Snow clearing operations start in early spring using GPS-guided snow cutters to carve a precise path through the accumulation.
The snow walls are created by the process of 'yukikiri' (snow cutting), a specialized engineering feat required to reopen the road each year.
Murodo, the terminal near the snow corridor, is the highest bus station in Japan, situated at an elevation of 2,450 meters.
The snow at Yuki no Ōtani remains compacted from winter, often featuring distinct layers representing individual storm events.
Temperatures at the corridor can be 10-15 degrees Celsius lower than in the city of Toyama at the base of the mountains.
Yuki no Ōtani is a massive snow corridor located near Murodo Station in the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. The walls of snow reach heights of up to 20 meters, formed by intensive snow removal efforts on the Tateyama Highland Bus road. This area receives some of the heaviest snowfall in the world, with annual accumulation often exceeding 7 meters. Visitors walk between towering, vertical snow banks along a designated pedestrian path. The site is a central feature of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, connecting Toyama Prefecture to Nagano Prefecture. It operates as a seasonal attraction that showcases the extreme climate of the Japanese Alps. The walls gradually recede throughout the spring as temperatures rise. Access is restricted to designated public transportation systems, prohibiting private vehicles.
The highest point of the snow wall, typically marked with a sign indicating the specific meter height for that year.
Wear polarized sunglasses to prevent snow blindness from the high-altitude sun glare.
Layer your clothing, as the temperature difference between the valley and the high-altitude corridor is extreme.
Use sturdy, waterproof footwear as the path surface can be icy or slushy.
Do not visit in light clothing, assuming it is warm because the valley floor is sunny.
Open only from mid-April through June; closed during the winter months due to extreme snowfall and road closures.
Stay within the designated pedestrian ropes; do not attempt to climb or touch the snow walls as they can be unstable.
