REPORT

Fresh spring green has now reached all the way up to around 1,400m of elevation – the level of both Ogizawa Station and Kurobe Dam. As I got off the Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus and stepped out onto the wall of the Kurobe Dam, I was struck by the beauty of the emerald green surface of the lake, the trees dressed in new spring foliage, and the still snow-covered Northern Alps, and I heard others exclaiming out loud how beautiful it was. Many visitors could be seen enjoying the scenery while slowly making their way toward the Kurobe Cable Car station.
[Kurobe Dam]

I crossed the Kampadani Bridge (first photo) and headed to the lakeside promenade. As I got further away from the dam and the Alpine Route, there were far less people, and the fresh air created by the beech trees along with the sound of the wind shaking the branches was very pleasant. The Kurobe Dam Lake Tour Garve Pleasure Boat will begin operating for the season on 6/1(Sat.).
[Lakeside Walkway]

Tateyama Murodo was still covered with snow, and I enjoyed the feeling of walking on the snow but was happy that I had on my waterproof trekking shoes. The paving stones of the walkway between Murodo Terminal and the Mikurigaike Pond (pictured), and along the Mikurigaike circuit course could be seen breaking through the snow in places. The pond itself was just beginning to melt, and the beautiful azure color of the water was peeking through the ice (pictured).
[Mikurigaike Pond]

Currently, the area between the Kurobe Dam and Murodo (Kurobe-daira to Tambo-daira, pictured) forms the border between the spring green and lingering snow meet. As the Tateyama Tunnel trolleybus connecting Daikanbo and Tateyama Murodo will be terminated in 2024, a special departure ceremony will be held on 6/1 (Sat.) and a “Memorial Backyard Tour” will take place on 6/30 (Sun.), 9/1 (Sun.) and 10/14 (Mon.). (*Registration begins on 6/1 (Sat).
[Tambo-daira]　

[Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route]

＊Address … Omachi-shi, Nagano / Tateyama-machi, Toyama
＊Business period … April 15, 2024 – November 30, 2024
＊Ogizawa Station parking lot … Passenger car JPY1,000/day (There is also a free parking lot.)
＊Required time … About 1 hour by car from Hakuba Village to Ogizawa Station
＊Transportation expenses from Ogizawa to Murodo … Round trip adult JPY12,300, child JPY6,150
　
　　
　
　reported by Snownavi