FAQ

The Alpine Route starts from Tateyama Station in Toyama Prefecture in the West and Ogizawa Station in Nagano Prefecture in the East.

The next departure timing is shown in the display monitor above the station exit. Timetables are also available at all stations. On the display monitors and timetable, services running from Tateyama to Ogizawa are shown in green while services from Ogizawa to Tateyama are shown in blue.

Personal vehicles are prohibited from entering the area as the Alpine Route is designated as a national park. Please park your car at the car park of Tateyama Station or Ogizawa Station. Car Delivery Service (chargeable) is available for those who would like to pass through the Alpine Route.

When passing through the Alpine Route, you can use the Car Delivery Service and receive your car at the station at the other end of the route. The time required for delivery is about 5 hours.
However, a prior reservation is required.

• Tateyama Traffic Service Web site : English
• Omachi Traffic Web site : Japanese
• Sankei Co., Ltd Web site : Japanese
• Nissei Web site : Japanese
• Alpine Carry Service Web site : Japanese

Reservation is only required for groups of more than 15 persons.

Same-day tickets are sold at the ticket counter in Tateyama Station and Ogizawa Station.

You can buy the ticket required for the route you are passing through as a single common ticket. You can also buy additional tickets at the various stations along the Alpine Route.
Tickets from Toyama Station to Tateyama Station and from Shinano Omachi Station to Ogizawa Station are only available at the respective stations.
The tickets are valid for 5 days. Please refer to the fare table for the fares.

Credit cards are accepted for purchasing tickets within the Alpine Route.
* Credit cards are accepted at the Dentestu Toyama,Tateyama sta,Ogizawa sta.

You can stopover along the way, but you will need to book a time on the next bus that you take after getting off the bus.

It takes about 20 minutes by bus from Tateyama Station and another 30 minutes on foot from there. The bus runs at hourly intervals. The bus stop is in front of the ticket counter at Tateyama Station. Fares are paid inside the bus.

A Regular bus services to JR Shinano Omachi Station, express bus services to JR Nagano Station, and expressway bus services to JR Shinjuku (Tokyo) are available from Ogizawa Station.(For limited time only)

Before entering the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, we will pass you the limited tickets for use within the Alpine Route. The place for handing over the tickets is either Dentetsu Toyama Station, Tateyama Station or Ogizawa Station.
Please show the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Ticket to the station staff. In return, the staff will pass you the tickets for the Alpine Route.

Including transfer and sightseeing times, it takes about 6 to 7 hours to pass through the Alpine Route from Tateyama Station to Ogizawa Station. For return trips such as those between Tateyama Station and Kurobe Dam, about 8 to 9 hours is required. At peak periods, it may be better to set aside another 1-2 hours.

There are many hotels around Toyama Station, Tateyama Station and Omachi Onsenkyo. There are also hotels within the Alpine Route. see accommodation page.

On the right side of the top page, there are web links to the live camera image at Murodo as well as the weather and temperature at the foot of the mountain.

There are a few trekking courses available, such as those in Murodo, Midagahara and Bijodaira. Please refer to the walking map for details.

You can walk along the Snow Wall from the opening day in April until the end of June. The entrance of the Snow Wall is about 5 minutes’ walking distance from the Murodo Stationl, and a return trip from there takes about 50 minutes by walking.

Depending on the altitude, fall foliage can be seen from mid-September to early-November. See here for details.

Water will be released from the Kurobe Dam between 26th June and 15th October. During this period, an immense amount of water discharged at more than 10 tons per second can be seen up close.

There is a restaurant or snackbar at every station. The restaurants are atTateyama station、Midagahara station、Murodo、Kurobedaira, and Kurobe dam.

There are several hotels and mountain lodges in Murodo, Midagahara etc., see accommodation page for more information.

Besides trekking in the various areas, the following activities can be enjoyed:

• Trekking around Mikurigaike (pond) … about an hour to go round
• Climbing the summit of Mt. Tateyama (Mt. Oyama) … ascent about 2 hours, descent about 1 hour 40 minutes
• “Yuki-no-Otani”Snow Wall … 5 minutes to Snow Wall from Murodo Station, about 50 minutes for return (Mid Apr)
• Mikurigaike Onsen … 30 minutes’ walk towards Mikurigaike
• For others, please enquire at the hotels as a variety of events such as star gazing and bird (Ptarmigans) watching may sometimes be planned.

The highest onsen (hot springs) in Japan, the Mikurigaike Onsen, can be found in Murodo. The water drawn from the Jigokudani Onsen contains sulfur components. Day entry to the onsen is allowed.

There is a mountaineering path leading up to the summit of Mt. Tateyama (Mt. Oyama) from Murodo Terminal. The ascent takes about 2 hours while the descent takes about an hour and 40 minutes. You can enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view from the summit of Mt. Oyama (3,003 m).

There is a walking path around Jigokudani, but it is closed due to the danger of accidents caused by eruptions of volcanic gas.

Pamphlets in English, Chinese (simplified and non-simplified), Korean and Thai are available free-of-charge at the various stations and tourist information centers.

See here for details.

Coin lockers can be found at all stations between JR Toyama station, Dentetsu Toyama station and Shinano Omachi or Nagano station, with the exceptions noted below.
Luggage that is unable to fit into a locker can be entrusted to station staff for a fee.
※Stations without lockers; Daikanbo, Kurobedaira, Kurobeko.

There is no ATM within the Alpine Route. Please prepare sufficient cash as credit cards are not accepted at some facilities.
Shops at some stations take credit cards.

Mobile phones can be used in most areas, but service may be unavailable at times depending on the location and weather.

We are providing FREE-WiFi at Tateyama station, Bijyodaira station,Murodo station, Daikanbo Station and Kurobe-daira station.
You need to put your e-mail address to be able to use this service.
(Personal authentication is required to use FREE-WiFi services in Japan for crime prevention.)
We recommend pre-registration to save time for receiving this authentication.
Thank you.

Email Authentication and Pre-Registration

■Setup Guide for Computers & Mobile Devices

• English
• 繁體中文/Chinese Traditional
• 简体中文/Chinese Simplified
• 한국어/Korean
• 日本語

Please take due care of yourself during the journey. In case of emergency, please consult the local staff.

Please consult the station staff at the nearest station.

So that you can enjoy your meal with peace of mind, the menu indicates the use of the following 14 ingredients with these pictograms:
Beef, pork, chicken, lamb, fish, shellfish, alcohol, crab, shrimp, peanuts, eggs, wheat, buckwheat, and milk.

Malaysian Curry (No reservation required)