Wanting to walk in the clouds?
Okay, this isn't anything like Granblue Fantasy where I send you to kingdoms in skies, but we are talking about the tallest route in Japan - one of the best, and doesn't even require efforts to hike!
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is also called the roof of Japan. As per the name implies, as the roof, you can imagine how tall this place it is. This route crosses over the northern Japan between Omachi and Toyama, so there are definitely a lot of good treats to your eyes along the way.
Because you can see two walls full of snow, many have mistaken this place as a winter attraction, but actually, it isn't. This route is only open to visitors between every mid-April until early November, from spring until autumn.
The best time to visit here for the snow walls are Mid-April until June. The rest of the months will welcome you with stunning landscapes.
To visit this place, a high level of patience will be required, as it isn't one-road straight.
You will be required to have the patience to switch between different types of transportation.
Unique, isn't it?
As the above image shows, you will be switching from one to another for a one-way journey.
If you love taking photos of nature, and is getting interested to visit here, read on.
Let's talk about how we can come here!
- Generally, you start from Toyama Station. From Toyama Station, take a train via Dentetsu Chiho Railway to Tateyama Station that will take approximately an hour.
- Upon arrival to Tateyama Station, switch to the cable car in Tateyama and disembark at Bijodaira Station, with just a short 7 minute ride.
- From Bijodaira Station, here is where you begin to board a bus to Murodo. Here is where most of the tourists will be anticipating as this is where the Snow Wall Corridor is at. On both sides, you will see the snow walls that can be as tall as 20m (melts as it gets closer to summer, of course). The bus will stop at a few places and you can disembark and have a closer look at the snow corridor! The corridor is about 1km long. You can spend your time here as long as you don't miss the last transportation back.
- Without considering the stopping time spent, the Highland Bus ride takes about 50 minutes. You'll then switch to the Tateyama Trolley Bus at Murodo that will bring you to Daikanbo in just 10 minutes' time, where you will love the observation deck that shows beautiful mountains.
- From Daikanbo Station, you will be taking the Tateyama Ropeway (about 7 minutes) to Kurobedaira, another beautiful place to visit. If you are afraid of heights (acrophobia), make sure you never look down - what you see in front of you are stunning.
- Kurobedaira is a transit station. From here, you'll need to take a cable car to Kurobeko Station through a 5-minute in-tunnel journey. If you love souvenirs, here is where you get your goodies.
- Right beside Kurobeko Station, there's a famous dam as tall as 186m - the famous Kurobe Dam (not D*mn, hah!) that offers beautiful views during autumn too! If you are here from June until November, there's a cruise service available and you can look around on the waters.
- From Kurobe Dam, it's time to take the Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus to Ogizawa-Omachi station. From there, take a bus to Shinano-Omachi Station and you are done for the day!
If you do have the intention to visit Takayama and Matsumoto too, why not consider the Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass? It's a 5-day pass that is priced at approximately MYR 600 only.
Otherwise, H.I.S. Travel Malaysia can also offer customized tours for your alpine route!
Will you be going there next time? If yes, when? Let me know! :)
Until next time!
