📖 Tateyama Cable Car

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a mountain sightseeing route that requires transfers between six different modes of transportation, spanning a total length of 37.5 kilometers with a maximum elevation difference of 1,975 meters. The journey begins from Toyama, with the first stop being the round-trip cable car between "Tateyama" Station and "Bijodaira" Station. Opened in Showa 29 (1954), this cable car, consisting of two connected cabins, moves in a suspended manner using a counterweight system, climbing a 1.3-kilometer slope with an elevation difference of about 500 meters and an average gradient of 24 degrees. During the approximately 7-minute ride, the highlights include two tunnels and the columnar jointed volcanic rock formations of the Tateyama volcano. After disembarking at "Bijodaira" Station, visitors are greeted by a lush primeval forest that is home to over 60 species of wild birds, along with designated walking trails. Here, one can see beech trees aged 200 to 300 years, as well as giant Tateyama cedars that are over a thousand years old. This area is a popular spot for forest bathing and birdwatching, attracting many nature enthusiasts.

The Tateyama Cable Car, which connects Tateyama Station and Bijodaira Station on the round trip route through the Northern Alps, was put into operation in 1954. The cable car, which consists of two connected cabins, ascends steeply at an average gradient of 24 degrees. The dynamic scenery that transitions from the forests of the low mountains to the mountainous areas is definitely worth seeing. The trails at Bijodaira Station are quite popular for forest bathing and birdwatching.