Getting Around Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route consists of a single route that is a chain of multiple transportation modes from one end to another. We will go through each mode from the Toyama side to the Matsumoto side, but do note that the route is entirely reversible. It is important to check out the timetable for the route in each direction to minimize waiting time.

There are also rail passes that include transportation on the route, together with transportation from Kyoto (京都, Kyōto), Osaka (大阪, Ōsaka), and Nagoya.

Additionally, luggage forwarding services are available between Tateyama Station and Ogizawa Station on each end of the route costing ¥2,500. Do check the official website for the availability and time period when it is offered. A car forwarding service is also available from one end of the route to the other for a more hefty cost, and details are available here.

Modes of Transport

富山地方レル鉄道

Toyama Chiho Railroad

The Toyama Chiho Railroad runs between downtown Toyama and Tateyama Station at the start of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. The journey takes 65 minutes.

立山ケーブルカー

Tateyama Cable Car

The Tateyama Cable Car runs between Tateyama Station and Bijodaira (美女平). It is an outdoor cable car that travels up 500m of elevation, 1.3km in distance, and takes 7 minutes.

立山高原バス

Tateyama Highland Bus

The Tateyama Highland Bus runs between Bijodaira (美女平) and Murodo (室堂), stopping at Midagahara on the way. Visitors can explore the nearby primeval forests at Bijodaira, or drop-off at Midagahara to see the marshes. The entire bus journey takes 50 minutes, travelling for 23km, and going up an elevation of 1473m.

立山トンネルトロリーバス

Tateyama Tunnel Trolley Bus

The Tateyama Tunnel Trolley Bus runs between Murodo (室堂) and Daikanbo. It is an electric bus, the highest altitude trolley bus in Japan, and runs through Mount Tateyama. The journey takes 10 minutes, travelling 3.7km with an elevation of 134m.

立山ロープウェイ

Tateyama Ropeway

The Tateyama Ropeway runs between Daikanbo and Kurobe-daira (大観峰・黒部平, Daikanbō・Kurobe-daira), and is the only cable car in Japan that has no pylons in-between the two stations. The journey takes 7 minutes, travelling 1.7km with an elevation of 488m.

黒部ケーブルカー

Kurobe Cable Car

The Kurobe Cable Car runs between Kurobe-daira and Kurobe Dam (黒部ダム, Kurobe Damu), and is the only underground cable car in Japan. The journey takes 5 minutes, travelling 0.8km, with an elevation of 373m.

関電トンネル電気バス

Kanden Electric Bus

The Kanden Electric Bus runs between Kurobe Dam (黒部ダム, Kurobe Damu) and Ogizawa Station, crossing the border of Toyama Prefecture (富山県, Toyama-ken) and Nagano Prefecture (長野県, Nagano-ken). The journey takes 16 minutes, travelling 3.7km and has an elevation of 37m. Before the breakthrough construction of Kurobe Dam (黒部ダム, Kurobe Damu), this was considered one of the most inaccessible routes in Japan.

路線バス・快速バス

Local Bus and Highway Bus

A local bus runs between Ogizawa Station and Shinano-Omachi Station, which is a 1 hour ride on the Oito Line to Matsumoto Station, with the bus taking 40 minutes.

Alternatively, an express bus runs between Ogizawa Station and Nagano Station that takes 1 hour and 40 minutes.

Both routes take about the same amount of time, so those looking to take the shinkansen (新幹線, Bullet train) to Tokyo (東京, Tōkyō) should consider the express bus to Nagano Station.

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

Privacy