An impressive feat of engineering. They give you around 16 min to transfer from the Kanden electric bus to the cable car. Walking from the bus across the dam takes around 10 min at a brisk pace. However you might want to slow down and look around, it's beautiful. We however opted to slow down for the return journey to maximise up in Murodo. On the way back, there is a 40 min gap between the cable car and bus transfer back in the afternoon so time to enjoy the dam then.
Absolutely magnificent! 🍂 Visiting Kurobe Dam in October was unforgettable, the earthy autumn colors, the rainbow terrace, and the scenic views all along the route were stunning. Also as always, Japan is so thoughtful in accommodating tourists, combining the nature and how they made it easy for all people to hike, even though it’s a short uphill hike from the station to the top, the views make it more than worth it. Every step of the trip was memorable, with breathtaking scenery everywhere ✨✨✨
From Murodo I took the tunnel electric bus, ropeway and cable car to arrive at the Kurobe dam at 12:06 pm. It’s a beautiful sunny day in September. The views are impressive.
It is a beautiful and magnificent as it can be!
It was built at 61 years ago according to our. Tours guide. And 171 people were lost during the construction!
The lights rain on the day of our visit did not affect its beauty. The dam and the lake really made this place magical!
All four seasons will give this place a different and unique face, so it is worth of coming back sometime!
We also saw a performance in front of gift shot even is raining! What a fantastic performance!
I visited on August 9, 2025, and was lucky to see a rainbow on the water under the dam. It was absolutely incredible
The dam's water discharge operates from late June to mid-October, releasing over 10 tons of water per second. October is popular for autumn foliage. The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is open from mid-April to late November, with exact dates varying annually. Access is closed during winter from late November to mid-April due to snow.
From the east, take the Kanden Tunnel Trolleybus from Ogizawa Station, which takes approximately 15 minutes through the mountain. From the west, use the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route from Tateyama Station, involving cable cars, buses, and ropeways. The Ogizawa route is more direct, while the Alpine Route offers more scenic connections.
Admission to the dam and observation areas is free. Transportation costs are separate. The Kanden Tunnel Trolleybus from Ogizawa requires a paid ticket, and the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route costs over 10,000 yen depending on your route and starting point.
A standard visit including the dam crest walk and observation deck takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Adding a sightseeing boat cruise on Lake Kurobe extends the visit to 3 to 4 hours. Many visitors spend a full day traveling the entire Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
No. All access routes close from late November to mid-April due to heavy snowfall. Both the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and Kanden Tunnel Trolleybus services are suspended during this period. The routes reopen in spring after snow removal.
