Kurobe Dam along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Toyama Prefecture

Discover the Natural Wonders of the Japanese Alps

Essential Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route Itinerary

Our Essential Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route Itinerary showcases the best way to spend a day on this majestic mountain route. The attractions available on the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route change drastically each season, due to the effects of snowfall, and so be sure to customise the itinerary to fit the time period where you are heading to.

The itinerary will cover the best things to see including the Murodo (室堂) area, the Midagahara Wetlands (弥陀ヶ原, Midagahara), and the Kurobe Dam (黒部ダム, Kurobe Damu).

Do note that the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route is only open from mid-April to late-November, and you should check the official website for the actual dates. The Yuki no Otani (雪の大谷, Yuki no Ōtani) is at its peak in mid-April to May when the route just opens, and progressively gets lower over time as the snow melts.

We will only be covering one-way itineraries for this guide. If you would like to do a round-trip, from the Toyama side, you can consider turning back at either Murodo or Kurobe Dam (depending on the amount of time you have). From the Nagano side, you can consider turning back at either Murodo or the Midagahara Wetlands.

Ultimate 1 Day Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Itinerary

Discover the Best Views of the Japanese Alps

Nature

Culture

Gourmet

Volume

This itinerary will cover the best way to check out the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route when entering from the Toyama side in Spring (April and May). Given the high altitude of the route, expect there to be large amounts of snow, and single digit temperatures, as opposed to the usual Japanese spring weather. We will be going to the Bijodaira (美女平) forests, then up to the Murodo (室堂) area (as Midagahara (弥陀ヶ原, Midagahara) is usually still covered in snow during this time period), and then back down to the Kurobe Dam (黒部ダム, Kurobe Damu) before going out to the Nagano side.

Itinerary Details

Starting Time

Start off at Tateyama Station

Recommended Time:

08:00

立山駅

Tateyama Station

立山線

Tateyama Line

立山ケーブルカー

Tateyama Cable Car

Take the Tateyama Cable Car

Est.

08:00

7 mins

Tateyama Cable Car

Towards Bijodaira Station

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Tateyama Station

Bijodaira Station

7 mins

¥1,090

Est.

08:15

1 hour

Bijodaira Walking Routes (美女平遊歩道)

Exploring Bijodaira's Primeval Forests

The lush forests of Bijodaira (美女平) is the perfect place to take a walk to just enjoy the serenity and quietness of this primeval forest. Bijodaira is selected as one of the 100 Best Forests in Japan to bathe in the Forest Atmosphere (森林浴の森・100選, Shinrinyoku no Mori - Hyakusen).

Take the Tateyama Highland Bus to Murodo

Est.

09:15

50 mins

¥3,000

Tateyama Highland Bus

Bijodaira Station

Murodo Terminal

Est.

10:15

1 hour

Yuki no Otani (Snow Wall / Corridor) (雪の大谷)

Walk in-between the gigantic snow walls

The Yuki no Otani, often colloquailly called the Tateyama-Kurobe Snow Wall or Snow Corridor, is arguably the most iconic view of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, a tall ice wall that is typically 7m tall, and can go up to 20m tall in years with heavy snowfall. The Yuki no Otani is at its tallest when the route just opens in mid to late April. The snow wall becomes progressively shorter as the year goes on, and in some years, you can still see some snow even in July or August.

Est.

11:15

1 hour

Restaurant Tateyama (レストラン立山)

Take a break and get some Shira Ebi

Restaurant Tateyama is the hotel restaurant for the Hotel Tateyama at Murodo Terminal, even so it is open for non-staying guests on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. It is one of the best options for visitors who want a sit-down dine-in experience to rest while travelling the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. While its prices are definitely on the higher side, it is by no means a pure tourist trap as they make up for the price with a variety of local specialties from Toyama Prefecture (富山県, Toyama-ken). The restaurant is also located on the 3rd floor of Murodo Terminal, and has tall glass windows that provide a beautiful view of the surrouding Japanese Alps.

Walk over to Mikurigaike Onsen

Est.

12:15

15 mins

600m

Murodo Terminal

Mikurigaike Onsen

Est.

12:30

1 hour

Mikurigaike Onsen (みくりが池温泉)

Soak in Japan's Highest Onsen

Mikurigaike Onsen is the highest onsen (温泉, Hot Spring) in the whole of Japan at 2,410m high in elevation. The onsen uses pure hot spring water from the nearby Jigokudani, a sulphuric area, without diluting it with water or even heating it up. Due to that, the water does have a strong sulphuric smell as it comes straight from the source. The onsen is a gender-separated indoor bath with only a single indoor bath, but with beautiful panoramic views of the valleys outside.

Est.

13:30

1 hour

Hiking Murodo and Mount Oyama (室堂・雄山登山)

Go on a loop around Mikurigaike Pond

The Murodo (室堂) area is often seen as the highlight of the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route, and for good reason. As the highest point of the route, there are plenty of beautiful sights around from the Japanese Alps (日本アルプス, Nihon Arupusu) to the sweeping sights of Jigokudani. In order to experience some of the best sights, a bit of a hike is definitely needed.

Take the Tateyama Trolley Bus to Daikanbo

Est.

14:30

7 mins

Tateyama Ropeway

Towards Kurobedaira Station

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Daikanbo Station

Kurobedaira Station

7 mins

¥1,700

Est.

14:50

15 mins

Daikanbo and Kurobe-daira (大観峰・黒部平)

Check out the Observation Deck above Daikanbo Station

Daikanbo and Kurobe-daira are the two intermediate stops between the Kurobe Dam (黒部ダム, Kurobe Damu) and Murodo (室堂) where you have to get off and make transfers to a different mode of transport. Each has its own unique sets of things to see and do, and both boast a open-air observation deck, allowing you to slow down and take in the scenery.

Take the Tateyama Ropeway to Kurobedaira Station

Est.

15:05

7 mins

Tateyama Ropeway

Towards Kurobedaira Station

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Daikanbo Station

Kurobedaira Station

7 mins

¥1,700

Est.

15:20

30 mins

Daikanbo and Kurobe-daira (大観峰・黒部平)

Check out the Gift Shop and Outdoor Garden at Kurobedaira Station

Take the Kurobe Cable Car down to Kurobe Dam

Est.

15:50

5 mins

Kurobe Cable Car

Towards Kurobeko Station

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Kurobedaira Station

Kurobeko Station

5 mins

¥1,150

Est.

16:05

30 mins

Kurobe Dam (黒部ダム)

Marvel at the scale of Japan's highest dam

The Kurobe Dam is Japan's highest arch dam at 1,500m in elevation, and is 492m long and 186m tall. The Kurobe Lake behind the dam holds 200 million cubic litres of water, and 10 cubic litres of water passes through the dam each second. The dam generates one billion kWh of hydro power per year, enough to power 90,000 homes. The sheer scale and height of the dam is sure to take your breath away the first time that you see it.

Est.

16:35

45 mins

Kurobe Dam Observatory and Rest House (黒部ダム展望台休憩所)

Get a bird's eye view of Kurobe Dam and dig into some Kurobe Dam Curry

The Kurobe Dam Observatory is located atop the Kanden Electric Bus terminal for Kurobe Dam, and consists of an Observation Deck, a cafeteria, and a gift shop. From the Kanden Electric Bus terminal, you can find a staircase of 220 steps that will bring you up to the Dam Observation Deck. One of the tallest points to view the dam, where you can get a great panoramic view of the entire structure. In summer, when the dam discharges water, you can typically see a beautiful rainbow where the water is discharged.

Take the Kanden Trolley Bus to Ogisawa Station

Est.

17:20

16 mins

¥1,800

Kanden Electric Bus

Kurobe Dam Station

Ogisawa Station

End off at Ogisawa Station

Est.

17:45

From here, you can take the local bus to Shinano-Omachi Station that connects to Matsumoto Station by local train, or a highway bus to Nagano Station that is on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

荻沢駅

Ogisawa Station

関電トンネルトロリーバス

Kanden Electric Bus

Due to changing circumstances, readers are advised to do their own additional research. All information on this site is purely for reference only.

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