What this area is like
A mountain route crossing the Northern Alps by cable car, bus, ropeway and trolley bus. In spring, the Yuki-no-Otani snow walls near Murodo can rise up to about 20 metres, and Kurobe Dam releases water in summer and autumn.
Plan your visit
Book tickets in advance in busy periods and carry a warm layer: Murodo is about 2,450 metres high.
Choose your next step
Places to see in this area
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
A mountain crossing of the Northern Alps by cable car, buses, ropeway and trolley bus, passing Murodo’s high plateau and the Kurobe Dam.
- Access
- Toyama side: Tateyama Station (Toyama Chiho Railway). Nagano side: bus from JR Shinano-Omachi Station to Ogizawa.
- Hours
- Usually mid-April to late November; closed in winter.
- Fee
- Fares are charged per section; check the official site for through tickets.
- Address
- Senjugahara, Tateyama-machi, Nakaniikawa District, Toyama (Tateyama Station)
It is 12–13°C colder at the top than below, so bring warm layers. The Snow Wall at Murodo stands from mid-April to June.
How to plan your time here
- Allow a full day for the crossing, and send big luggage ahead by courier between Toyama and Nagano.
- Toyama is about 2 hours 10 minutes from Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen.
Information checked 26 October 2026. Plans are JapaLens editorial suggestions, not on-site reviews. Hours and fees can change; check the official page before you go.