Murodo is the tallest point on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, and also the largest terminal on the route with a hotel, restaurants, gift shops, an onsen, and a variety of walking routes. Throughout different seasons, visitors can find a variety of different attractions including the iconic Yuki-no-Otani (雪の大谷, Yuki no Ōtani) in Spring, a massive snow wall that goes up to almost 20m, and hiking up to Mount Tateyama (立山, Tateyama) in Summer.
Must Visits in Murodo
Mikurigaike is a beautiful volcanic lake that from July to October features a bright-blue surface from the cobalt in the pond and you can see the reflection of the peak of Mount Tateyama (立山, Tateyama) in it. It was said to be formed 10,000 years ago with a circumference of 630m, and a depth of 15m, it is said to be the most beautiful volcanic lake in the northern Japanese Alps (日本アルプス, Nihon Arupusu). The lake is typically covered in snow and frozen over between November and June.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Recommended Spots in Murodo
The Enmadai Observatory, also called the Jigokudani Observatory, is one of the best spots to can and up and close view of the sulphuric landscapes of Jigokudani (地獄谷, lit. Hell Valley). While Jigokudani was once a hiking course, the poisonous gases from the sulphuric geysers have made the area too dangerous for visitors, thus this is one of the best places where you can view it from afar.
Operating Hours
08:30 to 16:00 (Daily)
In Murodo Terminal, you can find a small takeout stand outside Tateyama Soba (立山そば) selling freshly steamed nikuman (肉まん, Steamed meat bun) that uses Kurobe Meisui Pork, a local brand of pork, as well as Oyaki (おやき), a local specialty of Nagano Prefecture (長野県, Nagano-ken).
Tateyama Soba is a standing soba (蕎麦, Buckwheat noodles) restaurant in Murodo Terminal, and is a perfect spot for a quick, easy, and heartwarming meal on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Tateyama Soba offers only three types of soba: Shira Ebi (シラエビ, Japanese glass shrimp) Kakiage (かき揚げ, Mixed vegetable tempura) Soba, Sansai Soba (soba with edible mountain vegetables), and Kitsune Soba (soba with inari-age (稲荷揚げ, Sweetened Deep-fried Tofu Pouch)). They also offer Masu Sushi as a side, which is sushi made with preserved masu (鱒).
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.
Optional Stops in Murodo
From July to September, a hiking route is available from Murodo Terminal to the peak of Mount Oyama (雄山, Oyama), one of the three peaks of Mount Tateyama (立山, Tateyama), when the area is clear of snow. The peak of Mount Oyama is at 3,003m and takes around 3 hours 40 minutes for a round-trip from Murodo Terminal.
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Getting to Murodo
From
大観峰駅
Daikanbo Station
立山ロープウェイ
Tateyama Ropeway
10 mins
¥2,200
Tateyama Tunnel Trolley Bus
Daikanbo Station
to
Murodo Terminal
From
美女平駅
Bijodaira Station
立山高原バス
Tateyama Highland Bus
50 mins
¥3,000
Tateyama Highland Bus
Bijodaira Station
to
Murodo Terminal
From
弥陀ヶ原駅
Midagahara Station
立山高原バス
Tateyama Highland Bus
20 mins
¥1,420
Tateyama Highland Bus
Midagahara Station
to
Murodo Terminal
立山黒部アルペンルート
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
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