Kurobe Dam

What to know

Kurobe Dam (黒部ダム) is Japan's tallest dam, standing 186 meters high. Construction took seven years and was completed in 1963, with over 170 workers losing their lives during the project. Today, the dam supports a hydropower plant that supplies electricity to the Kansai region. It is also a major attraction along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, especially from late June to mid October when water is spectacularly discharged through its gates daily.

The dam arcs across Kurobe Lake and can be reached by electric bus from the east or cable car from the west. Visitors can walk across the dam between the bus and cable car stations in about 10–15 minutes. At the eastern end, a steep, long staircase climbs the concrete-covered mountain slope, offering an aerial view of the dam and surroundings. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the observation deck at the top, which connects via tunnels to the bus station.

Do not confuse Kurobe Dam with the Kurobe Gorge Railway, which runs many kilometers further down the valley. The railway was originally built to aid dam construction but is now used mainly for tourism and does not connect to the dam. Instead, it is accessed from the Sea of Japan coast.

It is theoretically possible to hike between the dam and the railway along the gorge, but it would be a strenuous 2–3 day trek. From 2026 at the earliest, the Kurobe Unazuki Canyon Route is scheduled to open between Kurobe Dam and the Kurobe Gorge Railway as part of a tour package, using underground trains, elevators, cable cars, and buses.

Kurobe Dam is located about one third into the Alpine Route when coming from the Nagano side. From JR Shinano-Omachi Station, it takes about 1.5 hours and 3,450 yen to reach the dam via buses. From Dentetsu Toyama Station on the Toyama side, it takes about 3.5 hours and 10,560 yen via train, buses, cable cars, and a ropeway.

How to get to and around the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route