Kurobe Dam Water Discharge on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Traveling by train allows you to avoid traffic and reach the mountainous region comfortably. Upon arrival at Matsumoto Station, you will transfer and begin your journey into the Northern Alps. Important: Final train details, including the exact meeting time and train number, will be confirmed one week before departure and sent via Viator chat. Please be sure to check your messages.

nce to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route from the Nagano side. From here, the journey into the mountains begins. This area was once extremely difficult to access before the construction of the dam and tunnel system, making your route into the Alps itself part of the experience.

From Ogizawa, you will board the Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus for a journey of approximately 16 minutes, traveling through a long mountain tunnel. Your first major highlight is Kurobe Dam, the largest dam in Japan and one of the most impressive in the world. Standing about 186 meters high and extending roughly 492 meters across, it is an extraordinary example of large-scale engineering set deep within the mountains. If conditions allow, you may witness the famous water discharge, where massive volumes of water are released into the valley below. The sound, scale, and force of the water create a powerful and unforgettable sight, and it is considered one of the key highlights of the entire Alpine Route.

From the dam, you will walk for about 15 minutes to reach Kurobe Lake, a vast reservoir formed by the dam. The still surface of the water reflects the surrounding mountains, creating a calm and open landscape that contrasts with the powerful engineering structure you just experienced.

This unique underground cable system is designed to remain stable even in severe weather conditions, offering a smooth and quiet climb deeper into the alpine area.

At Kurobedaira, you will transfer to the Tateyama Ropeway for a ride of about 7 minutes. Suspended high above the valley with no support towers along the way, this ropeway offers wide, uninterrupted panoramic views. As you move across the mountains, it feels like a floating observation deck, revealing the full scale of the surrounding alpine landscape.

You will then board the Tateyama Tunnel Electric Bus for approximately 10 minutes, passing through the heart of the mountains to reach Murodo, the highest point of the route at around 2,450 meters above sea level. Here, the environment changes completely. The air is cooler and thinner, and the landscape opens into a vast alpine plateau. You will have time to walk and take in the scenery, experiencing a part of Japan that feels remote, elevated, and far removed from the city below.

After your time at Murodo, you will begin your return journey by taking the Tateyama Tunnel Electric Bus back through the mountain tunnel.

tes, this time descending across the open valley.

You will then take the Kurobe Cable Car for about 5 minutes, followed by a walk back toward the lake and dam area.

You will cross Kurobe Dam again before boarding the Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus for the 16-minute journey back to Ogizawa. This final crossing gives you one last opportunity to take in the immense structure and the surrounding mountains before leaving the alpine region.

ur journey through the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route comes to an end on the Nagano side. From here, you will prepare for your return journey.

ith standard reserved seating for your return to Tokyo. You will arrive at Shinjuku between approximately 10:00 and 10:45 PM, where the tour concludes. Some passengers may choose to disembark earlier at Tachikawa or Hachioji. Final train details will be confirmed approximately one week before departure.