Alpine Route

Our group is anxious to make the trip to the Japan Alps today.  I can't believe it is raining, and its suppose to rain all day.  That is a bummer but the show must go on.  We are dressed as best we can for the weather conditions we are being delt.  On top of being in the mountains where it's cold, we are also going to be dealing with the rain.  We have eaten breakfast and are on our way to our first destination to start the journey to Japan Alps.  We are taking the journey on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route which is a famous mountain sightseeing route between Tateyama, Toyama and Ōmachi, Nagano, Japan. The whole route opened on June 1, 1971.

Rain, Rain Go Away

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a unique and spectacular route through the Northern Japan Alps which requires various means of transportation including cable cars, trolley-buses, and a ropeway. Completed in 1971, the route connects Toyama City in Toyama Prefecture with Omachi Town in Nagano Prefecture. 

First, the form of transportation was a car, now on to the next trek of the journey up the mountain by bus to catch our next form of transportation.

Ric and Teresa are happy to start the journey to Japan's Alps.

The main attraction of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is the magnificent scenery of the Tateyama Mountain Range, part of the Chubu Sangaku National Park. 

The mountain road is very treacherous with slippery roads and all the twists and turns to get up the mountain.

We can now start to see snow.

It's getting colder as the bus travels up the mountain.

The snow is starting to accumulate.

The road crew has had to use a digger to get the path open for the buses to make it start next mode of transportation to get up the mountain.

Have you ever seen snow this high before?

Here comes the diggers to help keep the path open for the buses.

Next mode of transportation is the trolly bus.

Now on to the cable car to finish the destination to the top of the mountain.

The Kurobe Dam is Japan's tallest dam at 186 meters. It was constructed over a seven year period and was completed in 1963. Many difficulties were encountered in the process, and over 170 people lost their lives to the project. The dam has since been supporting a hydropower plant in its supply of electricity to the Kansai Region. It is also a major attraction along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. 

At the eastern end of the dam, there is a steep, long flight of stairs that leads up the concrete-covered mountain slope for an aerial view of the dam and its surroundings. It takes about 15 minutes to climb to the observation deck at the top, which is again connected by tunnels with the trolley bus station.

Walking to the observation deck to eat lunch.

Time for some bittersweet chocolate.......OH WOW so yummy.

 Enjoying the Japan Alps.

Trying to climb the snow drifts,

Trying to stay warm and dry.