REPORT

On 5/15 (Fri.), the highest point of the snow wall along the “Yuki-no-Otani” Snow Corridor (pictured) measured 11 meters. For reference, it stood at 12 meters on the opening day of the full Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route exactly one month earlier, meaning the height has only decreased by 1 meter since then. (※Snowfall during the past month helped maintain the area’s snow depth.) Combined with the fact that it was already mid-May, the scale and brilliant whiteness of the snow walls felt even more impressive than expected.
[Yuki-no-Otani]

The Panorama Road closed on 5/6 (Wed.), so visitors now walk out-and-back through the Snow Corridor itself. Murodo-daira (pictured), sitting at roughly 2,450 meters above sea level, was bustling with visitors today despite it being a weekday. The snow surface was firm and compact, and even while walking directly on the snow, moisture did not seep through waterproof sneakers or trekking shoes.
[Murodo-daira]

Parts of the route toward Mikuri-ga-ike had already melted enough for the paved path to reappear from under the snow. By the way, the chances of spotting rock ptarmigans increase during the breeding season from mid-May through June and the chick-rearing season in July and August (your odds are even better on foggy or rainy days). Sure enough, I was able to spot both a male (pictured) and a female ptarmigan this morning.
[Mikuri-ga-ike]

At Mikuri-ga-ike (pictured), visitors could be heard marveling at the beautiful emerald-green water, which was beginning to appear through the surrounding snowy landscape. The sunshine and reflected glare off the snow were intense today, making sunglasses and sunscreen essential. Nearby Mikuri-ga-ike Onsen — known as the highest natural hot spring in Japan — also offers day-use bathing (※JPY1,100 for adults and JPY800 for children). (To be continued in Pt. 2!)
[Mikuri-ga-ike]

　
[Kurobe Dam]
*Location … Omachi, Nagano Prefecture & Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture
*Operating Period … April 15, 2026 – November 30, 2026
*Fare … Round trip by electric bus (Ogisawa – Kurobe Dam): JPY3,200 for adults, JPY1,600 for elementary school students
*Parking … Ogisawa Station: JPY1,000/day for passenger cars (free parking is also available)

[Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route]
*Location … Omachi, Nagano Prefecture & Tateyama Town, Toyama Prefecture
*Opening period … April 15, 2026 – November 30, 2026
*Ougisawa Station Parking lot … JPY1,000/12 hours for passenger cars (*Free parking is also available)
*Required time … Approximately 1 hour from Hakuba Village to Ogisawa Station by car.
*Transportation from Ogisawa to Murodo … JPY12,300 round trip for adults, JPY6,150 for children
　
reported by Snownavi