1-Day Tateyama-Kurobe Tour: Walking on the 'Roof of Japan'

Overview

Available languages

English

Mobile ticket

This tour takes you to the 'Roof of Japan' in summer and autumn to experience in the stunning and lush alpine landscape and one of Japan’s three sacred mountains, Mount Tate. Led by an English-speaking guide, you will be accompanied on every leg of your journey to the Roof of Japan and back down again.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

At its highest point, this tour transports guests to over 2500 metres above sea level and spends a considerable amount of time outside. The temperature is likely to be notably cooler than in the valley and cities below. Average day-time temperatures are as follows: Average day-time temperatures are as follows: July 11 to 16°C / August 12 to 18°C / September 9 to 15°C / October 3 to 10°C / November -5 to 2°C. Please dress appropriately for those temperatures and note that weather conditions can change quickly. Ensure you bring a waterproof jacket, hat and wear good quality shoes or boots.

The sun can be strong at the summit therefore please ensure you have a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Please also carry water or something to drink (noting there are chances to buy bottled drinks along the way).

This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travels. Should you have any concerns about your ability to join the tour, please contact us to discuss prior to booking.

This tour does not include lunch. Snacks can be purchased at different mountain stations with different restaurants to choose from at the summit.

In case of extreme weather conditions, routes to the snow corridor might close. In such a case, the tour will be cancelled with full refund.

The itinerary is based on the traffic conditions being optimal. We will adjust the schedule according to traffic conditions and pace of the group on the day of the tour.

Infants (0-5) are free of charge.

If there are no guests joining for Hakuba, the tour will run approximately 1 hour faster with an estimated end time in Nagano of between 17:30 to 18:30. Guests wishing to book onward train tickets should do so for services after 19:30. If the tour returns early, it should be possible to change your train time at the ticket office.

The tour application deadline is 2 days before the tour date at 17:00.

All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Transport to/from all listed destinations

English-speaking guide

Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route ticket

Lunch

Other food, snacks & drinks

Accommodation

Shinkansen/Bullet Train tickets

What To Expect

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Situated in the dramatic alpine landscape of the Chubu Sangaku National Park, the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route traverses Japan’s highest mountain range and in doing so carries visitors to the so-called ‘Roof of Japan’. Using mountain transports to and from the Nagano-side of the mountain range, you will ascend to around 2450 metres above sea level and Murodo Station using a series of tunnel buses, cable cars and ropeways. The journey will take you from the base station to Kurobe Dam – an epic feat of engineering – before heading further above to the stop station of Murodo. Once at Murodo, your guide will accompany you on a guided walk of a leisurely trail in the shadow of the mountain summit above at 3000 metres. This is a stunning landscape of alpine flowers in summer – July to August – followed by some of Japan’s most stunning autumn colours – September to October.

6 hours • Admission Included

Options

Starting from Nagano Station

Nagano Station: Nagano Station at the Information Board, directly across from the shinkansen (bullet train) ticket gates at 08:30

Reviews

4.88

16 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Autumn and winter phenomenon
Relax05827818575,
Oct 30, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00
Both Loong and myself had a wonderful time with Sijung our guide on the Tateyama kurobe alpine tour. Sijung was very experienced with the logistic and the terrain of the mountain. Because of him, we had a seamless, painless, comfortable journey on each mode of transportation. I can’t thank him enough for his attentiveness to our needs especially when we were up at Murado and it started to snow and we try to go and trek but had to turn back because of the heavy snow, he was there to ensure that we don’t fall as we walk on the slippery snow, watching out for all of us, giving us good advise on how we should approach the knee high snow. We were very ill prepared for the weather . With our consent , he suggested that we go down to the kurobe dam and spent time there instead of staying hole up at Murado. That was the best decision ever. We all had a good time treking , being mindful to make enough noise to warn the bears that we were around and taking many beautiful photos of the autumn foliage against the beautiful mountains. That was the best part of the trip. On our way back to Nagano, the driver Olando spotted for us some deer, a family of monkeys and even a black bear. We were so amazed by the sheer chance of even seeing a black bear on the road. We make it back to Nagano in good time and we even manage to get to our next destination ahead of schedule. Thank you SIjung and Olando for making this a memorable experience for me and Loong.
Great tour guide I highly recommended
Shum C,
Oct 18, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00
Kieron is such a professional tour guide, he taking care of everyone during the trip today. In additional from today’s trip, he also provide other information to us. Really appreciated
Great tour, beautiful autumn views
janetwI5202FB,
Oct 15, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00
Tour was great. Endo was my tour guide and he was very organized, attentive, and communicative throughout the entire tour. There was some free time and he let us know the meet up time at each point which was great. Feb to April is a popular time to go to this area but I think autumn is a gorgeous time to go. I highly recommend anyone who is interested to join this tour.
Over the top great!
martinwP3873YI,
Oct 7, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00
This was one of the most amazing days in all of our 32 trips to Japan! Mizuno-San was the perfect guide for us. We happened to go on a perfect weather day so the autumn colors were truly awesome, they were so vividly intense. The tour was organized and went off like clockwork. While for some the many legs you take to reach the mountain summit may seem excessive, for us they were all little adventures. The first week of October was just the right time to see this area in all it’s splendor!
Impressive trip with nice tour guide
135tillys,
Oct 4, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00
It’s a nice experience with our tour guide Kieron’s professional introduction of landscape and Dan’s construction and and different transportation way to the Murodo
A VIP experience at the Japanese Alps
Rosygarza1,
Aug 1, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00
Our tour guide, Orlando, was fantastic. He went above and beyond, sharing information about the places we visited and helping me find geocaches and stamps for my collection. He also hiked with us.
Nagano day trip
564wongl,
Jul 30, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00
The views were nice and one of the best place to visit if u are near Nagano areas. There will be different transportation to different areas.
July 2025 Trip Review
56evangelinev,
Jul 9, 2025
- Tripadvisor
5.00
Nadine was an amazing guide. She took care of us from the very beginning all the way until our drop off point recommending ideas for the rest of the trip. The itinerary gave us plenty of free time at each stop. We did not feel rushed at all and had plenty of time for pictures.
I am on “top of the world”!
316jeannetter,
Nov 24, 2024
- Tripadvisor
5.00
It was one of a kind tour in my entire life, being on the “roof of Japan.” The nicest part is seeing the beauty of what “raw” nature can really present to us, human, amidst the contributions of what we, human, can also do for any added face-lifts therein. It was so beautiful on top and it was a wonderful experience!! I registered 10970 steps (flat and not flat) that day, mostly from the tour, and I have no qualms of going solo (again) of joining tours like this because the confidence in me is being polished and it helps me train myself to calculate risks and have a braver stance. This tour would not be memorable if not for our tour guide Joyce/Aiko who has with her every details of the tour, goes out of her way to make sure everything is all right, very accommodating, speaks English very well, very respectful to everybody and people-oriented. Joyce is an asset to Snow Monkey Resorts! Will highly recommend your company. See you again Joyce!!
God given nature!
Imelda L,
Nov 11, 2024
- Tripadvisor
5.00
Great tour! Well worth the price since it takes out the stress frommfiguring out all the switches from hus to tram to cable car. Sijung was great and kept us all together. God shined his blessing and gave us the best weather! Beautiful clear day!