REPORT

At times, volcanic plumes rising from Jigokudani turned the sky hazy, but for most of the morning the sun shone through, giving me plenty of time to admire the chinguruma, kuromamenoki, and iwa-icho glowing in shades of red, yellow, and orange. The long stone staircase leading down to Raichozawa Campground (pictured, rear left) is easy enough on the way down, but the climb back up is another story. Hikers returning from Mt. Oyama, Mt. Onanji, Mt. Masago, and Mt. Bessan told me, “This climb is pretty tough on tired legs!”
[Raichoso to Raichozawa Campground]

By around 10 a.m., plenty of tents were already pitched at Raichozawa Campground. (※No advance reservation required; ¥1,000 fee per person per night.) I met three visitors from Ibaraki Prefecture (pictured), who told me, “We’re workout buddies. This is our first time ever camping in a tent. Did we set it up properly? We’re heading up Mt. Oyama (pictured, upper left) later on.”
[Raichozawa Campground]

kuromamenoki are actually woody dwarf shrubs. Among the slightly taller trees, the nanakamado leaves were beginning to turn red from the tips, while the minekaede were showing a gradual transition from green to yellow. Fall colors along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route can be enjoyed at progressively lower elevations through mid-October.
[Raichozawa to Shin-Murodo Norikoshi]

From Murodo Terminal, it took about 90 minutes to reach Raichozawa Campground and around 130 minutes to reach Shin-Murodo Norikoshi (2,387 m). The pass sits on the ridgeline connecting the Tateyama Sanzan with Mt. Dainichi (2,501 m). At the junction, turning right leads toward Mt. Bessan (2,880 m, pictured, top right) and Tsurugi Gozen (2,776 m, pictured, top center), while turning left leads toward Mt. Oku-Dainichi (2,611 m). Looking back the way you came, you can take in a sweeping view of the Tateyama peaks surrounding Murodo-daira.
[Shin-Murodo Norikoshi to Tsurugi Gozen]

　　
*The annual water discharge is scheduled to continue through 10/15 (Thu.), although it may be suspended due to weather or other operational conditions.

[Kurobe Dam]
*Place … Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture; Tateyama Town, Toyama Prefecture
*Opening Period … April 15, 2026 – November 30, 2026
*Fees … Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus (Ogizawa – Kurobe Dam) Round-trip adults JPY3,200, elementary school students JPY1,600
　
[Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route]
*Place … Omachi City, Nagano Prefecture; Tateyama Town, Toyama Prefecture
*Opening Period … April 15, 2026 – November 30, 2026
*Parking lot on the Ogizawa Station side … Passenger cars JPY1,000 / 12hours (*Free parking is also available)
*Transportation costs from Ogizawa to Tateyama Station … adults JPY10,940, elementary school students JPY5,480
　
*Request for the original data of our photographs　
　
reported by Snownavi