Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Japan has three holy mountains: Mt. Haku, Mt. Tate, and Mt. Tateyama. Mt. Tateyama is home to the famous Tateyama Kurobe Alpine, which closes during the winter and opens back up in the spring. The date for its 2025 full route opening is April 15th. Since its grand opening in 1971, this famous Alpine has become known as the “Roof of Japan”.

The route is large as it stretches through Toyama and Nagano prefectures. “The Alpine Route has two entrances, one starting from Tateyama Station, and another from Ogizawa. Tateyama Station, located in Toyama Prefecture, is the entrance from the West, while Ogizawa Station, located in Nagano Prefecture, provides a similar function for passengers coming from the East” (Tateyama Kurobe Alpine). The Alpine route is about 90km long, and there are many transportation options once you arrive. Please take a look at the image below from the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine’s official website to see the various transportation options available.

Despite being known as the roof of Japan, the Alpine is also known for something else, hell. Due to its unique volcanic landscape, such as the hot water geysers, Mt. Tateyama has often been compared to hell. Many places even have hellish names such as “Gakinoda” or “Rice Paddy of Preta”, “Jigokudani” or “Hell Valley”, and “Chinoike” or “Blood Pond” (Tateyama Kurobe Alpine). Despite the strange imagery that may come to mind, the Alpine route has many beautiful sights and attractions that vary depending on the time of the year you choose to go.

Bijodaira, Midagahara, Murodo, Kurobe Dam, and Shomyo Falls are notable areas with nature trails, observation decks, skiing, and more. If you love snow and like sledding, you should visit Murodo in spring. If you’re more interested in taking in the scenery, the Kurobe Cruise Ship “Garube” allows you to relax as the beautiful scenery passes you by from the comfort of the ship. With so many options, choosing an activity and its available season would be a good place to start.

Spring (April-June)

In spring, you can see the famous 18-meter-tall snow walls about 10 meters high in June, blue skies, and the beautiful white raichou, ptarmigan. While ptarmigans have many different names like snow chickens and thunderbirds, they are known as messengers from god on Mt. Tateyama. “They can be seen in Murodo from late May to June, especially in the area around Mikurigaike (pond)” (Tateyama Kurobe Alpine). Hannoki Falls, the tallest waterfall in Japan, can also be seen during this time. In addition to the beautiful sights you will see during the spring, how you dress is equally important.

Tatayama Kurobe Alpine sits at an altitude of over 3000 meters; as such, the temperature, even during warmer months, is vastly different. According to the official Tateyama Kurobe Alpine website, the average monthly temperature in Murodo during April, May, and June is as follows:

April: 6°C to -3°C, May: 10°C to 3°C, and June 14°C to 7°C.

To ensure that you can enjoy your time, it is recommended that you bring waterproof shoes or boots, sunscreen, sunglasses, a warm hat, a jacket that is easy to take off, gloves, kairo (heat pads), and a scarf or a neck warmer.

Summer (June-August)

It is said that summer is the best time to visit. You can easily enjoy sightseeing, hiking, and nature walks without worrying about walls of snow. Many hiking courses are available that lead you to see the unforgettable view of Mt. Tateyama reflected in the lake. The Shomyo Falls area is also a sight to behold. “In Murodo, where the temperatures are 12 to 15 degrees lower than the plains below, plenty of snow often remains into July. You can enjoy walking on, and playing with, the snow” (Tateyama Kurobe Alpine).

The average monthly temperature in Murodo during July, August, and September is as follows:

July 16°C to 11°C, August 18°C to 11°C, and September 15°C to 9°C

It is recommended to bring sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and breathable clothes that cover your skin to protect it from the sunshine. The sunshine not only brings new flowers to the surface in the subalpine zone, but it also brings out many rare animal species. The subalpine zone is an ecosystem found in high-elevation zones such as mountains. They are found below tree lines in mountainous regions.

The flowers and vegetation found in these areas are influenced by the harsh climates found in the mountains, which include strong winds, cold temperatures, and, at times, a lack of moisture. This harsh environment created some beautiful flowers, such as the Asian skunk cabbage (June), cottongrass (June-August), and daylily (July-August). In addition to ptarmigans, there are many more wild birds at the Bijodaira beech forest. The stoat and Japanese antelope, a protected species, can also be found in the Alpine.

Autumn (September-October)

During autumn, the leaves begin to change colors, lasting for about six weeks, from the end of September to the beginning of November. The leaves begin to change at the top of the mountain and work their way down. This in itself is a beautiful attraction. Some natural attractions that can be seen during autumn are the deciduous trees and insects. Deciduous trees are trees that shed their leaves annually. The deciduous trees that can be seen during autumn are the Japanese rowan, Japanese beech, and Erman’s birch. There are also beautiful butterflies and dragonflies out on the mountain before the snowfall begins, the lesser marbled fritillary and the oriental whiteface dragonfly.

It is important to note that snowfall begins at the end of October. The average monthly temperatures are as follows:

September: 15°C to 9°C and October: 10°C to 3°C. With the temperature beginning to drop, it is recommended that you bring a warm jacket or a windbreaker, sunglasses, and a warm hat.

Winter (November)

Due to heavy snowfall, this is the last chance of the year to visit the Alpine. Murado, the highest point of Mt. Tateyama, is usually covered in snow by the end of November and remains that way until spring. Bus services can be delayed or suspended any time due to heavy snowfall or high winds. If that happens, those who are going to Murodo for the snow are recommended to go to Omachi IN. “Hardly any of the vehicles on the Ogizawa-Murodo line will stop in Murodo due to the effects of the snow. With Omachi IN, you won’t be able to pass through if service on the Bijodaira–Murodo line is temporarily stopped. Still, you will be able to go to Murodo (via a round trip from Shinano-Omachi/Ogizawa to Murodo)” (Tateyama Kurobe Alpine). This is the perfect season to go hiking.

The average temperature in November is 2°C to -5°C, so it is recommended to wear heavy winter clothing such as a warm, woolly hat, snowshoes, gloves, sunglasses, and a scarf or neck warmer.

Regardless of when you will be visiting the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine, be sure to check the official website for important notices, dress according to the season, and have fun.