Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, linking Toyama and Nagano Prefecture, is a world class sightseeing roadway soaring through Mt. Tateyama heights that along with Mt. Fuji and Mt. Hakusan is one of Japan's three most beloved mountains. Snow is so abundant the route closes during winter to re-open in mid-April when snowplows blast through creating 'Yuki-no Otani' (snow canyon), an extraordinary snow corridor up to 20-meters-high which is a spectacular sight for travelers until the end of May.
The 3,000 meters high mountain range can be traveled via bus with cable cars and ropeways offering more options for visitors to enjoy grandiose views along with splendid summer alpine flora and an artist's palette of multi-colored foliage in the fall. Witnessing the drainage of Kurobe Dam, Japan's most lofty at 186 meters high, is a must do excursion between June 26 and October 15.
