The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a beautiful mountain sightseeing route that connects [Toyama](/link/place/chubu/toyama-prefecture/toyama) and [Matsumoto](/link/place/chubu/nagano-prefecture/nagano) while passing through one of Japan's [Three Sacred Mountains](/term/place/three-sacred-mountains), Mount Tateyama, and also the Kurobe Dam, Japan's highest dam. The route is popular for its stunning scenery that changes with the seasons, including the 20m high snow wall in late April, and the beautiful [koyo](/term/general/koyo) in autumn. The route only operates from mid-April to late-November, and consists of a variety of different modes of transportation including buses, cable cars, and trams in order to get across. The route is generally considered by locals to be one of the most scenic routes in Japan, and a popular site for hiking and skiing. 

A single ticket is available for a one-way trip from either Toyama to Matsumoto, or a round-trip typically from either end to Murodo, the center point of the route, and back. Including sightseeing time, a single one-way trip across typically takes around 8 to 9 hours. From the Toyama side, a round-trip to Murodo and back takes around 5 to 7 hours, and a round-trip to Kurobe Dam and back takes around 8 to 9 hours. From the Matsumoto side, a round-trip to Murodo and back takes around 5 to 7 hours. The entire route is 37km long, with an elevation difference of 1.975m, and took over 20 years to build. 

Kurobe Dam along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Toyama Prefecture

Kurobe Dam.webp

Toyama Chiho Railroad

Tateyama Cable Car

Tateyama Highland Bus

Tateyama Tunnel Trolley Bus

Tateyama Ropeway

Kurobe Cable Car

Kanden Electric Bus

Local Bus and Highway Bus

Kurobe Dam Autumn.webp

Kurobe Dam Observatory.webp

Kurobe Daira.webp

Murodo.webp

Yuki no Otani.webp

Miuragaike Onsen.webp

Tateyama Soba.webp

Shira Ebiwebp.webp

Midagahara.webp

Bijodaira.webp

Midagahara Inner Course.webp

Climbing Mount Tateyama.webp

Osaka

Osaka Prefecture

Kobe

Himeji

Kinosaki Onsen

Hyogo Prefecture

Kyoto

Kyoto Prefecture

Shirahama

Wakayama Prefecture

Kansai

Shodoshima

Takamatsu

Kagawa Prefecture

Shikoku

Kurashiki

Okayama Prefecture

Chugoku

Enoshima

Kamakura

Yokohama

Miura

Kanagawa Prefecture

Tokyo

Tokyo Metropolis

Kawagoe

Chichibu

Saitama Prefecture

Kanto

Kanazawa

Ishikawa Prefecture

Takayama

Shirakawa-go

Gifu Prefecture

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Toyama Prefecture

Chubu

The Koyo season is one of the most popular seasons to visit Japan with its changing colors from green to red in [autumn](/term/general/autumn). The exact timing of Koyo varies across Japan, similar to the [Sakura](/term/general/sakura) season, typically lasting a few weeks between the early-October to late-November period.

Sakura are cherry blossoms, and are considered the national flower of Japan. They tend to bloom only for a short few weeks at the start of Spring (around April).

Japan's autumn typically runs from September to November, with temperatures ranging between 15 to 30°C. It is popular for the [koyo](/term/general/koyo) season, and is one of the most beautiful times to visit Japan.

The Three Sacred Mountains are mountains that have been worshipped since ancient times in Japan. The three mountains are [Mount Fuji](/term/place/mount-fuji), [Mount Tateyama](/term/place/mount-tateyama) and [Mount Hakusan](/term/place/mount-hakusan).

Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan at 3,776m tall, and is an active volcano. It is located along the border of Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture. It is considered one of Japan's [Three Holy Mountains](/term/place/three-holy-mountains).

Mount Tateyama is one of Japan's [Three Sacred Mountains](/term/place/three-sacred-mountains) (alongside [Mount Fuji](/term/place/mount-fuji) and [Mount Hakusan](/term/place/mount-hakusan)) located in [Toyama Prefecture](/link/place/chubu/toyama-prefecture) and is 3,015m tall. Mount Tateyama is located in the [Japanese Alps](/term/place/japanese-alps) and consists of three peaks: Onajiyama (大汝山, at 3,015 m high), Oyama (雄山, at 3,003 m high), and Fuji no Oritateyama (富士ノ折立, at 2,999m high). Mount Tateyama is also located along the [Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route](/link/place/chubu/toyama-prefecture/tateyama-kurobe-alpine-route).

Mount Hakusan is one of Japan's [Three Sacred Mountains](/term/place/three-sacred-mountains) (alongside [Mount Fuji](/term/place/mount-fuji) and [Mount Tateyama](/term/place/mount-tateyama)), and is 2,702m tall. It is a dormant volcano located in-between [Ishikawa Prefecture](/link/place/chubu/ishikawa-prefecture) and [Gifu Prefecture](/link/place/chubu/gifu-prefecture).

The Japanese Alps are a series of mountain ranges that run from north to south through [Honshu](/term/place/honshu). 

They consist of the:
* Northern Alps: Hida Mountains (飛騨山脈, *Hida-sanmyaku*)
* Central Alps: Kiso Mountains (木曽山脈, *Kiso-sanmyaku*)
* Southern Alps: Akaishi Mountains (赤石山脈, *Akaishi-sanmyaku*)

Honshu is the largest of Japan's main islands and stretches from Aomori Prefecture in the north, all the way to Yamaguchi Prefecture in the south.

Best Onsens to Soak in Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route