Alpine Route to Famous Japanese Snow Wall Opens

The famous Japanese Snow Corridor on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route opened on April 15, 2024. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a breathtakingly beautiful scenic route in Japan that spans from Toyama Prefecture to Nagano Prefecture. It’s a popular tourist destination, especially during spring and early summer, when the height of the Snow Wall along the route is at its peak.

The route is closed from December to April each year due to the massive snow and the roughly 500 meter (1,640 feet) long Snow Wall can be seen from mid-April to late June each year. This year, the Snow Wall was measured at 14 meters (46 feet) when the corridor opened. Known in Japanese as Yuki No Otani, it is situated at the Murodo Plateau at 2,450 meters (8,038 feet).

The 90 km (56.25 miles) route passes through the Japanese Alps and offers stunning views of snow-capped mountains, picturesque villages, and serene lakes. It takes about 2-3 hours to complete by car or bus. Several tour companies operate in the area, offering scenic bus rides  and some of the highlights along the route include:

1. Snow Walls (Yuki-no-Otani): Towering snow walls that can reach up to 20 meters high!
2. Murodo-dō: A scenic plateau with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
3. Kurobe Dam: A massive dam that offers stunning views and a glimpse into Japan’s engineering prowess.
4. Lake Kurobe: A picturesque lake with crystal-clear waters and surrounded by mountains.

The opening of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in April is celebrated with a two-month Yuki No Otani (Snow Wall) Festival. If you’re planning to visit, be sure to check the route’s opening schedule. Also, consider purchasing a special ticket or pass for unlimited transportation along the route.

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Posted by Julia Schneemann | April 28, 2024