Kurobe

What to bring: Drinks and snacks, waterproof shoes, waterproof jacket, umbrella, hat, phone cross-body strap, backpack, wet wipes. We went on a small tour with our Alpan guide, just 11 of us. It started at 8:00 AM and ended at 1:30 PM. First, don't go to the snow wall; go to the pond first and walk as far as you can. You can see everything at the snow wall in about 25 minutes round trip. You can see the pond with melted ice, the hot springs in the distance, and if you're lucky, even the mascot bird. The bird poses well, so you can comfortably take photos. Although it was a very quick tour, I'm satisfied. I'm thinking of going again personally during the upcoming winter season. Alpan guides are the best! If you get an Alpan guide, your trip will be much easier.

The tour guide for this group was from Hong Kong. Sheila, our guide, was very thoughtful. She reminded us that the bus ride would be long and advised us to buy food at a convenience store to eat if we got hungry. The trip was very comfortable, and the tour bus was spacious with plenty of room, so it didn't feel crowded. Every 2 to 3 hours, there was a rest stop where we could buy snacks and use the restroom. On the first day, we visited Kamikochi. The itinerary was well-planned, and we got to see all the intended sights. The weather that day was perfect, neither too hot nor too cold. The scenery in Kamikochi is beautiful and well worth a visit; I recommend it to everyone. Our first night's accommodation was a hot spring ryokan in Hakuba Onsen. The buffet was delicious, with a wide variety of food. On the second day, we went to Tateyama Kurobe. Unfortunately, the weather was bad, and the Snow Valley was closed, which gives us a reason to visit again in the future. We returned to Tokyo around 7 PM after the trip concluded. Our guide, Sheila, also recommended some good restaurants to try in Tokyo. We followed her advice and went to a beef tongue restaurant, which was quite tasty. We are very grateful to our guide for providing us with such an enjoyable two-day, one-night trip.

The itinerary was rich and well-timed. Itinerary: On the first day, we had a relaxed 3-hour hike, followed by a buffet dinner and hot spring bath at the hotel. I recommend setting aside time to grab a bite near Kappa Bridge. The second day primarily involved taking various modes of transportation up the mountain and enjoying the scenery. The entire trip was comfortable and easy to complete. Accommodation: We were arranged to stay at the Hakuba Tokyu Resort, a hot spring hotel. It was a bit old but comfortable, and both dinner and breakfast were delicious. Tour Guide: The only minor drawback was that the tour guide didn't pay much attention to the guests, and communication could be improved. Meeting points were not communicated clearly or were changed arbitrarily. For example, on several occasions, we were told to wait at a shop entrance, but the guide would then just get on the tour bus themselves.

🌟 Highly Recommended: Tour Guide Joe's Professional Leadership 🌟 I just returned from the two-day, one-night Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route tour departing from Osaka on May 13, 2026, and I absolutely must give a strong recommendation for our tour leader, Joe! This itinerary inherently involves very complex transportation, but thanks to Joe's perfect arrangements, the entire travel experience exceeded all expectations: * ⏱️ Impeccable Time Management: The connections between the various mountain transport methods on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route are incredibly intricate, and the queues on-site can be overwhelming. Fortunately, Joe, with his extensive experience, accurately anticipated crowd movements and secured our spots early, ensuring we didn't waste any time waiting unnecessarily. The time spent at each attraction was perfectly balanced—ample yet without feeling rushed between locations. Truly professional! * 🏨 High-Quality, Comfortable Accommodation: The hot spring hotel arranged for this trip was fantastic! After a full day of hiking and seeing the snow walls, being able to soak in a high-quality hot spring in the evening and thoroughly relax tired muscles was wonderful. The room was clean and spacious, and the service was incredibly attentive. You could truly feel the care put into selecting the accommodation. * 🍱 Excellent Food and Accommodation (Both Superb): The meals included in the itinerary (whether the exquisite Japanese hot spring cuisine or the buffet dinner and breakfast) were all delicious, generously portioned, and featured distinct local flavors. This completely shattered the stereotype that "group tour meals aren't good"! What was most touching was Joe's humor, wit, and thoughtful care. He constantly explained local history and culture to us along the way and was incredibly patient and accommodating with all sorts of unexpected requests from group members. Thank you, Joe, for giving our family such a perfect Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route trip! If we book another tour in the future, we will definitely want to request Joe again! 💯👍

Stunning scenery, smooth itinerary, and an unforgettable experience from start to finish. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to explore outside the city.