Complete Guide to Transportation on the Opening of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

By the MOOK Editorial Team

 
Besides the vastness of the Alps and the ever-changing mountain views, what’s most captivating about the Alpine Route is its incredible variety of transportation. To minimize environmental impact, this route—developed jointly by Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Tourism and Kansai Electric Power, among others—uses low-emission vehicles to take visitors straight to the most stunning scenery. Travelers can experience many different modes of transport along the way, not only marveling at humanity’s remarkable engineering in nature but also creating unforgettable travel memories.

The Toyama Chiho Railway is the most important transportation artery entering the Tateyama Alpine Route from the Toyama side. It moves at a slow pace and stops at every station, making it a daily commute option for office workers, students, and housewives. Along the way, you can observe the everyday lives of locals. The railway bridge just before arriving at Tateyama Station offers beautiful views of the river, and the train deliberately slows down to let passengers enjoy the scenery.

The second stop is the Tateyama Cable Car, which connects Tateyama Station and Bijodaira Station. With a height difference of 500 meters between the two stations, the views from above are truly spectacular. The cable car ride takes just 7 minutes. After getting off, you’ll take the Tateyama Highland Bus, which travels between Bijodaira and Murodo over about 50 minutes, before transferring to the Tateyama Tunnel Trolley Bus at Murodo. As the name suggests, the trolley bus is powered by electricity, emphasizing eco-friendliness to avoid damaging the pristine mountains and rivers.

Upon reaching Oku-Hotaka Viewpoint Station, you’ll take the Tateyama Cable Car into the Tateyama Mountain Range. At 1,710 meters long, the Tateyama Cable Car is Japan’s longest, and it features no central support pillars—instead, it’s held up by steel cables using advanced technology. With an elevation difference of 500 meters between Oku-Hotaka Viewpoint and Kurobe Dam, the scenery is absolutely breathtaking, earning it the nickname “moving observation deck.” At Kurobe Dam, you’ll transfer to Japan’s only tunnel-climbing cable car, the Kurobe Tunnel Cable Car. A tunnel was specially built for this cable car to protect the natural landscape and prevent dangers caused by heavy winter snow. Spanning 872 meters with a slope of about 30 degrees and an elevation gain of 377 meters, it’s truly unique.

Finally, there’s the Kanden Tunnel Trolley Bus, which takes you across the border between Toyama and Nagano. The bus travels through a tunnel stretching over 6 kilometers, maintaining a cool temperature of around 10°C even in the height of summer. The Kanden Tunnel Trolley Bus uses low-emission electric buses. These new buses feature a specially designed air-pressure and convenience system that helps them climb slopes efficiently to save power. So when you feel a slight jolt while riding, it’s the air pressure and electric systems working together.