A 20-meter snow wall forms a silver corridor – Japan’s must-see “Three Great Snow Walls” attractions

By reporter Tsai Wenjun / Compiled report

To enjoy the snowy scenery in Japan, besides admiring the poetic charm of ancient temples contrasted with white snow, the highland areas also feature massive snow walls up to nearly 20 meters tall formed by heavy snowfall. During certain times of the year, these are cleared to create a gleaming silver corridor where visitors can walk through, becoming a popular tourist spot in recent years. Here’s a list of three places in Japan that offer snow wall corridors — as the opening dates approach, travelers shouldn’t miss them!

▲ The Snow Corridor at Mount Hakkoda opens earlier than the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. (Photo / From the official fan page of Aomori Prefecture Tourism Information)

1. Aomori Prefecture – Mount Hakkoda
The Tohoku region has long been known as a major snow belt. In Aomori Prefecture, the Hakkoda Mountains form an 8-kilometer-long Snow Corridor each year after snow removal, with snow walls on both sides reaching up to 9 meters in height. As the route is primarily a roadway, once officially opened in April each year, access is only permitted by private vehicle or by joining a local one-day tour. Therefore, the area opens up two days before the official opening date for hikers to enter on foot, allowing them to experience the towering presence of the corridor at a slower pace. With the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen, the walking period was extended to three days in 2016 — March 29, 30, and 31.

▲ The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, most familiar to Taiwanese travelers. (Photo / Provided by Tateyama Kurobe Kanko Co., Ltd.)

2. Toyama Prefecture – Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
When it comes to Japan’s famous snow walls, the first thing that comes to mind for many is the “Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route”! Walking between 15 to 20-meter-high snow walls created by accumulated snow, you can enjoy breathtaking views no matter when you visit. Despite the somewhat complex transportation, it still attracts countless domestic and international travelers every year.

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route officially opens on April 16 each year and remains accessible until November 30. Aside from the Great Snow Valley, the majestic sights of the Kurobe Dam and the Tateyama Mountain Range are also must-see attractions.

＞＞＞ How to get to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route? Your complete transport guide

▲ The Snow Corridor near the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway Station. (Photo / By reporter Tsai Wenjun)

▲ Although not very high, the snow walls along the winding path through the forest create a playful hide-and-seek atmosphere. (Photo / By reporter Tsai Wenjun)

3. Gifu Prefecture – Shin-Hotaka Ropeway Summit
Riding the Shin-Hotaka Ropeway, you can reach the terminal station at an altitude of 2,100 meters in just 14 minutes and enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the stunning Northern Alps. Between January and mid-April each year, you can also walk through a 240-meter-long Snow Corridor featuring snow walls about 3 meters high. The route winds through the forest and branches off in different directions, creating a playful hide-and-seek-like experience — which is the biggest highlight here!