‘Roof of Japan’: Giant snow corridor opens to visitors
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: The 90-kilometer sightseeing route, which stretches along the Japan Alps, opens every April to November. Its biggest attraction is the impressive Snow Wall Walk.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpone Route
Snow Wall Walk: The stunning snow corridor in Yuki no Otani (or Great Valley of Snow), near Murodo station, is flanked with snow walls that rise as high as 17 meters.
courtesy Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
Snow corridor: The otherworldly pathway is the result of months of strenuous work by snowplow drivers. Workers began removing snow from the roadway in January.
courtesy Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
A seasonal attraction: The walk takes around 50 minutes to complete and stays open until June 22. The wall starts to recede as the weather warms in June.
courtesy Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
A popular checkpoint: Local officials expect more than 5,000 visitors daily in April and May.
courtesy Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
More snowy fun: Other highlights along the Snow Wall Walk include Panorama Road (with views of the Tateyama peaks), a snow hut, a snow maze (pictured and a snow slide.
courtesy Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
The long road: The entire Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, stretching from Tateyama Station in Toyama Prefecture to Ogizawa Station in Nagano Prefecture, can easily take more than six hours to drive.
courtesy Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
Accommodations: There are multiple accommodations available along the route. Some hotels will arrange activities like star-gazing and bird-watching.
courtesy Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
Public transportation only: Private cars are prohibited. Visitors can only use local public transportation, while trek is allowed only in designated areas.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpone Route
Want to avoid the crowd? For visitors hoping to avoid the crowds, it's advised to visit in June, when the wall will still be standing higher than 10 meters and the weather will be warmer.