Discovering Tateyama and Kurobe

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a fantastic 37km route through snow walls that rise 20 metres high. It is a mountain road that passes through Toyama and Nagano prefectures, one of the snowiest areas in all of Japan.

The Japanese Alps are renowned for their heavy snowfall, which makes the landscape impassable from mid-November to April. To make the stretch of road passable again in spring, months of work with special snowplows are needed. The road has been open to the public since the early 1970s and has allowed the passage of skiers, cars and buses ever since. Tateyama and Kurobe are among the most visited tourist attractions in Japan, built with respect for the environment and protection of nature. During the journey, you can find rest in hotels and refuges and between April and May, when the walls reach their maximum height of 20 meters, is the best time for a tourist trip to this area. During the summer, trekking routes begin at each station that encourage you to explore the surroundings on foot, such as the Hell Valley of volcanic origin.

In this part of the country, the passage over the Kurobe Dam, 186 meters high, is also a charm, it is the highest dam in Japan. From the end of June to mid-October, up to 15 tons of water per second are discharged through the dam. Sightseeing cruises are available on the lake from June to early November.

During the winter, excavators and snowplows work continuously to avoid excessive accumulation of snow. In this area of ​​Japan, heavy snowfalls are the protagonists of the winter months, precisely because on the Sea of ​​Japan there are very cold air currents, once the humidity from the sea has been collected, the clouds head inland, impacting against the Alps. The steam then meets the low temperatures, becoming snow.

The main attraction of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is the magnificent scenery of the Tateyama mountain range, which is part of Chubu Sangaku National Park. Visitors can enjoy different views during different seasons of the year. In spring, the accumulated snow, especially around the upper reaches of Midagahara and Murodo, forms a majestic snow corridor with snow walls reaching 20 meters high. A section of the snow corridor around Murodo is open to pedestrians usually from mid-April to late June. 

Summer and autumn attract visitors with beautiful scenery, alpine flowers and autumn leaves. The autumn colors are at their most beautiful around Murodo and Daikanbo from late September to early October and gradually descend from the mountain slopes to the lower elevations. The highest point along the Murodo route offers a variety of hiking trails, catering to both serious hikers and those looking for a leisurely stroll.

When traveling to Tateyama and Kurobe, it is very important to know what to wear. From mid-June to September, the temperatures are mild and it is rarely too hot. If you travel between April and early May and from mid-October to November, the climate is cool and on days when the wind is the protagonist it can be cold. In summer, one layer of clothing is enough, but not ideal for spring and autumn where a sweater or two is recommended. Also, do not forget to bring comfortable sneakers or hiking shoes.