光サイト【いよ観ネット】 (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 石鎚登山ロープウェイ株式会社 - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(東予地方局地域政策課) (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 交通・参詣案内 | 石鎚神社 (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 空港までのアクセス|交通アクセス|松山空港 (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 交通アクセス - 久万高原町ホームページ (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 【12月下旬シーズン開始】石鎚スキー場で冬遊びを満喫しよう! - 愛媛県西条市ホームページ (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 冬の石鎚山系を登山する皆さまへ - 愛媛県西条市ホームページ (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 石鎚スカイラインについて - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(久万高原土木事務所) (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 愛媛県道路情報に関するリンク - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(道路維持課) (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 愛媛県道路交通規則 (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 冬期は事前の冬用タイヤ・チェーンの装着携行をお願いします|国土交通省四国地方整備局 (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- 道路:雪防災 - 国土交通省 (retrieved October 11, 2026)
- OpenStreetMap(地点の位置。© OpenStreetMap contributors、ODbL) (retrieved October 11, 2026)
How we cite sources and use map data is explained in Sources and map data. Most sources are in Japanese.
Read before you drive
- Driving a rental car in Ehime as a visitor from abroad: International Driving Permits, foreign licenses with a Japanese translation, and how long you can drive
Three kinds of license are valid for driving in Japan. We checked the official pages for the International Driving Permit format, the six countries and regions whose licenses work with a translation, how long you can drive, the seven rental companies at Matsuyama Airport, and the Ehime Prefectural Police license conversion rules. - Japanese Road Rules for First-Time Drivers from Abroad: Driving on the Left, Red Lights, Stop Signs, Railroad Crossings, Drinking, Mobile Phones, Speed
Driving on the left, red lights and arrows, the "Tomare" stop sign, railroad crossings, drunk driving, mobile phones while driving, seat belts and child seats, and speed limits on ordinary roads, checked against the original text of the Road Traffic Act, the National Police Agency's Rules of the Road, and the NPA's English materials. - What to do and who to contact if you have an accident, a breakdown, or a road problem in Ehime: 110, 119, #9910, JAF, and your rental car company
Who to contact if you have an accident or breakdown, or find a hole or fallen object on the road, while driving in Ehime. Checked against official sources: Article 72 of the Road Traffic Act, foreign-language service on 110 and 119, the order of steps on an expressway, the Road Emergency Dial #9910, JAF, and the rental terms of the seven companies at Matsuyama Airport.