Early spring visit at Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Travel Reports by Horadrimus

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April 11, 2015 - Early spring visit at Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

As my stay in Japan was ending on 13th April and Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route would open fully from 16th. I have decided to visit partially open section up to Midagahara.

My day started at early morning by taking newly opened Hokuriku Shinkansen
"HAKUTAKA" from Kanazawa to Toyama.

Next leg of travel was ride with local train ran by Toyama Chiho Railway.
Travel from Dentetsu Toyama station to Tateyama Station takes about 1 hour.

Upon arrival at Tateyama, helpful station staff led me to Alpine Route ticket counter.

Gate before Tateyama Cablecar

Live feed from Midagahara

Tateyama Cablecar

View at city center from cablecar

Track split half way and create passing point fro 2nd cablecar

Close to Bijodaira Station low cloud cover started to appear.

Short waiting before boarding Highland Bus

From Bijodaira Station bus travels winding road,
at early April running between snow walls.

View on Shomyo Falls from observing point on road.

Heavy machines used to snow removal

Midagahara bus stop

For few minutes sky was clear from low clouds

Road to carved in ~8-9m snow walls

With ~40 minutes left till return train, I have decided
to explore close vicinity of station.

List of Posts:
2015/04/12 - Short cycle on Shimanami Kaido, exploring Innoshima island.
2015/04/11 - Early spring visit at Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
2015/04/10 - Night illumination at Kenrokuen Garden and Kanazawa Castle
2015/04/08 - Itsukushima Shrine at low tide and Mt.Misen climbing - Spring 2015
2015/04/08 - Iwakuni Castle and Kintai-kyo Bridge - Spring 2015
2015/04/06 - City of Hiroshima in half day visit.
2015/04/05 - Evening view at bay area from Cosmo Tower
2015/04/05 - Energy recovery at Kinosaki Onsen
2015/04/04 - Handayama Botanical Garden and side trip to Kurashiki
2015/04/04 - Osaka Sakuranomiya Park and Okayama Korakuen Garden
2015/04/03 - Kyoto Arashiyama district and evening visit at Yasaka Shrine
2015/04/03 - Wakakusayama hike and visit at Kasuga Taisha Shrine
2015/04/02 - Nunobiki Herb Garden, waterfall trail descent and brief visit at Meriken Park
2015/04/02 - Two sides of newly opened Himeji Castle