On our recent Autumn trip to Japan a great day out which I planned and the weather helped to come to fruition was to ascend the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which links the Nagano prefecture with Toyama.
While you can traverse the full length, we decided to make a base in Shinano Omachi and then go halfway up to Murodo and return – mainly so that if the weather was not good that we had two different days that we could head off on this adventure. Fortunately the weather was absolutely perfect on the day that I had planned and we had a fantastic day out exploring the route. We were the only western faces along the way – everyone else was of Japanese appearance!
Join the Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group and Discord Server
You are also welcome to join our Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group and our new Japan Travel Planning Discord Server – they are great resources to enable you to ask questions about your upcoming trip to Japan!
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These photos are from the top of the route around Murodo. There are some great walks and we enjoyed getting out and exploring. Hell Valley is a dangerous volcanic area which is off limits, but you can look down upon the are. There was a strong rotten egg sulfuric smell on that area of the walk and warnings of lethal gases encouraged us to move through that area quickly.
Join the Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group and Discord Server
You are also welcome to join our Japan Travel Planning Facebook Group and our new Japan Travel Planning Discord Server – they are great resources to enable you to ask questions about your upcoming trip to Japan!
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Fantastic combination of colours you’ve captured there Anne. Looks uniquely beautiful and an interesting place to walk in. Good weather and no foreigners sounds like a bonus too.
Have never been to Japan but it’s near the very top of my countries to visit list.
Thanks Andy – we managed to catch the autumn colours which were fabulous. I really enjoyed seeing a different part of Japan and to get away from the tourist crowds in Tokyo and Kyoto.