On March 6, 2026, a safety audit was conducted on Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture, resulting in the identification of issues requiring corrective action. The city was instructed to take measures to improve safety and operational procedures, with a report due by June 11, 2026. The issues include the failure to perform certain tests during the temporary inspection of the Kiri-ga-mine First Romance Lift, such as measuring braking distance and time under maximum load conditions during trial runs, and the failure to notify changes in inspection items specified in the maintenance rules for the lift. The city was advised to conduct proper inspections in accordance with the Ministerial Ordinance on Technical Standards for Ropeway Facilities, ensure the consistency between existing facilities and maintenance rules, and take appropriate measures to prevent recurrence of similar issues. The audit was conducted by the Hokuriku-Shinetsu Transport Bureau under the authority of the Railway Business Act.