Kanazawa is a great area to settle for a few days as you explore the city, then use it as a convenient hub to access some of Japan's more rural sightseeing spots!
Where is the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route?
Open to the public from mid-April until mid-November, the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route combines a series of transports to ascend Japan’s highest mountain range to Murodo Station. At 2450 meters above sea level, Murodo lies just over 500 meters below the summit of Mount Tate – known in Japan as 'Tateyama' – one of Japan’s three most sacred peaks. The Alpine Route straddles the prefectures of Nagano and Toyama, allowing visitors to start on either side and cross into the other prefecture or return the way that they came. Whichever way you choose to do it, you need to allow at least 6 to 7-hours from start to finish – basically, it’s an all-day activity. As this guide covers visiting the area from Kanazawa, we'll focus on the Toyama side of the mountain range.
Directions to Tateyama Station from Kanazawa
If you've rented a car and are looking to get to Tateyama Station directly, the route is relatively simple and takes around 1 hour and 25 minutes.
For those renting a car for the first time in Japan, please prepare yourself for any differences in traffic laws compared to your home country. Remember that Japan drives on the left side of the road. Non-residents must have an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Japan.
Accessing the Alpine Route via Kanazawa
The Alpine Route is very accessible from Kanazawa, so the city is a convenient hub to spend a few days in Japan exploring the immediate area, then setting off towards Nagano via the Alpine Route. If you have decided against renting a car, there are a variety of other options available to you. We've listed them below:
--By Public Transport
Tateyama Station is directly accessible by train, but you will need to make a transfer at Toyama Station.
- Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama Station (JPY 2880) for 25 minutes, or use the IR Ishikawa Railway (JPY 1290) which takes an hour.
- Change to the Toyama Chiho Railway Line to the end of the line at Tateyama Station. The ride takes about an hour and costs JPY 1820.
From here, the price of tickets will vary depending on how deep into the Alpine Route you wish to go. The fares are shown in the table below.
The upper number in each cell is the price of an adult ticket.
The lower number in each cell is the price of a child ticket.
The darker cells (in the bottom half) display the price for a round-trip ticket, while the lighter cells (in the top half) display a one-way ticket.
- You can now begin your ascent to Murodo by taking a cable car for 7 minutes.
- The cable car will stop at Bijodaira where you will transfer to a bus towards Midagahara and Murodo.
- After enjoying time in Murodo, you will change bus and head down through a tunnel. The Electric Tunnel Bus takes around 10 minutes to reach Daikanbo.
- At Daikanbo, change to an electric ropeway to cross the gorge. It takes around 7 minutes.
- It will arrive at Kurobedaira, where you take a 5-minute cable car down the mountainside.
- Arriving at Kurobeko, it's a 15-minute walk to reach Kurobe Dam, where a bus will take you on to Omachi Station and, from there, you can make your way to Nagano.
--By Taking a Tour
Snow Monkey Resorts offers several tours from Kanazawa to the Alpine Route. While, unfortunately, you won't be able to cross the whole route on of our tours, we do offer curated tours to several of the stops along the route. Of course, the tours available will depend on the season. To get to Murodo to see the famous Snow Wall, our Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley Tour was one of the most popular tours to the area in 2025.
Highlights
- See the immense snow wall, which can reach up to 20m in height - one of Japan's most iconic sights!
- Witness the dramatic alpine landscape of Japan’s highest mountain range and expansive Chubu Sangaku National Park by walking through the surrounding snowfields.
- Walk around the traditional start of the hike to Tateyama and see a shrine to Enma, the god of the underworld, and a bridge that separates the world of the living from the dead.
Recommended
1 Day Tour from Kanazawa or Toyama: Tateyama Alpine Route Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley
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In the summer and autumn seasons, the Murodo area becomes much more known as a popular hiking destination. If you're in Japan from June to November, you're here in the best time to take advantage of this short seasonal tour!
Highlights
- See the tallest waterfall in Japan, described as having one of the most pleasant sounds in the country.
- Enjoy your lunch looking out over the mountain slopes.
- Hike around the plateau known as the Roof of Japan.
New Tour
[Summer/Fall Only] From Kanazawa: Shomyo Falls, Light Alpine Hikes and Tateyama Mountain's Majesty
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We also offer a tour to the famous Kurobe Gorge Trolley Train. People travelling through the Alpine Route by themselves usually don't have time to experience the phenomenal sights through the mountain valley, so this tour is a great chance to see a part of Japan most never get to see.
Highlights
- Experience one of Japan’s most scenic areas – Kurobe Gorge!
- Enjoy walking through the onsen town of Unazuki Onsen.
- Ride the trolley car through the stunning gorges as you go deeper and deeper into the mountains.
1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen
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--By Private Tour or Charter Bus
Of course, we also offer private tours and transport in and around the Kanazawa area, and other regional destinations. We can also arrange for both custom tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter.
Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations in combination with any activity that suits your schedule. All vehicles are well-maintained and in good condition, allowing you to relax and enjoy your ride to wherever you are going.
With door-to-door service, we can pick you up from where you are and take you to where you want to go anywhere in Central Japan and the neighbouring regions.
For more information, please check our standard charter rates or contact us for a custom trip. We’d love to be part of your adventure in Japan and help you discover even more!
Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route General Information
Mt. Tate (most commonly known in Japan as "Tateyama") is one of the Three Sacred Mountains of Japan. The mountain has been the centre of religious worship dating back to prehistoric times. It was first summited in 717, which led to the route up the to Mt. Tate's peak becoming a pilgrimage. Even today, people still make the journey to the small shrine at the peak, although with far less ceremony than they used to.
The route to Murodo takes travellers through Bijodaira National Forest, a massive woodland with many trees 400 years or older. The oldest in the forest, visible from the road, is said to have been there when the first pilgrimage was done.
In winter, the area experiences extreme snowfall and becomes inaccessible. The road usually closes by November 11th and doesn't reopen until late-April or early-May. Once the snow eases up, workers begin excavating a path up the mountain in a gruelling effort that takes nearly 6 weeks.
Tours and Charters Around Kanazawa
We are proud to offer a number of tours in the Kanazawa area, as well as charter services to bring you wherever it is you would like to go, including to destinations such as Fukui, Takayama, and Nagano. Please read on below for more information about our tours operating from Kanazawa.
On this walking tour, you will see the best of Kanazawa in one day, all on foot! This tour will take you through the historic streets of the Nagamachi Samurai District, you'll drink the finest matcha in a traditional tea house, see the sprawling grounds of Kanazawa Castle, stroll through one of Japan's greatest gardens, and see one of the largest geisha districts in the country. This tour is all you need to see the best of Kanazawa!
New Tour
1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Beautiful Natadera Temple, Craft Village and Dance with Real Geisha in Yamanaka Onsen
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This new tour from Kanazawa is perfect for people looking to see a geisha with their own eyes. In the morning, we'll visit Natadera Temple, whose grounds feature one of the most beautiful gardens in Japan. We'll try our hands at Kaga Yuzen silk painting at a craft village, where you'll have time to try your hands at another of Ishikawa Prefecture's local crafts. Finally, we'll make our way to the sleepy onsen town of Yamanaka to see a real geisha performance! At the end, you'll even get a chance to join the geisha on the stage and do a traditional dance with them.
1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Eiheiji Temple and Fukui City Castle Town
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This tour will take you to the often-overlooked city of Fukui. Once a place of vital strategic importance, Fukui has faded from the forefront since the end of the samurai era, but its rich history and proximity to nature remain. We'll visit the remains of Fukui Castle before stepping into Zuigenji Temple, which used part of the (now-destroyed) Fukui Palace for extensive repairs in the 1860s. After that, we'll visit the historic Eiheiji Temple in the mountains. The temple was founded 800 years ago and is one of the head temples of Soto Zen Buddhism. People who visit Eiheiji always say walking through this beautiful temple, surrounded by all of the nature, is one of their highlights of Japan.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the Alpine Route worth visiting?
If you enjoy being out in nature, or are just feeling like you need a break from the bustling cityscapes of Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka, the Alpine Route is a perfect area to include in your itinerary. The region is famous for its stunning natural beauty starting from spring and lasting until it partially closes in November. Even in its busiest seasons, the crowds are much lower than the busiest places in Japan like Fushimi Inari Taisha, Meiji Shrine or Shinjuku Station.
I want to go to the Alpine Route, but public transport seems difficult. What can I do?
We have several tours to the Alpine Route running from Kanazawa. Leave it all to us, and we'll make sure you get the best sights of the region so you can get the most out of your trip!
When is the best time to visit the Alpine Route?
Much of the Alpine Route is closed in winter due to heavy snow. Late April, however, is a perfect time to visit as the mountains are still packed with snow. This is when the famous snow wall is at its height so be sure to include it on your trip if you're visiting around then! By mid-to-late June, almost all of the snow has gone. That's when hikers will be in their element! Finally, the autumn months are our personal favourite time to explore the area, as the fall foliage is truly breath-taking.
