Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: Japan’s 20-meter-deep snow corridor reopens for visitors

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A large snow corridor near the otherworldly Mount Tateyama, a single of Japan’s three sacred mountains, is reopening to tourists on April 15.

Known as Yuki no Otani (or Terrific Valley of Snow), this 500-meter-long pathway cuts by means of towering snow partitions that rise up to 20 meters at the greatest level of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.

Stretching throughout the Toyama and Nagano prefectures north of Tokyo, the 90-kilometer sightseeing route – dubbed the “Roof of Japan” – presents amazing views of the 3,015-meter Mount Tateyama and 2,478-meter Mount Akazawa-dake peaks, whilst delivering accessibility to every thing from Japan’s maximum altitude scorching spring to the country’s highest waterfall.

But the route’s most important attraction is the snow stroll, which usually takes all around 20 minutes to traverse and will keep on being open till June 25.

The tourist attraction is the outcome of months of physically demanding operate by snowplow drivers who carve via the snowed-in Tateyama Toll Highway.

The opening of the Yuki no Otani stroll also marks the resumption of site visitors via the overall Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route at the end of winter.

Other points of interest in the location consist of a separate Panorama Road, which offers trekkers much better sights of Mount Tsurugi, portion of the Tateyama vary. This 1 is only open up till May well 7.

Tourists can also pay a visit to the Snow Kamakura (Japanese igloo) and Snow Tunnel at Daikanbo Station, which also has an observation deck supplying panoramic views of the Japanese Alps.

For the initially time, 2023 readers can help shovel the icy snow and choose part in producing a new route – or as the attraction web-site calls the event, “Kuzusou Yukikabe (Let us break the snow wall).”

The Snow Wall and other attractions may close for the duration of adverse temperature. Guests should check the formal web-site, Alpen-route.com, right before earning the journey.

For these who would like to stay clear of crowds, the internet site encourages guests to consider going in June.

“Even in late June, the partitions are nevertheless over 10 meters higher. As there are much less readers in June, you can take pleasure in a far more calm sightseeing practical experience. Also, the climate in June is warm and extra predictable,” claims the formal web site.

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route beginning factors are Tateyama Station in the west or Ogizawa Station in the east, although the Wonderful Valley of Snow can be accessed from Murodo Station, which at 2,450 meters significant is the maximum station on the route.

It requires all-around an hour to achieve Murodo Station from Tateyama Station, a journey that features a 50-moment scenic bus experience and a cable car journey.

Tourists can decide to stay in a single of the mountain lodging on offer you.

As personal automobiles are prohibited, guests must use neighborhood community transportation and trek along selected parts.

Some of the most scenic trekking routes contain Bijodaira, a primeval forest that is dwelling to 1,000-calendar year-aged cedars and beech trees, and Murodo (in close proximity to the snow wall stroll), where guests can discover the photogenic volcanic crater lake of Mikurigaike and the oldest mountain hut in Japan.

The route is also household to Japan’s greatest altitude sizzling spring – Mikurigaike Onsen at 2,410 meters in Murodo – and the country’s maximum waterfall – Shōmyō Falls, which rises 350 meters.

Eager mountaineers can try a single of the summits of Mount Tate, which give views as significantly as Mount Fuji on a clear working day.

Vacationers traveling to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route are encouraged to wear winter season apparel and gear ideal for trekking or mountaineering.

There are a selection of approaches to entry the place, with standard trains building the journey from Tokyo to Tateyama Station, although travelers will want to modify trains in Toyama. Extra vacation selections can be observed on the Alpen-route.com web site.