Society

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route bustles with tourists

Apr 17 (NHK) - Visitors to a scenic mountain route through the Northern Japan Alps are enjoying the towering walls of snow under a bright sun.

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route links the prefectures of Toyama and Nagano in central Japan.

The 37-kilometer link, which connects bus, cable car and ropeway routes, officially opened to the public on Sunday. But the occasion was marred by high winds and rain.

The weather cleared up on Monday, prompting tourists from Japan and overseas to flock to a popular spot near Murodo at an altitude of 2,450 meters. Snow walls up to 17 meters high line the sides of the road. The walls were created by accumulated snow from plowing operations.

A visitor from Australia said he was deeply moved by the beauty of the high snow walls.

Visitors can walk along the snow walls for a 500-meter section until late June. Tourists can also travel the route by bus and other means until late November.

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