NAGANO JAPAN

Alpine Route & Toyama

Alpine Route & Toyama

Open to the public from mid-April to late-November, the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route traverses the North Alps and opens-up one of Japan’s most iconic landscapes including the fabled ‘Snow Walls of Tateyama’ and hiking trails leading to the summit of Mount Tate – one of Japan’s three most sacred mountains. On the western-side of the mountains, the Alpine Route descends toward Toyama – an area blessed with mountains, coastline and the abundant seafood of Toyama Bay. A convenient stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line running from Tokyo, Toyama is waiting to be discovered.

25 THINGS TO DO AROUND TOYAMA & WHERE TO STAY

Readily accessible using the Hokuriku Shinkansen line running from Tokyo to Kanazawa, Toyama is blessed with both mountains and beautiful coastline, s…

STAY IN TOYAMA

Toyama is a great base from where to explore the region including the Alpine Route and Amaharashi Coast.

TATEYAMA-KUROBE ALPINE ROUTE

Open from April until November, the Alpine Route opens-up one of Japan's most iconic mountain landscapes.

KUROBE-GORGE RAILWAY

Regarded as one of Japan's most scenic rail lines, Kurobe-Gorge Railway can also be enjoyed from April to November.

SNOW WALLS OF TATEYAMA-KUROBE TOUR

From April to June, join our always popular Snow Walls of Tateyama tour operating from Nagano and Hakuba.

TOYAMA BAY SEAFOOD

The fertile waters of Toyama Bay produce some of Japan's most sought after seafood, all of which can be enjoyed at coastal markets and restaurants in …

PLAN YOUR VISIT

25 Things To Do Around The Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route & Where To Stay

Open from mid-April until mid-November, the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine R...

25 Things To Around Toyama & Where To Stay

The port city of Toyama somewhat lives in the shadow of nearby Kanaz...

TOURS

[Spring Only] 1-Day Tour From Nagano & Hakuba: Snow Walls Of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route

Head high into Japan’s tallest mountain range via the legendar...

(Summer & Autumn) 1-Day Tateyama-Kurobe Tour: Walking on the ‘Roof of Japan’

With pickup points in both Nagano City and Hakuba, this tour takes y...

ACCESS

How To Get To The Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route

Open to the public from mid-April until mid-November each year, the ...

How To Get To Toyama

As a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line running from Tokyo to Kana...

How To Get To Kurobe Gorge

Accessed via the hot spring town of Unazuki Onsen in Toyama Prefectu...

ACTIVITIES

Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route

The Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route can rightly lay claim to being one ...

Ride the Kurobe Gorge Railway

Running 20km from Unazuki Station to Keyakidaira Station, the Kurobe...

Kurobe Gorge

As a mountainous country, Japan has its share of beautiful gorges an...

Shomyo Falls

At 350 metres in height, Shomyo Falls is the tallest waterfall in Ja...

Kurobe Dam

Kurobe Dam is the tallest arch dam (186m) in Japan and a popular des...

Unazuki Onsen

Situated at the entrance of the beautiful Kurobe Gorge, Unazuki Onse...

Tateyama Mountains: Top 3 Viewing Spots

Visitors to Toyama will be struck by the impressive sight of the Tat...

Toyama Bay Seafood

Nestled between the Tateyama Mountains and Toyama Bay, Toyama City i...

Toyama Castle Ruin Park

Toyama Castle Park sits on the ruins of what once was Toyama Castle....

Toyama Glass Art Museum

The Toyama Glass Art Museum is located nearby Toyama Station and exh...

Ikeda Yasubei Shoten (Traditional Chemist)

Located only a short distance from Toyama Station, Ikeda Yasubei Sho...

Takaoka Great Buddha

Completed in 1933, the Takaoka Great Buddha is considered one of Jap...

HOTELS

Toyama City Area

Toyama City is largest urban center in Toyama prefecture and the gat...

Takaoka Area

Takaoka is a small city located nearby Toyama most famous for the Ta...

Tateyama Station Area

Located on the Toyama-side of the mountains, Tateyama Station is the...

Murodo Station / Mikurigaike Onsen Area

Visitors headed to the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route have the option ...

Unazuki Onsen / Kurobe Gorge Area

Situated at the entrance of the beautiful Kurobe Gorge, Unazuki Onse...

EVENTS

Owara Kaze-no-Bon Festival

Taking place over the first three days of September, the ‘Owar...

BLOG

#TRAVELTOMORROW: Japan Set to Lower Travel Advisories for Certain Countries

It’s important to start this blog by saying that at this time, trave...

#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: Nagano in Autumn – ‘Koyo’ Season Will Soon Be Here!

Over the past week, the temperature has certainly begun to drop here...

#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: ‘Go To Travel’ Extended to Tokyo as of October 1st 2020

As highlighted in our recent blog article – ‘#SNOWMONKEYRESORTS LOCA...

#SNOWMONKEYRESORTSLOCAL: What is Japan’s ‘Go To Travel’ Campaign?

For our friends living in Japan, you have no doubt heard of the nati...

Enjoy Nagano in Summer – Open Spaces, Cool Evenings & Lots to Do!

If you are living in Nagano or headed this way over the next few wee...

#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – Get Outdoors & Get Back to Nature!

When thinking about your future travel to Japan, it’s a great time t...

#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – Discover Central Japan

When researching and planning a visit to Japan, understanding the re...

#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – Accessing Medical Assistance in Japan during COVID-19

In anticipation of the borders opening in future and travel resuming...

#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – Choosing your Accommodation in Japan

When considering your future travel to Japan, one of the biggest dec...

#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy – When Can I Travel to Japan & is it Safe?

At the time of writing, entry to Japan is still banned for many fore...

#TRAVELTOMORROW: Clean Green & Healthy Japan

As announced in our recent blog, our website has been updated to inc...

Snow Monkey Resorts Update: Introducing our Dedicated COVID-19 Information Pages

In response to the ongoing impact of coronavirus on global tourism, ...

SNOW MONKEY RESORTS
AREA MAP

Established in 1964, the Jigokudani Monkey Park is home to the only troop of monkeys in the world known to naturally bathe in hot springs. Open all-year-round, the park is one of Nagano's most popular destinations
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- ENZA CAFE
- HOTARUTEI
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- Kanbayashi Onsen Sendayaki (Fire Festival)
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Only 45 minutes from Nagano City and within easy reach of the Jigokudani Monkey Park and Shiga Kogen, Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen are blessed by numerous natural hot spring sources which feed their many guesthouses and public bathhouses
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Shiga Kogen is the largest and highest ski resort in Japan, boasting Nagano's longest season and most reliable snow; and located within the expansive Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, Shiga offers just as much to do from spring to autumn as it does in winter
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Home to the Obuse Hokusai Museum and Gansho-in Temple along with lots of good restaurants, craft shops and a couple of ‘sake’ breweries, the small but historic town of Obuse is an easy day-trip from Nagano City
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- 15 Things To Do Around Obuse & Where To Stay
- How To Get To Obuse
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- [START FROM NAGANO CITY] Private Snow Monkey Tour
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- Nagano Dentetsu Line (Nagano–Yudanaka/Monkey Park)
- Nagano Dentetsu Line Timetable
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- Obuse Area
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Home to one of Japan's oldest and most important temples, Nagano City is your launching point from where to explore the region using train and bus services, including the Hokuriku Shinkansen, from Nagano Station
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One of Nagano's most popular ski resorts, Nozawa Onsen is boasts great powder, terrain and a lively village - which guarantees as much off the mountain as on it – while retaining much of its character as a traditional hot spring town
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- Snow Monkey Resorts Fleet of Charter Vehicles
- From Nozawa Onsen: How To Get To The Snow Monkey Park
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EVENTS
- Nozawa Onsen 'Dosojin' (Fire Festival)
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Home to the most popular and international ski resorts in Nagano, Hakuba Valley attracts skiers and snowboarders from all over the world while offering the best accommodation and dining of any ski area in the region
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The fabled 'Snow Walls' of the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route are at their best from April to May before the melting snow opens-up some of Japan’s best alpine hiking from July to November. Accessible from both Nagano and Toyama, this is one of Japan’s best travel experiences
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TOURS
- [Spring Only] 1-Day Tour From Nagano & Hakuba: Snow Walls Of Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route
- (Summer & Autumn) 1-Day Tateyama-Kurobe Tour: Walking on the 'Roof of Japan'
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EVENTS
- Owara Kaze-no-Bon Festival
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Matsumoto Castle is a registered National Treasure and without question, the cultural heart of this engaging city; a beacon that calls you to explore the city and onto the beauty of the North Alps including Norikura and the alpine valley of Kamikochi
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Karuizawa is one of Japan's most popular resort towns, offering a little taste of Tokyo in the mountains including some of Nagano’s best accommodation, fine dining and shopping, and all within easy reach of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park
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- [START FROM KARUIZAWA] Private Snow Monkey Tour
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- Ueda Sanda Festival
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Located in the picturesque surrounds of Kiso Valley, the Nakasendo Trail follows the Edo Period (1603-1868) route once linking Kyoto and Tokyo. To this day, travelers can walk sections of the route including through the beautiful postal towns of Narai, Magome and Tsumago - a rare glimpse of traditional Japan in the 21st century
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TOURS
- 2-Day Private Tour: Matsumoto Castle, Nakasendo and Countryside Azumino
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- Kiso-Fukushima & Narai Area
- Magome, Tsumago & Nakatsugawa Area
EVENTS
- Narai-juku Ice Candle Festival
- Kaida Kogen Kamakura Snow Festival
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Known as the 'Sannomachi', Takayama's old town is famous for its preservation of Edo period streetscapes while also attracting foodies for its renowned ‘Hida beef’ and ‘Takayama ramen’ - all within easy reach of the World Heritage villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
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TOURS
- 2-Day Snow Monkey Tour: Nagano To Takayama via Matsumoto
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- Takayama Morning Markets
- Takayama Festival
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Only 20 minutes from Iiyama Station, Madarao Mountain Resort is known for its deep powder bowls, tree zones and fantastic backcountry along with mountain-biking and water activities from spring to autumn
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TOURS
- [START FROM NOZAWA/MADARAO] Private Snow Monkey Tour
- (Winter Only) 1-Day Tour From Nozawa & Iiyama: Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake
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- Enjoy the Fruit of Nagano
- Fruit-picking Nearby JR Iiyama Station
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- Madarao & Iiyama Area
EVENTS
- Iiyama Nanohana Flower Festival
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Myoko Kogen consists of five main ski resorts jointly known for one thing – amazing powder, lots of it. Boasting some of Asia’s deepest powder and fantastic backcountry, the resorts of Myoko are waiting to be discovered
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Kanazawa is one of Japan’s most historic and rewarding destinations. A city of wealth and artistic achievement during the Edo Period, Kanazawa retains many historic attractions and districts along with some of Japan’s best gardens, museums, galleries, dining and shopping
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As the largest city in Central Japan, Nagoya is known for its modern industries, lively entertainment, great restaurants and plenty of shopping while putting visitors in reach of some fantastic regional destinations
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- Autumn Leaves of Korankei
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Lying around 2.5 hours to the west of Tokyo, Mount Fuji is a grand and awe-inspiring sight and without question, Japan’s most recognizable destination. Quite simply, it’s a must-see for anyone visiting this wonderful country
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Accessible via Echigo-Yuzawa Station, the area around Yuzawa includes the resorts of Gala Yuzawa, Naeba and Kagura; while in summer, Yuzawa plays host to Japan's largest music festival and provides acccess to the country's largest arts festival
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- Yuzawa Area
- Naeba Area
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- Fuji Rock Festival
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Tokyo is the economic, political and cultural centre of 21st century Japan. Impossible to define and inconceivable in size, the only way to really understand Tokyo is to dive in and experience it for yourself
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As of the seats of imperial power for more than one thousand years, Kyoto and Nara are the most historic cities in Japan while nearby Osaka is big, bold, brash and tremendous fun
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The most northern Japan’s four main islands, Hokkaido is a destination unto itself – a place where you’ll find wildlife and open spaces including pristine landscapes and vast national parks, and of course some of the world’s best powder skiing and snowboarding
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Famous for its beautiful landscapes including rugged coastline, historic 'onsen' villages, festivals, food and a couple of good ski resorts, Tohoku can be explored starting with the World Heritage shrine complex of Nikko
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From the global significance of Hiroshima to Himeji and its celebrated castle, Chugoku is a region known for its blend of cities and histories and as the launching point from where to discover the Seto Inland Sea along with Shikoku and its 88 temple pilgrimage
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