🗺️ Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route立山黒部アルペンルート

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a mountain sightseeing route that spans 37.2 kilometers with a maximum elevation difference of 1,975 meters, traversing the peaks of the Northern Alps, which rise to an altitude of 3,000 meters. The two access points, "Tateyama" Station on the Toyama Prefecture side and "Ogizawa" Station on the Nagano Prefecture side, are connected by six types of transportation, including mountain cable cars and aerial tramways. Along the way, there are many scenic spots where visitors can enjoy the magnificent natural scenery through leisurely walks or mountain climbing. For a round-trip journey in one day, it is recommended to use Tateyama Station as a base and take the mountain cable car and bus to "Murodo," which is at an altitude of 2,450 meters. Near the transfer point "Bijodaira," there is a vast beech forest, and you can also see the "forest giant," the Tateyama cedar, which is over a thousand years old. The "Mida Hara" along the route from Bijodaira to Murodo is a precious wetland registered under the Ramsar Convention. According to legend, hungry ghosts who fell into hell planted rice to fight their hunger, hence the name "Hungry Ghost Field," which is home to about 3,000 water pools, creating a unique landscape. Murodo serves as the base for the Alpine Route, featuring the "Mikurigaike," known as the "most beautiful volcanic lake in the Northern Alps," and the "Yuki no Otani," where visitors can admire snow walls reaching up to 20 meters from spring to early summer, making it a must-see destination. Visitors can also enjoy the thrill of mountain climbing. If you wish to traverse the Alpine Route, you can take the non-rail tram from Murodo through a tunnel to reach "Daikankou," which stands on a cliff. This location offers the most impressive views along the mountain route, allowing you to overlook the stunning scenery of "Kurobe Lake" and the "Hokuriku Mountain Range" from an altitude of 2,316 meters. Next, you can take the mountain cable car and aerial tramway to arrive at the massive "Kurobe Dam," which has a total water storage capacity of about 200 million tons. There are walking paths along the lakeside, allowing you to stroll around Japan's tallest dam, which stands at approximately 186 meters. The dam releases over 10 tons of water per second, creating a spectacular and popular sightseeing flood discharge. There is also an observation deck where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the reservoir.

Generally, vehicles are not allowed to pass through the routes of the Alps. The open period is from mid-April to the end of November each year, during which you can enjoy views of remaining snow, alpine plants, and autumn leaves, depending on the season. Due to its mountainous location, temperatures are 12 to 13 degrees lower than in flat areas, so please pay attention to your clothing. There are more than ten accommodation facilities in places like Murodo, Midagahara, and Kurobe Lake, where you can enjoy comfortable lodging.