The most anticipated seasonal spectacle of 2018: The Tateyama Kurobe Snow Wall

Text by Qidou Travel Network　Photos by Qidou Travel Network, Shutterstock

▲ The Tateyama Snow Valley.

Japan’s seasonal spectacle, the ‘Tateyama Kurobe Snow Wall,’ is one of the country’s popular tourist attractions in recent years. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, known as the “Roof of Japan,” draws visitors from around the world every year from mid-April to early June to witness the breathtaking Snow Valley and its towering snow walls. In 2017, the snow wall reached a height of 19 meters—about the height of a 10-story building. According to GoHappy Travel, group tour packages for the Tateyama Kurobe Snow Wall in 2018 have started going on sale. Since spring is also the season for cherry blossom viewing in Japan, GoHappy Travel has designed itineraries that combine different Japanese entry points—such as Komatsu, Nagoya, Tokyo, and Osaka—with visits to the Tateyama Kurobe region, and also include cherry blossom viewing along the way.

▲ The Tateyama Ropeway.

The Tateyama Kurobe mountain range stands at 3,015 meters, and getting there requires taking six different types of transportation, including cable cars, buses, and trains, allowing you to enjoy various scenic views along the way. When you take the Tateyama Highland Bus up the mountain and get off at the highest point of the Tateyama Kurobe route, ‘Murodo,’ you can walk to the Snow Valley. On a clear day, you might even capture a postcard-perfect shot of the snow wall against a blue sky. Also, although it’s very cold in April and May, don’t forget to apply sunscreen and bring sunglasses—the snow reflects sunlight intensely, which can be both blinding and lead to sunburn.

Visit a Michelin Three-Star Site and Stroll Through a Timeless Paradise

The stunning Tateyama Kurobe Snow Wall is hard to imagine without seeing it in person, but Japan’s Shirakawa-go Gassho Village and the MIHO Museum are equally breathtaking.

Ranked as a Michelin Three-Star sightseeing destination, Shirakawa-go Gassho Village is best known for its well-preserved “gassho-zukuri” farmhouses, with their iconic triangular thatched roofs resembling two hands pressed together. Built using traditional local materials such as thatch and sasara grass, these charming houses give the village a fairytale-like atmosphere.

Located in Shiga Prefecture, the MIHO Museum is tucked away in the mountains and is another masterpiece by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei. To preserve the surrounding natural landscape, nearly 80% of the museum is built underground. Inspired by Tao Yuanming’s “Peach Blossom Spring,” visitors must first walk along a cherry blossom path, then pass through a tunnel and suspension bridge before reaching the museum entrance—creating the feeling of discovering a modern-day hidden paradise.

Cherry Blossoms, Wisteria, and Snow Walls in April and May

Popular spring attractions like cherry blossom season, the Fuji Shibazakura Festival, and the Ashikaga Flower Park’s wisteria season coincide perfectly with the time to see the Tateyama Kurobe Snow Wall. If you’re planning to visit during this period, why not enjoy both the snow walls and the flowers?

From mid-April to late May, the Fuji Shibazakura Festival—Tokyo’s largest of its kind—features approximately 800,000 shibazakura (moss phlox) in purple, red, pink, and white, covering the entire venue like a carpet and filling the air with the spirit of spring.

From mid-April to mid-May, the Ashikaga Flower Park’s wisteria season is in full swing. Here you can admire tunnels made of white and yellow wisteria, as well as the majestic blooms of century-old large wisteria trees and over 350 wisteria plants. The wisteria flowers bloom in shades of light pink, purple, white, and yellow, and even at night, the illuminated blossoms create a magical sight.

If you’re eager to see cherry blossoms, head to Kanazawa’s Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park, or the old town streets of Takayama from early to mid-April for a sea of pink blooms. The Takayama Tenshu Park and Takayama Sleeping Dragon Cherry Blossoms have slightly longer seasons, with blossoms visible from early to late April.

More information:
2018 Snow Valley Ticket On Sale　https://goo.gl/An2NV9
▲ Tateyama Kurobe X Yunotani Railway ~ Kanazawa Kenrokuen Garden. UNESCO World Heritage Shirakawa Gassho Village. Sushi-Making Experience.美学环水公园. Automobile Museum. Gujo Castle Town. Double Onsen 5-Day Tour
▲ Spring Tateyama Kurobe Snow Wall Cruise ~ Doraemon Tram. Shirakawa Gassho Village. Shogawa River Cruise. Nagaragawa Clear Stream Railway. Hot Springs 6-Day Tour
▲ Cherry Blossoms & Snow Wall ~ Hidden Highlands. Michelin Three-Star Gassho Village. Takayama Old Streets. Ashikaga Wisteria Waterfall Park. Fuji Shibazakura. Double Onsen 5-Day Tour
▲ Black Kurobe Snow Wall Sky Journey Double Onsen 5-Day Tour. Dongxunfang. MIHO Museum. Byodo-in Temple

GoHappy Travel (02)2547-1155
Official Websitewww.lifetour.com.tw
GoHappy Travel LIFE TOUR Facebook Fanpagewww.facebook.com/LifeTourTravel