basic information

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a spectacular route through the Northern Japan Alps, which can be easily followed by using various means of transportation, including cablecars, trolley buses and a ropeway.

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route was completed in 1971, and connects Toyama City in Toyama Prefecture with Omachi Town in Nagano Prefecture. The section between Tateyama Station and Ogizawa is closed to private vehicles. The route is open from mid April through November.

In 2008, the entire route is open from April 17 to November 30. The snow corridor in Murodo was open to pedestrians to walk from April 17 to May 20.

The main attraction of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is the magnificent scenery of the Tateyama Mountain Range, part of the Chubu Sangaku National Park. An up to 20 meter high snow corridor is a highlight during spring, while summer and autumn attract visitors with beautiful hiking trails and alpine flowers.

Transportation along the Alpine Route is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. A one way journey along the entire route costs roughly 10,000 Yen. A luggage forwarding service is provided between stations and hotels along the route. The typical cost is 1500 yen per piece of luggage.

Note that the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route gets very busy during holidays, such as the Golden Week, summer holidays and weekends during the autumn leaf season.

Toyama Chiho Railway Running through rural Toyama, this train gets you from Dentetsu Toyama Station (next to JR Toyama Station) in central Toyama City to Tateyama Station in about one hour. The one way fare is 1170 yen.

Tateyama Cablecar The Tateyama Cablecar ascends more than 500 meters from Tateyama Station to Bijodaira Station in only seven minutes. The one way fare is 700 yen.

Highland Bus This bus requires roughly 50 minutes for the journey between Bijodaira Station and Murodo. The one way fare is 1660 yen. There are a few bus stops along the way. During spring, the bus runs along the Tateyama Snow Corridor.

Tateyama Snow Corridor From April to May, the road from Bijodaira to Murodo runs between up to 20 meter high snow walls. The snow corridor is most spectacular around Murodo. A short passage is open to pedestrians from mid April to mid May.

Murodo Murodo offers fantastic views of the Tateyama Mountain Range. In summer and autumn, walking trails lead to the surrounding peaks and to Jigokudani, where volcanic activity can be observed. The Murodo Station complex includes Hotel Tateyama, Japan's highest located hotel.

Tateyama Trolley Bus Electric powered buses transport travelers through the tunnel between Murodo and Daikanbo. The one way journey takes 10 minutes and costs 2100 yen.

Daikanbo This is the transfer station between the Tateyama Trolley Bus and the Tateyama Ropeway. The small station has an observation deck with great views of the mountains.

Tateyama Ropeway This 1.7 kilometer long ropeway operates without any support towers between the lower and top stations, making it Japan's longest one-span ropeway. The one way trip takes seven minutes and costs 1260 yen.

Korubedaira Korubedaira is the transfer station between the Tateyama Ropeway and Kurobe Cablecar. The station offers a restaurant, souvenir shop and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.

Kurobe Cablecar This cablecar runs entirely inside a tunnel, which is a rarity among cablecars. The one way journey between Korubedaira and Kurobeko Station (next to Kurobe Dam) takes five minutes and costs 840 yen.

Kurobe Dam Kurobe Dam is with a height of 186 meters Japan's tallest dam. From late June to mid October, up to 15 tons of water per second are spectacularly discharged through the dam. Sightseeing cruises are operated on the lake from June to early November.

Kanden Trolley Bus Electric powered buses transport travelers through the tunnel between Kurobe Dam and Ogizawa. The one way journey takes 15 minutes and costs 1500 yen.

Ogizawa-Omachi Bus A regular bus service connects Ogizawa with JR Shinano-Omachi Station via Omachi Onsen. The one way trip takes 40 minutes and costs 1330 Yen.

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how to get there

From Tokyo

to Toyama:

The fastest way is by JR Joetsu Shinkansen from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa (75 minutes), followed by a ride on the JR Hakutaka Limited Express to Toyama (2 hours). The one way fare is about 11,500 Yen.

Note that the Hakutaka uses non-JR tracks between Echigo-Yuzawa and Naoetsu. Therefore, Japan Rail Pass holders will have to pay a supplement of 1450 Yen. An alternative route, which is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, leads via Nagaoka, using the JR Joetsu Shinkansen (100 minutes) and JR Hokuetsu Limited Express (2 hours).

to Shinano-Omachi:

Take the Azusa Limited Express from Tokyo's Shinjuku Station to Matsumoto (2.5 hours) and transfer to the JR Oito Line to Shinano-Omachi Station (1 hour). The one way journey costs around 7500 Yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

An alternative approach by JR Nagano Shinkansen and Shinano Limited Express via Nagano and Matsumoto can be similarly fast, but is considerable more expensive. Yet, it is also fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

From Osaka/Kyoto

to Toyama:

The one way journey by direct JR Thunderbird Limited Express trains takes about 3 to 3.5 hours and costs around 8000 Yen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

to Shinano-Omachi:

Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya (1 hour), the JR Shinano Limited Express to Matsumoto (2 hours) and the JR Oito Line to Shinano-Omachi (1 hour). The one way fare is about 11,000 Yen and fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

From Nagoya

to Toyama:

The one way journey by direct JR Shirasagi Limited Express trains takes about 4 hours and costs around 8000 Yen. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

to Shinano-Omachi:

Take the JR Shinano Limited Express to Matsumoto (2 hours) and the JR Oito Line to Shinano-Omachi (1 hour). The one way fare is about 6,500 Yen and fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

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