1-Day Tateyama-Kurobe Tour: Walking on the 'Roof of Japan'

This tour takes you high into Japan's tallest mountain range to walk in the sacred shadow of Mount Tate - one of Japan's three most sacred mountains.

Your guide will accompany you on a leisurely walk explaining the importance of the alpine landscape including the role of mountain worship in Japan.

Construction of the Kurobe Dam led to the development of the mountain transports that today lead to Japan's highest station - Murodo at 2450 metres above sea level.

To reach the top, you must first use a series of mountain transports including electric tunnel buses, cable cars and a ropeway. Though only 5-minutes in duration, the expansive ropeway is a highlight

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

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.

En route to the top, you will pass Kurobe Dam - Japan's highest dam and an epic feat of engineering.

Construction of the dam is now a source of national pride and the reason that much of the infrastructure and transports exist today.

A unique experience, the transports are all part of the fun!

From July to November, the plateau below the mountain summit offers leisurely alpine walking.

Your guide will take you along a circuit of around 1 hour - suitable for anyone of reasonable fitness - offering fantastic alpine views.

As the snow melts through summer, ponds shimmer and reflect the mountains above and alpine flowers burst into life.

Of course if you prefer to explore by yourself, that's perfectly fine. Your guide will set a meetup point and time and set you free to enjoy.

Through September and October, the autumn colours can be truly stunning.

The ropeway often seems as though it floats above a forest of burning colours.

Though the summit is above the tree-line, the grass and shrubs of the alpine meadows burn with colour.

All transport costs are included the price of the tour.

Duration8h - 11h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Group sizeUp to 14 travelers

Overview

This tour takes you to the 'Roof of Japan' in summer and autumn to experience in the stunning and lush alpine landscape and one of Japan’s three sacred mountains, Mount Tate. 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.

What's included

Transport to/from all listed destinations
English-speaking guide
Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route ticket

Lunch
Other food, snacks & drinks
Accommodation
Shinkansen/Bullet Train tickets

What to expect

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
6h · Admission ticket included

Situated in the dramatic alpine landscape of the Chubu Sangaku National Park, the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route traverses Japan’s highest mountain range and in doing so carries visitors to the so-called ‘Roof of Japan’. Using mountain transports to and from the Nagano-side of the mountain range, you will ascend to around 2450 metres above sea level and Murodo Station using a series of tunnel buses, cable cars and ropeways.

The journey will take you from the base station to Kurobe Dam – an epic feat of engineering – before heading further above to the stop station of Murodo. Once at Murodo, your guide will accompany you on a guided walk of a leisurely trail in the shadow of the mountain summit above at 3000 metres. This is a stunning landscape of alpine flowers in summer – July to August – followed by some of Japan’s most stunning autumn colours – September to October.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

The meeting point is in front of the Information Board, directly opposite the shinkansen ticket gates at 8:15. Your guide will be wearing a 'Snow Monkey Resorts' tour tag.

End point

The meeting point is in front of the Information Board, directly opposite the shinkansen ticket gates at 8:15. Your guide will be wearing a 'Snow Monkey Resorts' tour tag.

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
At its highest point, this tour transports guests to over 2500 metres above sea level and spends a considerable amount of time outside. The temperature is likely to be notably cooler than in the valley and cities below. Average day-time temperatures are as follows: Average day-time temperatures are as follows: July 11 to 16°C / August 12 to 18°C / September 9 to 15°C / October 3 to 10°C / November -5 to 2°C. Please dress appropriately for those temperatures and note that weather conditions can change quickly. Ensure you bring a waterproof jacket, hat and wear good quality shoes or boots.
The sun can be strong at the summit therefore please ensure you have a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Please also carry water or something to drink (noting there are chances to buy bottled drinks along the way).
This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travels. 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. Snacks can be purchased at different mountain stations with different restaurants to choose from at the summit.
In case of extreme weather conditions, routes to the snow corridor might close. In such a case, the tour will be cancelled with full refund.
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 (0-5) are free of charge.
If there are no guests joining for Hakuba, the tour will run approximately 1 hour faster with an estimated end time in Nagano of between 17:30 to 18:30. Guests wishing to book onward train tickets should do so for services after 19:30. If the tour returns early, it should be possible to change your train time at the ticket office.
The tour application deadline is 2 days before the tour date at 17:00.
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

4.9 (23)

From

33,000.00 JPY per person

Check availability & book

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.

Operated by Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.) · Booked through Viator

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