Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: The 90-kilometer sightseeing route, which stretches along the Japan Alps, opens every April to November.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: The 90-kilometer sightseeing route, which stretches along the Japan Alps, opens every April to November.
One of the world's wildest mountain drives, Japan's Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route has reopened to tourists for another season.

Stretching across the Toyama and Nagano prefectures north of Tokyo, the 90-kilometer sightseeing route -- dubbed the "Roof of Japan" -- offers incredible views of the 3,015-meter Mt. Tateyama and 2,478-meter Mt. Akazawa-dake peaks, while providing access to everything from Japan's highest altitude hot spring to the country's highest waterfall.

But the route's biggest attraction is the unbelievable Snow Wall Walk, located along the pathway in Yuki no Otani (or Great Valley of Snow).



The stunning snow corridor in Yuki no Otani
The stunning snow corridor in Yuki no Otani
The corridor features walls of snow that tower as high as 17 meters over the road, the result of months of strenuous work by snowplow truck drivers.

The walk takes around 50 minutes and stays open until June 22, when the walls recede as the weather warms. It's expected the route will receive more than 5,000 visitors daily in April and May.

Other highlights along the Snow Wall Walk include Panorama Road (which offers views of the Tateyama peaks), a snow hut, snow maze and a snow slide -- each with different opening periods.

The walk takes around 50 minutes to complete
The walk takes around 50 minutes to complete
Private cars are prohibited.
Private cars are prohibited.