Translation guide
A cable car is a vehicle that moves along a cable, often used for transport up steep slopes or across scenic areas. In Japanese, the term can refer to different types of cable-driven transport, including aerial gondolas and funicular railways.
A suspended cabin that travels along an overhead cable, often used at tourist spots or ski resorts.
The most common term for an aerial cable car or gondola lift. Used for sightseeing and mountain access.
箱根のロープウェイに乗りました。
I rode the ropeway in Hakone.
Refers specifically to the cabin or gondola itself, or a gondola lift. Often used in ski resort contexts.
スキー場のゴンドラに乗った。
I rode the gondola at the ski resort.
A railway on a steep slope where cars are pulled by a cable, often called a cable car in English.
The standard term for a funicular railway. Note that in Japanese, ケーブルカー usually refers to a funicular, not an aerial cable car.
高尾山のケーブルカーは便利です。
The cable car on Mount Takao is convenient.
A tram or streetcar pulled by a moving cable under the street, famously used in San Francisco.
Also used for San Francisco-style cable cars. Context usually makes the meaning clear.
サンフランシスコのケーブルカーに乗ってみたい。
I want to ride a cable car in San Francisco.
ロープウェイ refers to an aerial lift (gondola) suspended from a cable, while ケーブルカー usually means a funicular railway on tracks. In English, both can be called 'cable car', but in Japanese they are distinct. Use ロープウェイ for gondolas and ケーブルカー for funiculars or street cable cars.
ロープウェイで山頂まで行き、ケーブルカーで下山した。
We went up by ropeway and came down by cable car.