Snow clearing begins on Japan's famed alpine route

Feb 09 (NHK) - Snowplowing has begun on a scenic mountain route running through the Northern Alps in central Japan.

Popular with tourists, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route links the prefectures of Toyama and Nagano. Every year it is closed for winter and reopens around April. One of the route's top sightseeing spots is a stretch with towering snow walls.

On Tuesday, two snowplows were seen at the Fujibashi gate in Tateyama Town, the starting point on the Toyama side.

Workers are scheduled to remain onsite from next week. They plan to use 21 snowplows to clear a 31-kilometer section of the road up to Murodo, which is 2,450 meters above sea level.

Officials at the association carrying out the plowing say the snow accumulation is greater this winter due to many snowfalls. They say there is 160 centimeters of snow -- 20 more than usual -- at Fujibashi, and 710 centimeters at Murodo -- 150 greater than usual.

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