(Spring Only) 1-Day Snow Walls of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route Tour

Once at the top station, you can stay with your guide or explore the snowfields by yourself

Inaccessible through winter, the immense Snow Walls are carved-out each spring and open to the public from April onward.

At just under 2500 metres above sea level, the landscape is dramatic and beautiful.

Sure to be one of the highlights of your time in Japan, the Alpine Route opens-up a dramatic mountain landscape

... and while there, keep your eyes open for the local residents!

But to reach them, you must first use a series of mountain transports - starting from the Nagano-side of the mountain - including electric tunnel buses, cable cars and a ropeway.

Indeed, using the mountain transport to reach the Snow Walls is all part of the adventure.

On the way to the top you'll stop at Kurobe Dam - an immense feat of engineering and source of national pride

(Spring Only) 1-Day Snow Walls of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route Tour

Your guide will lead you every step of the way, ensuring your journey to and from the top is smooth, informative and above all else, great fun.

All transport costs are included the price of the tour.

This tour is capped at a maximum of 14 guests and we use our own transport to and from the Alpine Route.

Duration10h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Group sizeUp to 40 travelers

Overview

After pickup in Nagano City, this tour takes you to the 'Roof of Japan' and the fabled Snow Walls of the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route. Situated in the dramatic alpine landscape of the Chubu Sangaku National Park, this is one of Japan’s most iconic and unique sights, accessible only in spring and early summer and via a series of different mountain transports. Led by an English-speaking guide, you will be accompanied on every leg of your journey to the 'Roof of Japan' and back down again – the perfect way to experience one of Japan’s more remote and stunning landscapes.

Options

From Nagano Station 08:45

From Nagano Station

From Hotel Kokusai 21 07:50

Meeting Point: The meetup point is at the entrance of Hotel Kokusai 21 at 7:50. This is group tour and the tour needs to depart on time.

What's included

Tateyama Kurrobe Alpine Route return ticket to / from Ogizawa
Transportation to / from all listed destinations
English-speaking guide

Lunch & other snacks or drinks
Shinkansen/ 'Bullet Train' tickets to & from Nagano
Accommodation

What to expect

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
6h · Admission ticket included

Starting and ending in Nagano City, this tour takes you to the “Roof of Japan” and the fabled Snow Walls of the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route. Situated in the dramatic alpine landscape of the Chubu Sangaku National Park, this is one of Japan’s most iconic and unique sights, accessible only in spring and early summer and via a series of different mountain transports. Led by an English-speaking guide, you will be accompanied on every leg of your journey to the Roof of Japan and back down again - the perfect way to experience one of Japan`s more remote and stunning landscapes.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

The meetup point is at the entrance of Hotel Kokusai 21 at 7:50. Please note that this is group tour and there are other pick-up points therefore the tour will need to depart on-time.

Meeting point

The meetup point is inside the station, in front of the Information Board directly across from the Shinkansen ticket gates. Look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag. Please ensure you are there early as the tour will need to depart at latest 5 minutes after the listed start time.

End point

The meetup point is at the entrance of Hotel Kokusai 21 at 7:50. Please note that this is group tour and there are other pick-up points therefore the tour will need to depart on-time.

End point

The meetup point is inside the station, in front of the Information Board directly across from the Shinkansen ticket gates. Look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag. Please ensure you are there early as the tour will need to depart at latest 5 minutes after the listed start time.

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please wear suitable shoes for walking through snow and cold conditions (with the possibility of temperatures below 0°C).
Please bring sunglasses as the snow in combination with sunlight can produce intense glare. We also recommend wearing snowboots or good quality walking boots, if you wish to walk on the snowfields.
This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travellers. Should you have any concerns about your ability to join the tour, please contact us to discuss prior to booking.
This tour does not include lunch. Food can be purchased at different mountain stations with different restaurants to choose from at the summit.
The Snow Wall walking corridor is subject to sudden closure by local alpine authorities due to high winds, heavy snow, or safety concerns. Please note that if the walking corridor closes but mountain transportation remains operational, the tour will proceed with alternative indoor/outdoor alpine viewing, and no refunds will be issued. Full refunds are only provided if the entire transport route to the mountain is canceled prior to departure.
The itinerary is based on the traffic conditions being optimal. We will adjust the schedule according to traffic conditions and pace of the group on the day of the tour.
Infants (aged 0-5) are free of charge. As a result, we cannot guarantee that a seat on the tour transport will be available for infants and they may be required to sit in the lap of an adult.
Given the popularity of the Alpine Route and the need to wait for transports on busy days, we cannot guarantee the end time of the tour however it should be no later than 19:00. We ask that all guests cooperate with the instructions of the guide, including meetup times for transports, to avoid any chance of delay.
All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

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