Tateyama Station
Tateyama Station is a small but busy station and terminus of the Toyama Chiho Railway Tateyama Line. As such, Tateyama Station is one of two starting points for ascending the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route – the other being Ogizawa Station on the Nagano-side of the mountain range. On this page you will find the following information:
— Train Services to Tateyama Station
— Transferring to the Alpine Route
— Experience the Alpine Route on a Guided Tour
— Bus Services from Tateyama Station
— 25 Things to Do Around the Alpine Route & Where to Stay
— How to Get to the Alpine Route
— Private Charters To Tateyama and the Alpine Route
From Tateyama Station, visitors can take the trolley car to Bijodaira Station and then transfer to a coach headed for Murodo Station and the summit of the Alpine Route – see below for details.
Located around the station, a number of restaurants, cafes and guesthouses service the large number of visitors moving to and from the station. Inside the station, a restaurant and large souvenir shop is also available.
TRAIN SERVICES TO TATEYAMA STATION
Running from Dentetsu Toyama Station to Tateyama Station, the Toyama Chiho Railway Tateyama Line takes includes the following stops:
Dentetsu Toyama / Inarimachi / Shinjo-Tanaka / Higashi-Shinjo / Etchu-Ebara / Etchu-Sango / Etchu-Funahashi / Terada* / Chigozuka / Tazoe / Gohyakkoku / Enokimachi / Shitadan / Kamagauchi / Sawanakayama / Iwakuraji / Yokoe / Chigaki / Arimineguchi / Hongu / Tateyama
*Some services require passengers to transfer at Terada Station.
The journey takes between 65 to 75 minutes one-way (depending on which service you choose to use). We recommend using direct services bound for Tateyama, requiring no transfer.
TRANSFERRING TO THE ALPINE ROUTE
It really is simple. Tateyama is a small station and once inside, you will immediately see ticket windows for the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route and directions where to line-up while waiting for the trolley car. The trolley car will take you as far as Bijodaira where you can transfer to coaches headed to Murodo Station and the summit of Mt Tate. From Murodo, visitor have the option of returning the way they came and back to Tateyama Station or descending the Nagano-side of the mountain range to Ogizawa Station. Make sure to buy the correct ticket for you intended routes up and down.
Please note, the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route is only open from mid-April until late-November. While always popular, it can be extremely busy open opening in April and into Golden Week along with weekends and public holidays.
EXPERIENCE THE ALPINE ROUTE ON A GUIDED TOUR
Heralded as one of Japan’s best experiences, traversing the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route takes approximately 6 hours without allowing for time to stop and enjoy all of its stunning sights. In reality, undertaking a visit to the Alpine Route is therefore a full-day activity. Visitors can start from Toyama via Tateyama Station or Nagano via Ogizawa Station, and choose to finish on the other side or return to their point of origin. A series of mountain transports including trolley buses, cable cars, a ropeway, and coaches transport visitors to and from Murodo Station – which at 2540 meters is the highest station in Japan. Open from mid-April to mid-November, the Alpine Route is most famous for its immense snow walls which, at their peak, ascend 20 meters above the road below. The walls are at their best from the opening day in April until late-June, after which outstanding hiking is available through summer and autumn, climaxing with stunning autumn colours in October until the route closes again in November.
1 Day Tour
| [Spring Only] 1-Day Tour from Nagano: Snow Walls of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route | |
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| Period | April to June |
| Time | 07:50/08:15 – 18:00-19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Hotel Kokusai 21 Nagano Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥30,000 |
| Child Rate | ¥23,800 |
Without doubt, the easiest and most enjoyable ways to reach the Alpine Route is on a guided tour. Our 1-Day Snow Walls of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route Tour operates in spring from mid-April to mid-June. Starting and ending at Nagano Station – including the option of pick-up and drop-off in Hakuba – a tour is a great option for visitors wanting direct transport and tickets included in an all-inclusive package.
1 Day Tour
| [Summer/Autumn only] Tateyama-Kurobe Tour: Walking on the ‘Roof of Japan’ | |
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| Period | July to October |
| Time | 07:50/08:15 – 18:00-19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Hotel Kokusai 21 Nagano Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥30,000 |
| Child Rate | ¥23,800 |
Through summer and autumn, from July to November, our 1-Day Tateyama-Kurobe: Walking on the ‘Roof of Japan’ Tour follows the same itinerary including pick-up and drop-off in both Nagano and Hakuba. With most of the snow now gone, your guide will lead you a leisurely walk around Murodo Station or should you prefer, set you free to explore for yourself. Now free of the snow, this is a lush and fertile alpine landscape and one of Japan’s most rewarding outdoor experiences.
1 Day Tour
| 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa & Toyama: Snow Wall and Mysterious Valley | |
| Period | April to June |
| Time | 08:00 – 19:00 |
| Meeting Place | Kanazawa Station / Toyama Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥30,000 |
| Child Rate | ¥23,800 |
For guests who are in Kanazawa or Toyama and wish to ascend the Alpine Route from the other side, we also offer the above tour with pick up from those locations. Even if you have ascended the route from the Nagano side before, the ascent from Toyama offers different scenery and methods of transport up the mountain, making it enjoyable even for repeat visitors.
BUS SERVICES FROM TATEYAMA STATION
Visitors wanting to witness Japan’s tallest waterfall, Shomyo Falls, can do so directly from Tateyama with multiple daily services running to and from the station. The bus takes only 15 minutes to reach the Shomyo-daki Bus Stop, from where visitors must walk 30 minutes onto the the fall. A one-way fare costs around JYP500 per adult and JPY250 per child. Buses depart the station at:
Return buses departs Shomyo-daki at:
It should be noted that Shomyo Falls can be seen on the bus ride from Bijodaira as you ascend toward Murodo Station. Buses typically pull to the side of the road to allow passengers to see the falls, however the view is distant and can be obstructed by weather, position on the bus, etc. Should you wish to see the fall up close, the best option is to use the sightseeing bus from Tateyama Station.
25 THINGS TO DO AROUND THE ALPINE ROUTE & WHERE TO STAY
One of the most rewarding experiences in Japan, the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route utilises a series of transports to ascend Japan’s highest mountain range. Crossing from Nagano to Tateyama, the route connects multiple destinations and opens-up an otherwise remote and dramatic landscape. Our ’25 Things To Do Around The Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route & Where To Stay’ page explains just how it works, what’s on offer and where to stay.
HOW TO GET TO THE ALPINE ROUTE
Most visitors heading to the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route do so via Nagano City on the eastern-side of the mountain range of Toyama City on the western-side. Both Nagano Station and Toyama Station are stops on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line running from Tokyo to Kanazawa making them easy to get to from the capital and beyond. Our ‘How To Get To The Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route’ page has everything you need to make the journey as smooth as possible.
PRIVATE CHARTERS TO TATEYAMA AND THE ALPINE ROUTE
Based in Nagano, we are the region’s No.1 tour and charter operator. Operating all year round, we can provide charters to any destination in Central Japan, with customized itineraries to suit your travel needs and interests including pick-up or drop-off at Tateyama Station or the Alpine Route. We have the expertise and experience to help you get the most out of your time in the region, including transport to and from any regional destination. 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 interests and schedule.
Got a question about visiting the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route? Head to our ‘Charters’ main page or click on the INQUIRY button below, let us know what you need, and we’ll get back to you with a quote.
