By MOOK Editorial Department
The Alps Route offers not only the vastness of the mountains and ever-changing views as you ascend, but also the most diverse range of transportation options. Developed jointly by Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Tourism and Kansai Electric Power among others to minimize environmental impact, the route utilizes low-emission vehicles to take visitors straight to breathtaking scenery. As you experience a variety of different modes of transport along the way, you’ll not only marvel at humanity’s remarkable engineering in nature, but also enjoy a memorable travel experience.
The Central & Hokuriku Complete Guide is now available on the App Store. (Image provided by MOOK Editorial Department)
Toyama Chiho Railway is the most important trunk line entering the Tateyama Alps 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 life of locals. As the train approaches Tateyama Station, the railway bridge offers stunning views of the river, and the train deliberately slows down to let passengers enjoy the scenery.
The cable car ride takes just 7 minutes to reach the top, ascending very quickly and offering fleeting glimpses of the beautiful scenery. (Image provided by MOOK Editorial Department)
The second stop is the Tateyama Cable Car, which connects Tateyama Station and Bijodaira Station. With an elevation difference of 500 meters between the two stations, the views from above are truly spectacular. The cable car ride takes just 7 minutes. After disembarking, you’ll take a short ride on the Tateyama Highland Bus, traveling between Bijodaira and Murodo, which takes about 50 minutes before arriving at Murodo to transfer to the Tateyama Tunnel Trolley Bus. As the name suggests, the trolley bus is powered by electricity, emphasizing eco-friendliness to avoid damaging the pristine mountains and rivers.
The Tateyama Tunnel Trolley Bus sets a great example of environmental protection. (Image provided by MOOK Editorial Department)
Upon reaching Oku-Hotaka Viewpoint Station, you’ll board the Tateyama Cable Car to enter the Tateyama Mountain Range. The 1,710-meter-long Tateyama Cable Car is Japan’s longest, featuring no central support columns—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 magnificent, 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 just for this cable car to avoid disrupting the natural landscape and to prevent dangers posed by heavy winter snow. The 872-meter-long cable car has a slope of around 30 degrees and an elevation difference of 377 meters, making it a truly unique experience.
In autumn, the vibrant mix of yellow, red, and green creates a stunningly colorful view, making it the best vantage point in the Tateyama area. (Image provided by MOOK Editorial Department)
Finally, there’s the Kansai Electric Power Tunnel Trolley Bus, which takes visitors 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 during the hot summer months. The Kansai Electric Power Tunnel Trolley Bus uses low-emission electric buses. These specially designed buses combine air pressure and electric power assistance to smoothly climb slopes while conserving energy. As you ride, you might feel slight jolts—that’s the air pressure and electric systems working hard.
The tunnel slope is relatively gentle, and the bus is powered by low-emission electric technology. (Image provided by MOOK Editorial Department)
- 1
- 2