Murodo

What to know

Situated at 2,450 meters above sea level, Murodo (室堂, Murodō) is the highest point along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, offering breathtaking views of the Tateyama Mountain Range. During summer and early autumn, Murodo draws mountain enthusiasts with a network of hiking trails ranging from easy to challenging. In late autumn and spring, heavy snowfall blankets the area. Murodo is closed in winter.

Murodo's most famous attraction is the snow corridor, a road lined with snow walls up to 20 meters high when it opens in mid-April after months of heavy snowfall. The snow usually doesn't melt completely until July. Buses traveling between Murodo and Bijodaira pass through the corridor, and a several-hundred-meter section near the Murodo Bus Terminal is open for pedestrians to walk.

In 2026, the snow corridor is scheduled to open to pedestrians from April 15 to June 25. On opening day, the snow walls reached a height of up to 12 meters.

From around late June to mid-October, Murodo offers excellent hiking opportunities. Easy trails near the bus terminal lead to nearby ponds, while the wider trail network provides more challenging routes. The most popular hike is the ascent to the 3,015-meter summit of Mount Tateyama, one of Japan's highest peaks. The climb takes about two hours one way and is moderately difficult, but proper hiking shoes are essential.

Alpine flowers bloom in summer, typically from June to August, while autumn colors on the mountain slopes are at their best from late September to early October. Volcanic activity can be observed at Jigokudani ("Hell Valley") via boardwalks, though trails are often closed due to high concentrations of volcanic gases.

The Murodo Bus Terminal complex includes Hotel Tateyama, Japan's highest hotel (scheduled to close at the end of August 2026). It offers the widest range of meals and services among the stations along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Several other mountain lodges, many with hot spring baths, provide additional accommodation. There is also the Raichozawa camping ground, about an hour's walk from the bus terminal.