Summary
This plan is for the second day of a two day/one night solo trip to Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture and the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in Toyama Prefecture! On the second day, we went sightseeing along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in Toyama Prefecture, taking an electric bus, a cable car, a ropeway, and a trolleybus.It was too fresh and adventurous to ride so many rides in one day! The final point is 2,450m above sea level! The view of Kurobe Dam, the surrounding mountains and Mikurigaike Pond is so spectacular that it’s almost like a painting ✨ The higher the altitude, the closer I could feel the sky and clouds, and although there was a strong wind, we were blessed with good weather for an enjoyable trip into the great outdoors.
Please refer to this page!
*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.
See article on Day 1
Travel Itinerary
8:00am Ogisawa Station（扇沢駅）
The second day started from Ogisawa Station! From here, take the electric bus to Kurobe Dam Station! We spent some time in the station until the bus arrived. The station is also fun with lots to see and do.
Surrounding Views
Clouds are close! It is already cool here at an altitude of 1433 meters.
Purchase a ticket from a ticket machine
You can go from “Ogisawa” to the final point “Murodo” in one piece!
inside a train station
inside a train station
Goods are sold and
Now it’s time to get on board!
It’s easy because all you have to do is scan the QR code on your ticket!
Ogisawa Station is a bus stop for Kansai Electric Power Company’s Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus in Taira, Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture. It is the starting point on the Nagano side and the terminus on the Toyama side, where electric buses bound for the Alpine Route Kurobe Dam operate. Inside the station there are displays of photos and panels, and there is also a general information center nearby where visitors can obtain a variety of information on the Alpine Route.
Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus
During the construction of the Kurobe Dam, this electric bus was the vehicle that ran in the tunnel to transport materials. It is an environmentally friendly vehicle that does not emit CO2. During the ride, passengers can listen to explanations about the tunnel and the bus! This is the only bus that will take you to Kurobe Dam; it takes about 16 minutes to reach the Kurobe Dam station!
Fracture zones.
That blue light is the famous fracture zone! It seems to be the area where cold groundwater and sediment spewed out, and was said to be the most difficult point during the construction of this tunnel.
Border between prefectures! Entering Toyama Prefecture.
The yellow light is the border between prefectures! Entering Toyama Prefecture from Nagano Prefecture!
The Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus is a bus operated by Kansai Electric Power Company that connects Ogisawa Station in Taira, Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture, to Kurobe Dam Station in Tateyama Town, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture, via the Kanden Tunnel. The bus rides through the tunnel, which was used to transport materials during the construction of the Kurobe Dam, and is an environmentally friendly vehicle that does not emit CO₂. The bus is the only bus that can take you to the Kurobe Dam. 16 minutes to the Kurobe Dam Station.
9:30am Kurobe Dam Station（黒部ダム駅）
Arrive at Kurobe Dam Station! Upon arrival, you can choose your route to the dam.
Select a route to the dam
This time, I chose the hard mode because I wanted to see the dam from above!
A 220-step staircase awaits you…
Spring water in fracture zone in the tunnel
A spring water found at the point where there are still 100 steps left to reach the goal!
Kurobe Dam Station, located in Ashikuraji, Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture, is a bus stop for the Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus operated by Kansai Electric Power Co. Around the station, there are Kurobe Dam Rest House and free rest area. Also, you can see the sightseeing water discharge of the dam from the observatory.
10:00am Kurobe Dam（黒部ダム）
Finally, we arrived at the Kurobe Dam! The view of the Kurobe Dam from above is worth all the hard work on the stairs ✨It’s a spectacular view!
Kurobe Dam Observation platform rest area
Elevation 1,508 meters above sea level
Commemorative Visitor Card
We were given a free photo to commemorate our visit.Get a picture with Kurobe Dam!Photo service is great because selfies have some limitations ✨
viewing platform
Kuronyon.
Official character of Kurobe Dam
Rainbow Terrace
The last stop on the outer staircase is the new observation plaza, Rainbow Terrace. This is the most powerful spot to see the dam’s water discharge at close range, and the green mountains are very beautiful. We were also lucky enough to see a rainbow!
New Observation Plaza
Here, you can enjoy the history of the Kurobe Dam construction with panels and videos.
tunnel set
Tunnel set 3.3 m high and 4.4 m wide
The Black Four Construction Monument
Tire tracks and footprints of dump trucks from the time of dam construction remain intact.
Kurobe Dam is located in Ashikuraji, Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture. There are several hundred steps leading up to the observatory where you can see the Kurobe Dam from the top, but the view beyond the observatory is breathtaking. The sightseeing water discharge is held from late June to mid-October, and the sight of water spraying at a rate of more than 10 tons per second is breathtaking.
10:30am Kurobe Dam Rest House（黒部ダムレストハウス）
Here, the first floor is a souvenir shop and the second floor is a restaurant where light meals are served. There are also limited edition souvenirs and other items.
ice break
The wind was so strong I thought the ice cream would be blown away. It was delicious!
dam
Walk to “Kurobeko Station”.
The center of the dam
High…
View from the center of the dam
Beautiful✨
Walk through the tunnel to the cable car platform.
Kurobe Dam Rest House is a restaurant located in Ashikuraji, Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama. You can have meals such as the famous Kurobe Dam Curry and shop for Kurobe Dam goods and souvenirs. There are also rest areas on the 1st and 3rd floors.
Kurobeko Station（黒部湖駅）
Transfer to the cable car at Kurobeko Station to go to Kurobedaira Station! The ride takes about 5 minutes. It runs on a steep slope with a maximum gradient of 31 degrees and takes you to the top! The only all-underground cable car in Japan.
place for boarding vehicles
cable car
It’s quick and fun!
Kurobeko Station is a cable car station located in Ashikuraji, Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture. You can change to the cable car to go to Kurobedaira Station, and the ride takes about 5 minutes. It runs on the steep slope with the maximum gradient of 31 degrees and takes you to the top. It is also known as the only all underground cable car in Japan.
Kurobedaira Station（黒部平駅）
It takes about 5 minutes from Kurobeko Station by cable car!
Cable car ride
They’re coming through the tunnel.
Kurobedaira Station is the last stop of Kurobe Cable Car located in Ashikuraji, Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture. It takes about 5 minutes from Kurobeko Station by cable car. The surrounding area is rich in nature and is well known by word of mouth for its seasonal scenery.
Kurobedaira Panorama Terrace（黒部平パノラマテラス）
I had some time before the transfer, so I went to the terrace.The hotel offers a magnificent 360-degree panoramic view and a sense of openness!
Entrance
The gondolas were just visible from the terrace!
Kurobedaira Panorama Terrace, located in Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture, offers a 360-degree panoramic view. It is a place where you can take a stroll in the nearby garden, making it a perfect place to wait for your ride. There are also a variety of restaurants and stores to make your trip more enjoyable.
Tateyama Ropeway（立山ロープウェイ）
Take the Tateyama ropeway to Daikanbo! It is characterized by the absence of support pillars.
scenery
scenery
The scenery was too beautiful, fantastic and moving, as if it were not Japan!
The Tateyama Ropeway, located in Tateyama Town, Toyama Prefecture, is a cable car that can be used as a means of transportation. The ropeway features a one-span system with no pillars, and its length is the longest in Japan. In autumn, the mountains are tinged with autumn leaves, creating a fantastic scene.
Daikanbo Station（大観峰駅）
We arrived at Daikanbo Station!The distance is 1.7 km and it takes about 7 minutes to get there.
Daikanbo Cloud Terrace（大観峰雲上テラス）
Daikanbo Station, located in Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture, is served by two train lines and is a connecting station for both lines. As the station is on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, visitors are not allowed to go outside except to the rooftop observation deck.
Tateyama Tunnel Trolleybus（立山トンネルトロリーバス）
Take Japan’s only “trolley bus” connecting Daikanbo Station and Murodo Station, the final stop, which takes about 10 minutes! The “trolleybus” is unique in that it is not fueled by petroleum, but runs on electricity supplied by the train line!
The Tateyama Tunnel Trolleybus in Tateyama Town is the only remaining trolleybus in Japan today. This trolleybus is a member of the train family, not a bus, because it runs on electricity supplied from train lines, not petroleum fuel. It is still in operation and loved by many people.
Murodo Station（室堂駅）
Last stop! The trolley bus is legally classified as a train, which means that Murodo is the highest railroad station in Japan!
Murodo Station is located in Ashikuraji, Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture, and is the highest station in Japan. The facilities include a restaurant, a tea lounge and an observation terrace, and it is also dotted with many attractions representing the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
Daikanbo Cloud Terrace（大観峰雲上テラス）
It’s not the last stop, but it’s already 2,316 meters … The air was a bit thin and I felt the altitude!
superb view
Daikanbo Cloud Terrace is located in Ashikuraji, Tateyama Town, Nakaniikawa County, Toyama Prefecture. It is adjacent to Daikanbo Station, the station of Tateyama Trolley Tunnel Bus and Tateyama Ropeway. From here, you can enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramic view of Kurobe Lake and Mt.
Hotel Tateyama（ホテル立山）
I was hungry, so I had lunch inside a hotel directly connected to m station. It seems that the hotel is located at the highest point in Japan at 2,450 meters above sea level. Amazing!
Hotel Tateyama is a resort hotel located in Murodo, Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture. Located at an elevation of 2,450 meters above sea level, it is the highest hotel in Japan with a spectacular 360-degree view, and is also said to be the closest hotel to the stars.
12:00pm Tea Lounge Rindo（ティーラウンジりんどう）
Go to the tea lounge in the “Hotel Tateyama” adjacent to Murodo Station.
Roast beef lunch 2,500 yen (with drink for +500 yen) order!Japanese sauce and tender meat, this makes me happy.I love that it comes with soup, salad, and bread!
Exterior
Interior
Relaxed interior with a sense of luxury
Menu
Original menus such as Kurobe Dam chiffon cake and a choice of two types of value-priced lunch are popular.
Drink Menu
curry menu
Lunch Menu
Tea Lounge Rindo is located in Ashikuraji, Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture. The coffee brewed with spring water from Tateyama is very popular. You can also enjoy shopping, so it is a perfect place to stop by between sightseeing.
Tateyama
Finally, we reached an altitude of 2,450 meters. Actually, there is no mountain called “Tateyama,” but rather a collective name for three mountains.It’s so beautiful, it’s no longer on the level of a painting… ✨
After recharging our batteries with lunch, we went for a walk in Murodo.There are several walking courses, and this time we tried the 60-minute Mikurigaike Circumference Course!
Tateyama is the collective name for three mountains in Tateyama Town, Nakaniikawa County, Toyama Prefecture. Its beauty is at the level of a painting. Visitors can enjoy lunch in Murodo or take a walking course.
1:00pm Mikurigaike Pond（みくりが池）
Mikurigaike is the most beautiful volcanic lake in the Northern Alps. It is said that when there are no waves, the mountains are reflected in the pond, making it look like a big heart!
On the way to Mikurigaike
Mikurigaike Pond
going up and down stairs
It was a pretty thrilling walk, too windy.
Map
Mikurigaike Pond in Ashikuraji, Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture is a volcanic lake with a circumference of 630m and a depth of 15m formed about 10,000 years ago and is said to be the most beautiful volcanic lake in the Northern Alps. The high pine trees along the lakeside are a habitat area for grouse, a special natural treasure.
Murododaira（室堂平）
The highest point, Murododaira, is 2,450 meters above sea level. It’s too beautiful, like something out of a fairy tale…
I didn’t know such a view existed in Japan!
It seems there are other unusual creatures besides grouse!
Murodoudaira, located in Ashikuraji, Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture, is a popular mountain spot for outdoor activities and sightseeing. Murodoudaira, at an elevation of 2400m above sea level, shows different expressions depending on the season and offers beautiful scenery.
2:00pm Hotel Tateyama Shten（ホテル立山 売店）
It is time to go home, so we will buy souvenirs here at the end of the day! There were various sweets and snacks limited to Tateyama and cute stuffed animals for sale. Since I was there, I bought a stuffed grouse and Tateyama local beer.
Various sweets
stuffed toy
Too cute!
purchased goods
Stuffed grouse and Tateyama local beer✨
Hotel Tateyama Shoten is located in Ashikuraji, Tateyama-cho, Nakaniikawa-gun, Toyama Prefecture and is the highest point in Japan at 2,450 meters above sea level. Sweets, snacks and cute stuffed toys only available in Tateyama are sold here.