Japan Alpine Route 2-Day Itinerary from Tokyo: Murodo Snow Wall Course (2026)
Tokyo Mate
Here is a 2-day Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route itinerary planned from Tokyo, for the route that opened on April 15, 2026. It's a loop course: take the Hokuriku Shinkansen into Nagano, start from Ogizawa, pass through the Murodo Snow Wall and Toyama, and return to Tokyo.
Operating Period | Murodo Snow Wall, Apr-Jun
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (立山黒部アルペンルート) operates from April 15 to November 30, 2026.
From December 1 until mid-April the following year, heavy snow and the winter closure make the full route impassable.
The spring highlight that Korean travelers in particular call the “Alpine Route Snow Wall” is the Murodo Yuki-no-Otani (雪の大谷). As the snow piled up at 2,450m Murodo is cleared, huge snow walls form on both sides of the road, and the period when you can walk this stretch yourself is April 15 to June 25, 2026.
Season at a glance
| Season | Period | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Snow Wall | 2026.4.15 - 6.25 | Murodo Yuki-no-Otani snow wall walk |
| Summer | July - early September | Mikurigaike Pond and alpine scenery |
| Autumn foliage | Mid-September - end of October | Kurobedaira and Daikanbo foliage |
| Early winter | Mid-November - 11/30 | First snow and end-of-season views |
❄️ When is the best time to see the Snow Wall
The Murodo Snow Wall is tallest right after the route opens, and gradually shrinks as temperatures rise.
The officially announced snow wall height on the 2026 opening day was 12m. In some past years a wall close to 20m formed, but the height varies every year with snowfall and temperature.
If you want to see the overwhelming snow wall scenery, the period from just after opening through mid-May is best.
Mid-April to early May is especially crowded across the whole Alpine Route, since the opening overlaps with Japan’s Golden Week. If you travel during this time, it’s best to book web tickets and accommodation in advance.
❄️ Peak and busy times
- Mid-April - early May: just after opening + snow wall season + Golden Week
- Mid-August: Japan's Obon holiday
- Weekends from mid-September to mid-October: autumn foliage season
From November 4 to November 30, a separate end-of-season timetable applies.
Also, because the Alpine Route involves transferring between several mountain transport modes, be sure to check the official timetable and operating status before you set out.
How to Get to the Alpine Route from Tokyo
Why Tokyo IN / Tokyo OUT
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a mountain-crossing route linking Ogizawa Station in Nagano Prefecture with Tateyama Station in Toyama Prefecture.
If you depart from Tokyo, the efficient option is a loop course: take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano, enter the Alpine Route at Ogizawa, pass through the Murodo Snow Wall and the Kurobe Dam, and exit toward Toyama.
In other words, this itinerary follows the order Tokyo → Nagano → Ogizawa → Murodo → Tateyama → Toyama → Tokyo.
Because you enter on one side and exit the other, you never have to double back the same way, and the round-trip shinkansen connection from Tokyo makes it easy to fit into a 2-day plan.
Access times to the Alpine Route by major city
| Departure city | Toward Tateyama Station | Toward Ogizawa |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | 3 hr 10 min | 3 hr 10 min |
| Nagoya | 4 hr 50 min | 3 hr 35 min |
| Osaka | 3 hr 40 min | 4 hr 25 min (Shin-Osaka) |
From Tokyo, the access times to Tateyama Station and Ogizawa Station are fairly balanced. So travelers departing Tokyo can cross the Alpine Route either Nagano IN / Toyama OUT or Toyama IN / Nagano OUT.
The reason this 2-day itinerary from Tokyo chooses the Nagano IN / Toyama OUT course is to fit in both the Murodo overnight stay and Shomyo Falls.
On Day 1 you enter the Alpine Route at Ogizawa, see the Kurobe Dam and the Murodo Snow Wall, and stay overnight at 2,450m Murodo. On Day 2 you head down toward Tateyama Station, passing Bijodaira and Midagahara on the way to Shomyo Falls, then return to Tokyo from Toyama Station.
Getting Around Nagano & Toyama | Hokuriku Shinkansen
The key transport for getting from Tokyo to the Alpine Route is the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
The Hokuriku Shinkansen connects Tokyo with Nagano, Toyama, Kanazawa, and Tsuruga. From Tokyo it takes about 1 hour 20 minutes to Nagano, and about 2 hours 10 minutes to Toyama.
On this 2-day course, you take the shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station on Day 1, and return from Toyama Station to Tokyo Station on Day 2.
➡️ Book the Hokuriku Shinkansen on Klook
| Section | Travel time | Ticket price |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo - Nagano | Kagayaki 1 hr 20 min Hakutaka 1 hr 40 min | 8,450 yen |
| Tokyo - Toyama | Kagayaki 2 hr 10 min Hakutaka 2 hr 40 min | 13,180 yen |
※ Shinkansen fares can vary by seat class, booking timing, season, and point of purchase. Check the latest prices on the JR official site or a booking site before ticketing.
Inside the Alpine Route: 6 Modes of Transport
The Alpine Route is not a course you ride with ordinary trains alone. While crossing the mountains from Ogizawa to Tateyama Station, you transfer in turn between an electric bus, a cable car, a ropeway, a highland bus, and more.
Since private vehicles cannot pass through this section, you have to use the Alpine Route’s dedicated transport and tickets.
The main modes of transport are as follows.
| Section | Transport | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ogizawa → Kurobe Dam | Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus | Nagano-side entry to the Alpine Route |
| Kurobeko → Kurobedaira | Kurobe Cable Car | Japan's only fully underground cable car |
| Kurobedaira → Daikanbo | Tateyama Ropeway | Mountain ropeway with no support towers in between |
| Daikanbo → Murodo | Tateyama Tunnel Electric Bus | Connects to Murodo at 2,450m |
| Murodo → Bijodaira | Tateyama Highland Bus | Passes the snow wall and alpine scenery |
| Bijodaira → Tateyama Station | Tateyama Cable Car | Toyama-side descent |
In spring especially, you can see the Yuki-no-Otani (雪の大谷) snow wall around Murodo, so the period from mid-April to late June is the most popular.
Check Alpine Route Tickets & Timetables in Advance
You can buy Alpine Route tickets on site, but during peak season it’s safer to reserve web tickets and time slots in advance.
In particular, the Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus departing from Ogizawa and the Tateyama Cable Car departing from Tateyama Station are the main sections that require a specified departure time.
➡️ Reserve a Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route web ticket
- The 2026 Alpine Route operating period is April 15 - November 30. (※ A separate timetable applies from November 4 to November 30.)
- The Murodo Snow Wall runs April 15 - June 25, with entry hours from 9:30 to 15:00.
- Weekday and weekend timetables differ, so be sure to check.
- The last Ogizawa → Nagano express bus is listed as departing around 17:00.
- Reservations are required to get off at highland bus intermediate stops such as Midagahara and Tengudaira.
Japan Alpine Route 2-Day Itinerary
This 2-day Alpine Route itinerary departs Tokyo, enters via Nagano, and joins the Alpine Route at Ogizawa.
On Day 1 you pass the Kurobe Dam and the Murodo Snow Wall and stay overnight at 2,450m Murodo. On Day 2 you head down toward Tateyama Station, visit Bijodaira and Shomyo Falls, then take the shinkansen back to Tokyo from Toyama Station.
The full route is below.
| Day | Route |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tokyo → Nagano → Ogizawa → Kurobe Dam → Kurobedaira → Daikanbo → Murodo (overnight) |
| Day 2 | Murodo → Tengudaira → Midagahara → Bijodaira → Tateyama Station → Shomyo Falls → Toyama → Tokyo |
Day 1 | Tokyo → Nagano → Ogizawa → Kurobe Dam → Murodo
On Day 1, you take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Nagano Station, then take an express bus from Nagano Station to Ogizawa.
From Ogizawa, the real crossing of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route begins. You transfer between the Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus, Kurobe Cable Car, Tateyama Ropeway, and Tateyama Tunnel Electric Bus all the way to Murodo.
| Time | Section |
|---|---|
| 7:20 | Depart Tokyo Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen, 1 hr 17 min) |
| 8:37 | Arrive Nagano Station |
| 8:50 | Depart Nagano Station (express bus, 1 hr 45 min) |
| 10:35 | Arrive Ogizawa |
| 11:00 | Depart Ogizawa (electric bus, 16 min) |
| 11:16 | Arrive Kurobe Dam (15 min walk) |
| 12:00 | Depart Kurobeko (Kurobe Cable Car, 5 min) |
| 12:05 | Arrive Kurobedaira (black ice cream, black dog) |
| 12:20 | Depart Kurobedaira (Tateyama Ropeway, 7 min) |
| 12:27 | Arrive Daikanbo |
| 12:45 | Depart Daikanbo (Tateyama Tunnel Electric Bus, 10 min) |
| 12:55 | Arrive Murodo (Kurobe Dam chiffon cake, Mikurigaike ice cream) |
| 13:00 | Lunch (Rando curry, Tateyama vegetable tempura soba) |
| 14:00 | Murodo hiking (Mikurigaike) |
| Overnight | Mikurigaike Onsen / Hotel Tateyama |
The Snow Wall (SNOW WALL WALK 2026) operates only from 9:30 to 15:00. If you arrive at Murodo late on Day 1, entry time can be tight, so it’s best to allow plenty of margin for your morning departure.
After checking in at the hotel, you can take a light trek around Mikurigaike Pond and soak in the Mikurigaike Onsen to unwind from the day.
Lodging in the Murodo area sits in the mountains, so most places provide both dinner and breakfast.
Day 2 | Murodo → Tateyama Station → Shomyo Falls → Toyama → Tokyo
On Day 2, instead of heading straight down to Toyama from Murodo, you move slowly toward Bijodaira via Tengudaira and Midagahara. This course lets you connect to Shomyo Falls as you come down toward Tateyama Station after the Murodo overnight.
Shomyo Falls is known as the waterfall with the greatest drop in Japan, and you can visit it by bus and on foot from Tateyama Station.
| Time | Section |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | Depart Murodo (Tateyama Highland Bus, 5 min) |
| 10:05 | Arrive Tengudaira |
| 10:45 | Depart Tengudaira (Tateyama Highland Bus, 10 min) |
| 10:55 | Arrive Midagahara |
| 11:36 | Depart Midagahara (Tateyama Highland Bus, 30 min) |
| 12:10 | Arrive Bijodaira |
| 12:20 | Depart Bijodaira (Tateyama Cable Car, 7 min) |
| 12:27 | Arrive Tateyama Station |
| 12:30 | Lunch (LOCOMOTION COFFEE AND BED) |
| 14:10 | Depart Tateyama Station (bus, 15 min) |
| 14:25 | Arrive Shomyo Falls (round-trip walk from stop to falls, 1 hr) |
| 15:30 | Depart Shomyo Falls (bus, 15 min) |
| 15:45 | Arrive Tateyama Station |
| 16:06 | Depart Tateyama Station (Toyama Chiho Railway, 1 hr 5 min) |
| 17:04 | Arrive Toyama Station |
| 17:10 | Dinner (Boteyan okonomiyaki) |
| 19:40 | Depart Toyama Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen, 2 hr 16 min) |
| 21:56 | Arrive Tokyo Station |
To get off and reboard at the highland bus intermediate stops Tengudaira and Midagahara, you must reserve in advance.
Also, Shomyo Falls requires about a 1-hour round-trip walk from the bus stop to the falls after taking the bus from Tateyama Station. If the weather is poor or the walk feels like too much, you can skip Shomyo Falls and head straight into central Toyama.
Where to Stay at Murodo (1 night)
The biggest draw of a 2-day Alpine Route itinerary is the one night you spend at 2,450m Murodo.
A day-trip Alpine Route visit usually only catches the daytime scenery in passing, but staying overnight at Murodo lets you enjoy the sunset, the stars, and the early-morning alpine scenery at a more relaxed pace.
In the spring snow wall season especially, you can see the quiet Murodo scenery before the crowds arrive, and on Day 2 it’s easy to head down toward Tateyama Station and connect to a Shomyo Falls visit.
① Hotel Tateyama (ホテル立山)
Hotel Tateyama is the Alpine Route’s flagship lodging, connected to the Murodo terminal. It’s convenient to check in right after arriving at Murodo, and the travel burden is small even on days with bad weather. If accessibility matters most to you, it’s the easiest choice.
➡️ Book Hotel Tateyama (Trip.com)
② Mikurigaike Onsen (みくりが池温泉)
Mikurigaike Onsen is a natural hot spring lodging at 2,410m, about a 15-minute walk from the Murodo terminal. It’s known as the highest natural hot spring in Japan, and pairs well with a walk toward Mikurigaike Pond. That said, you have to walk a rocky path and steps from the terminal to the lodging, so light luggage is recommended over a large suitcase.
➡️ [Official] Book Mikurigaike Onsen
③ Murodo Sanso (室堂山荘)
Murodo Sanso is a mountain-lodge-style accommodation about a 10-minute walk from the Murodo terminal. It feels more like a mountain lodge than a hotel, and works well as a base for trekking around Murodo or for a stay before and after going up the mountain. It suits those who want to cut costs or experience a mountain-travel atmosphere.
➡️ Compare prices for Murodo Sanso
All Murodo lodgings are season-limited accommodations in the mountains. During Golden Week, snow wall season weekends, and the September foliage season, reservations fill up fast, so once your dates are set, it’s best to check accommodation first.
Budget & Packing Checklist
A 2-day Alpine Route trip from Tokyo, including the shinkansen, Alpine Route tickets, and the Murodo overnight, comes to roughly 60,000-70,000 yen per person.
This itinerary isn’t a simple round trip but a loop course running Tokyo → Nagano and Toyama → Tokyo. So the shinkansen cost is best seen as two Hokuriku Shinkansen sections rather than a “round trip.”
Budget per person
| Item | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| Hokuriku Shinkansen, 2 sections | about 21,630 yen |
| Alpine Route ticket | about 12,360 yen |
| Nagano → Ogizawa express bus | 4,300 yen |
| Murodo lodging (1 night, dinner & breakfast included) | about 25,000 yen |
| Food & other | about 5,000 yen |
| Total | about 68,290 yen |
※ The figures above are a rough budget based on departing Tokyo, Nagano IN / Toyama OUT. Actual costs vary with lodging grade, whether meals are included, booking timing, and season.
Alpine Route ticket buying tips
You can buy Alpine Route tickets on site, but during snow wall season, Golden Week, and the foliage season, it’s safer to reserve web tickets in advance.
In 2026, to mark the 55th anniversary of the full Alpine Route opening, a 55th Anniversary Early-Bird WEB ticket is also on sale for use from June 1 to July 25. Note that May dates are not eligible for the early-bird, so use a regular web ticket for those.
- Booking deadline: by 3 PM the day before departure
- Cancellation fee: 500 yen per person for cancellations after 3 PM two days before
- Payment: credit card accepted
➡️ Reserve a Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route web ticket
If you want to know the difference between the Alpine Route pass and web tickets, and how to reserve and issue them:
👉 Japan Alpine Route Pass & Web Ticket Booking Comparison: Ticket Guide from Tokyo (2026)
Packing checklist
In April and May, Murodo feels completely different from central Tokyo or Toyama. In snow wall season especially, you need to prepare for snowy paths, strong reflected sunlight, and low temperatures.
- Warm clothing: Murodo is a high-altitude area at 2,450m, so temperatures are low
- Waterproof trekking shoes or boots: for snowy paths and wet ground
- Sunglasses: for the glare off the snowfield
- Sunscreen: UV is strong in high-altitude areas and from snow reflection
- Hat, gloves, hand warmers: for wind and the felt temperature
- Spare camera battery: batteries drain fast in the cold
- Web ticket confirmation: to verify boarding on each transport
- Credit card & cash: for shops and fares that may not take cards
- Passport: for foreign travelers, to verify identity and reservations
If you visit in late April or early May, it’s safer to prepare clothing closer to a winter hike than to typical spring wear.
A 2-day Japan Alpine Route trip from Tokyo works best as a loop course: enter via Nagano, stay overnight at Murodo, and return through Toyama. The one night you spend at 2,450m Murodo is the Alpine Route's biggest draw, something hard to feel on a day trip.
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