Go!Central Japan × Centrip JapanThe Heart of Central Japan- Its Nature, History, and Culture –

One of the best reasons to visit Japan is a chance to see the wondrous beauty the country has to offer. The Tateyama Kurobe and Omachi areas have some of the most impressive sites in Japan. The surreal snow walls of Yuki no Otani, the postcard-worthy seasonal scenes from the gorgeous pond, Mikurigaike, and the massive Kurobe Dam are breathtaking. There are so many fantastic natural spots in this area that there's a special Alpine Route laid out for visitors to help them traverse mountains here. The best way to get to this area from Kanazawa is to take the one-hour express bus from Kanazawa Station to Takayama Station. From there, you can hop on the Toyama Regional Railway Main Line bound for Tateyama, which will take one hour.

Caution: The Alpen Route is only open from the middle of April through the end of November.

Starting at Tateyama Station, there is a bus available that heads towards Shomyo Falls. Between April and June, when there's just the right amount of snow to build it, you'll find the world-famous Yuki no Otani, a massive 500-meter long man-made snow corridor that at times reaches heights of 20 meters.

Caution: Yuki no Otani (Snow Corridor Walk) is only accessible from the middle of April through the end of June.

From Tateyama Station, start your climb up the mountain by taking the 7-minute cable car to the first stop on the Alpine Route, the scenic Bijodaira. From there, you'll take the Tateyama Kogen Bus for another 30 minutes to Mitagahara. You can then take one more 20-minute Tateyama Kogen Bus to the observation stations near Mikurigaike. You can spend a few hours here just taking in the majesty of the pond and the smoky volcanic ridge. No matter what season you visit the pond, you're sure to see a beautiful site. There's still snow on the ground in spring, the plateau is green and lush in summer, and the changing leaves of autumn look like an oil painting. You can take a 20-minute walk from the pond to Murodo, where you'll find a station noted as sitting at the highest elevation in Japan.

Caution: Mikurigaike Pond is only accessible from the middle of April through the end of November.

Next up, take the 10-minute Tateyama Tunnel Trolley Bus to Daikanbo, and then take the Tateyama Ropeway to start your 7-minute descent towards Kurobe Dam. As you head down into the valley, you'll be treated to a gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains. The Kurobe Cable Car for 5 minutes down to Kurobe Lake and finally the gigantic Kurobe Dam. In the summertime, you can see the enormous waterfall released from the dam. After you've seen the dam, there's a 16-minute trolley bus to Ogizawa Station. The Alpine Route is a fantastic journey, and the chain of buses, trollies, and ropeways make it all possible. No matter what time of year you take this journey, you'll be treated to some of the best natural scenery Japan has to offer.

Caution: Kurobe Dam's Water Release is only viewable from the end of June through the middle of October.

From Ogisawa Station, it's just a 35-minute ride of the Alpico Bus to Shino Omachi Station. The area is famous for its Kurobe Dam Curry. There are a number of curry restaurants here, each with their own unique style and flavors. There are 19 curry restaurants in all. Each one of them serves their curry to make it look like Kurobe Dam. It's rather impressive how much variety is available. For those not familiar with Japanese-style curry, it's similar to its Indian counterpart, but in general, it's thicker and richer in taste than the curry you'll find at Indian restaurants. If you're visiting Japan, it's something you should definitely try. It's a great example of something the Japanese have imported from overseas and made uniquely their own.

Caution: Kurobe Dam's Water Release is only viewable from the end of June through the middle of October.