The overall journey was quite long. It took about 3.5 hours from Nagoya to Kamikochi, about 3.5 hours from Kamikochi to the hotel, about an hour and a half from the hotel to Kurobe Alpine Route the next day, and finally about 4-5 hours to return from Kurobe Alpine Route to Nagoya. Basically, any journey longer than an hour would include a rest stop for a short break. The Kamikochi section included about 4 hours of free time, where you could choose to walk from Taisho Pond to Kappa Bridge, or from Kappa Bridge to Myojin Pond. The bus would drop you off at either Taisho Pond or Kappa Bridge, and the final meeting point was at the bus stop next to Kappa Bridge. Mountain weather is unpredictable and sudden rain is common, so it's highly recommended to bring an umbrella; a lightweight raincoat would be even more convenient. I personally took the Kappa Bridge to Myojin Pond route, walking along the right bank on the way there, which took about 1.5 hours because I was enjoying the scenery. On the way back, I walked along the left bank, which took about 40 minutes because I was worried about missing the meeting point. Myojin Pond requires an additional 500 yen entrance fee, but I highly recommend going in; it's incredibly beautiful, with a quiet and sacred atmosphere. For the Kurobe Alpine leg, we had breakfast at a restaurant at 6:30 AM the following morning, and then departed at 7:20 AM. In October, Kurobe Alpine doesn't have snow walls; the main attraction is the autumn leaves, but it's difficult to catch the peak of autumn foliage. The journey through Kurobe Alpine involves using many different modes of transportation, mostly following the guide's pre-arranged schedule. We stopped at Murodo for about 1.5 hours, and other transfer points mostly for 10-20 minutes, which was actually quite enough time. There's also a simple post office at the summit of Tateyama near Murodo where you can send postcards with limited-edition postmarks. Overall, the itinerary was perfect for someone like me who doesn't want to plan their own transportation, and it was very relaxing for solo travelers. Our guide, Tao Jing, took many photos for us; I'm truly grateful.
Anonymous User
Solo traveler
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Weather, Climate and Best Time to Visit
Data source:Meteostat Update date:2025-09
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route year round climate
Spring (March–May): 7.7–17.4°C on average, variable climate with more rainfall; mountainous areas may still have snow. Common activities: snow viewing (March), hiking (May, depending on snow conditions). Recommended clothing: warm jacket, waterproof clothing, hiking boots.
Summer (June–August): 22.3–28.3°C on average, warm and humid climate with abundant rainfall; large temperature difference between day and night. Common activities: viewing alpine plants, using various transportation methods of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Recommended clothing: light and breathable clothing, rain gear, sunscreen.
Autumn (September–November): 17.0–24.9°C on average, pleasant climate with less rainfall; beautiful autumn foliage. Common activities: viewing autumn leaves, hiking. Recommended clothing: light jacket, comfortable shoes.
Winter (December–February): 2.6–5.4°C on average, cold climate with heavy snowfall; some areas have closed transportation. Common activities: snow activities (in some areas, depending on conditions). Recommended clothing: heavy warm clothing, waterproof and windproof jacket, snow boots.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route climatological average
Annual average temperature: approx. 15.1°C / Annual rainfall: approx. 2496 mm / Summer humidity: 70%–80% / Rainiest month: July
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route monthly average temperature and precipitation
Month
Air temperature (°C)
Precipitation (mm)
January
2.6°C
135.2
February
3.4°C
127.9
March
7.7°C
176.1
April
13.4°C
179.9
May
17.4°C
283
June
22.3°C
200.8
July
26.8°C
288.5
August
28.3°C
269.4
September
24.9°C
204.6
October
17°C
199.8
November
12°C
200.1
December
5.4°C
230.9
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route weather for the next seven days
3/21
Saturday
Sunny
7.5°C/-2.3°C
3/22
Sunday
Overcast
11.7°C/0.3°C
3/23
Monday
Moderate rain
12.3°C/3.3°C
3/24
Tuesday
Patchy rain nearby
8.9°C/4°C
3/25
Wednesday
Partly Cloudy
10.4°C/2.3°C
3/26
Thursday
Sunny
11.2°C/2.1°C
3/27
Friday
Sunny
14.3°C/3.2°C
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