Walking Through Snow Corridor Walls in Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (Full guide from Tokyo)
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| Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route from Tokyo via Toyama |
Going to Japan in early May is pretty confusing, because that’s the transition time between spring and summer. Usually, sakura season is full bloom in late March to mid April, unless you need to go north to see some areas that still have sakura. Winter in Japan is pretty too, but it ends on February. After February, your dream to touch the snow would never be happened.
But heyyy….here I am to tell you that your wish to touch the snow in Japan between May – October will come true.
But heyyy….here I am to tell you that your wish to touch the snow in Japan between May – October will come true.
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| Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route on May 2017 |
I didn’t plan before that I would go to Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, of course I knew that this magical place exists, but I wasn’t pretty sure what is the best time to go there. Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route opens from 15 April this year 2017 and usually close on November.
So, other than between mid April – November, I’m sorry that you can’t experience this majestic snow corridor whose walls reach up to 20 meter high.
So, other than between mid April – November, I’m sorry that you can’t experience this majestic snow corridor whose walls reach up to 20 meter high.
Let’s start from Tokyo ! it needs approximately 4-5 hours one way trip to reach Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route from Tokyo. Uhh yess it’s such a long journey, that’s why I decided to stay overnight in Toyama and not taking a one day trip. Taking one day trip to Tateyama would be so tiring and I would never recommend you guys to do so. As you might already know, I barely really enjoy such a rushing journey, I prefer slow travel to experience more the local vibes. So please don’t ask me about one day trip to Tateyama, I have really no idea :)
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| View along the way from Highland Bus to Murodo |
Here they are the complete guide to visit Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. This route is a good deal for Japan Rail Pass or Hokuriku Shinkansen Pass holder because the journey is all covered beside the tateyama kurobe route itself. These tourist pass only available to buy out of Japan. So you cannot buy on the spot in Japan, because it isn’t sold in the country. I bought it online on Tripvisto (click the link).
Before continue, please check this route :
Before continue, please check this route :
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| source : infojepang.net |
There are two ways to enjoy Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route ; First, visit all the way routes (it needs 8 transport change). Second, go up to Murodo (the highest point) and going back the same way. I started from Toyama straight to the highest point, Murodo and come back the same way. I decided to take the first option, because I stayed in Toyama, and will continue our journey down to Kanazawa.
TOKYO – TOYAMA (3 hrs)
From Tokyo to Toyama is accessible with Shinkansen train (12.000 yen one way) and took 3 hours. If you have Japan Rail Pass (28.000 yen) or Hokuriku Shinkansen Pass (24.000 yen), you don’t need to pay, it’s included.
TOYAMA – TATEYAMA STATION (1 hr)
Once arrive in Toyama Station, take the south exit and look for Dentetsu Station. Here you’ll be asked whether take a full trip or half trip. All the JR Pass would not be able to use start from here. If you wish to go up to Murodo (highest point), the price for round trip is 6.000 yen, but if you go full route start from Toyama and ended in Ogizawa, it cost 9.000 yen. You can just buy them in the station, no need to reserve.
From Tokyo to Toyama is accessible with Shinkansen train (12.000 yen one way) and took 3 hours. If you have Japan Rail Pass (28.000 yen) or Hokuriku Shinkansen Pass (24.000 yen), you don’t need to pay, it’s included.
TOYAMA – TATEYAMA STATION (1 hr)
Once arrive in Toyama Station, take the south exit and look for Dentetsu Station. Here you’ll be asked whether take a full trip or half trip. All the JR Pass would not be able to use start from here. If you wish to go up to Murodo (highest point), the price for round trip is 6.000 yen, but if you go full route start from Toyama and ended in Ogizawa, it cost 9.000 yen. You can just buy them in the station, no need to reserve.
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| The ticket from Toyama to Tateyama Station |
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| They still use old train from Toyama to tateyama |
TATEYAMA STATION – BIJODAIRA (10 minutes)
From Tateyama Station, we will continue with a cable car, the line would be so busy here as the capacity of the cable car is not that much.
From Tateyama Station, we will continue with a cable car, the line would be so busy here as the capacity of the cable car is not that much.
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| Always amaze how japanese queueing in line |
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| The cable car took 7 minutes to go up |
BIJODAIRA – MURODO (50 minutes)
Come to the most excited part ! we will continue with the Tateyama Highland bus to the Murodo terminal as the highest point. The bus will pass the highest point of Tateyama snow corridor walls and up to Murodo Terminal.
Come to the most excited part ! we will continue with the Tateyama Highland bus to the Murodo terminal as the highest point. The bus will pass the highest point of Tateyama snow corridor walls and up to Murodo Terminal.
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| On weekend, Tateyama would be so crowded |
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| The highland bus to Murodo will pass the highest snow corridor wall |
MURODO TERMINAL
Once arrive in Murodo Terminal, there will be only 1 building surrounded by the snow. The building has 4 stories, first as the lobby, second as public facilities (such as restaurant, souvenir stores), third is a gate to go out, and fourth is the hall of information. On late April, there is no snowfall anymore, but you can still see everything covered by the snow. The temperature is around 1 – 5 celcius degree, it’s pretty cold and you absolutely need to wear layers. Once you go out, there is an observation deck to look down.
Once arrive in Murodo Terminal, there will be only 1 building surrounded by the snow. The building has 4 stories, first as the lobby, second as public facilities (such as restaurant, souvenir stores), third is a gate to go out, and fourth is the hall of information. On late April, there is no snowfall anymore, but you can still see everything covered by the snow. The temperature is around 1 – 5 celcius degree, it’s pretty cold and you absolutely need to wear layers. Once you go out, there is an observation deck to look down.
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| Murodo viewpoint where to start walking on the snow corridor |
YUKI-NO-OTANI SNOW WALL
If you go right, you’ll go to the snow corridor walls area called Yuki-no-otani. You can walk through the majestic snow corridor whose walls reach up to 20 meters high. Impressive views can be seen just after the road is opened at the end of April until June. After July the walls of snow become shorter but some snow remains even in August
If you go right, you’ll go to the snow corridor walls area called Yuki-no-otani. You can walk through the majestic snow corridor whose walls reach up to 20 meters high. Impressive views can be seen just after the road is opened at the end of April until June. After July the walls of snow become shorter but some snow remains even in August
MIKURIGAIKE LAKE
If you go left, you’ll be heading to Mikurigaike Lake, another one on my list, but unfortunately I couldn’t see the lake as it was still covered by the snow. The lake will be seen start from July to October yet the view here is so amazing. We’ve spent almost 3 hours playing with the snow, and leaving the place at around 03.30 pm. It’s the same way going back, we arrived in Toyama around 08.00 pm.
If you go left, you’ll be heading to Mikurigaike Lake, another one on my list, but unfortunately I couldn’t see the lake as it was still covered by the snow. The lake will be seen start from July to October yet the view here is so amazing. We’ve spent almost 3 hours playing with the snow, and leaving the place at around 03.30 pm. It’s the same way going back, we arrived in Toyama around 08.00 pm.
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| A path to Mikurigaike Lake still covered by snow |
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| Mikurigaika Lake on August - October. source: alpen-route.com |
This route that I took will be best if you continue the journey down to Osaka/Kyoto not going back to Tokyo. However, if the plan is going back to Tokyo, taking the second option is more recommended, you can start from Toyama, taking the full routes of Tateyama kurobe and end the journey at Shinano Omachi (read the full guide about taking the full routes in Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Routes here).
As an asia girl who has spent her entire life in tropical country, this attraction is amazing, walking through the snow corridor walls is such a mind blowing experience and Japan always has interesting things in every corner.
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