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Tokyo this attraction in Toyama is having a two-month-long festival for its 2025 season you can see the best of the area's beautiful winter scenery The snow corridor is a 500-metre-long path along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route near the Murodo Plateau The trail is flanked by towering snow walls up to 20 metres tall the area sees heavy snowfall throughout winter the road finally opens up when snowploughs clear away the snow One part of the road is open for pedestrians to wander through this icy wonderland Running parallel to the snow corridor is the Panorama Road Open daily between April 15 and May 6 from 10am to 3pm the promenade provides great views of the Tateyama mountain range 見つけられた？秘密は…「手で何代目かを表している」です☝️ pic.twitter.com/TRPI6zSvtM Before venturing through the snow corridor or the Panorama Road make sure to check out the large snow plough that’s used to clear masses of snow to the sides of the road. The snow plough exhibition corner is open from 9.30am to 3pm 「立山ユキテラス」こんな感じでくつろげるんです😳❄️室堂にて、土日祝日限定開催！詳しくは特設サイトから☕️ https://t.co/MDfAdQ7ywi… pic.twitter.com/lfgoVGSFVP there'll also be a special Snow Terrace where you can relax and enjoy the views of the surrounding area The terrace will be open from April 26 to May 6 from 10am to 3pm (last entry 2.30pm) hop on the Tateyama cable car that departs from Tateyama Station in Toyama prefecture and get off at Bijodaira Station it’s another 50-minute ride to Tateyama Murodo via the Tateyama Highland Bus For more information, check the festival website This article was originally published on March 30 2022 and updated on March 3 2025 Here's the official Japan cherry blossom forecast for 2025 Unregistered Suica and Pasmo transport cards to resume sales from March These are the 11 award-winning travel experiences in Japan for 2025 Le Pristine Tokyo at Hotel Toranomon Hills now offers weekend brunch Enjoy hi-fi tunes on the streets of Tokyo at the city’s first mobile listening bar Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan.  facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page is a beautiful castle city and a great one-day sightseeing attraction if you’re visiting from Yokosuka Naval Base including a 30-minute ferry boat ride across the bay will get you to this relaxed area with scenic coastlines We drove through Tateyama and visited some of the nearby tourist attractions Tateyama Castle is known as a landmark of its surrounding city It sits atop a mountain and can be seen from anywhere in the city We arrived at the castle park’s parking lot and were greeted by city employees disguised as ninja ready to take visitors aboard a black shuttle van up to the castle entrance free of charge As soon as our ninja shuttle dropped us off at the top of the mountain Tateyama Port and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s air facility against the backdrop of Tokyo Gulf littered with ships and boats sailing in different directions but not as spectacular as it could’ve been had there been no fog — this location is nominated as one of 100 best Mt The castle itself is the traditional tower style you may have seen in your travels around the country This isn’t the original building as it was demolished in 1614 only 34 years after it was built by the Satomi Clan a powerful direct subordinate of the Shogun fell out of favor and was banished along with Satomi and other relatives this replica of the four-storied and three-layered castle was built After admiring the architecture of the replica castle we took a stroll around the well-manicured traditional Japanese garden children’s athletic field and park on the surrounding grounds the main Shinto shrine in the Southern Chiba region long approach to the main shrine was amazing wooden main shrine was elaborately decorated with tiny dragon and tiger sculptures the shrine was venerated by various feudal lords of the Minamoto and Satomi Clans throughout the medieval era Make sure to stop at the bee farm you’ll find next to the large torii gate Hifumi Yohoen has been around for 70 years and features nanohana honey convincing us that we could not leave without our own bottle of this bright golden honey with a unique and fresh flavor for 1,650 yen (about $14) As we drove along the main street of Tateyama City which has an eye-catching orange tile roof coupled with tall palm trees lining the front gave it the air of a Spanish castle or church rather than a train station Tateyama Bay near the station offered us a pleasant drive We enjoyed the beautiful sunset made up of bright orange reflection on the sea and silhouettes of ships and boats against the backdrop of Miura Peninsula The changing colors of the sea and sky drew us to pull over along the road several times to catch the perfect photo Off in the distance we could see Daifukuji Temple looking like it was floating mid-bay — an optical illusion when a Buddhist monk Gyoki visited the cliff to carve it As the temple is also known for a great spot to view the gulf we decided to come back to check out both the great landscape and historical carved statue someday soon Our trip to the area ended on a peaceful note as we saw the sun disappear into the distance over the waters of Tokyo Gulf There is so much to discover on this side of the gulf and we are already planning our return to see what more Tateyama will enchant us with Read now > Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan (hereinafter referred to as “Yonex”) is excited to announce the construction of a new manufacturing facility for badminton racquets and strings in Tateyama Town Yonex will be aiming at increasing production capacity to expand its manufacturing network and enhance a stable supply system Yonex signed an advancement agreement with Tateyama Town on March 4 The Growing Global Badminton Market and Yonex’s ChallengeBadminton continues to gain global popularity and the demand for high-quality racquets and strings is rising As a brand committed to innovation and craftsmanship Yonex is expanding its production capabilities to ensure athletes at all levels have access to the best equipment The new factory in Toyama Prefecture will be a strategic step in strengthening our global supply chain ensuring that players worldwide can rely on Yonex for performance-driven products a Region with Deep Badminton RootsConsidering its accessibility to our existing Niigata factory as well as its stable natural environment with a relatively low risk of natural disasters Toyama Prefecture emerged as an ideal location for our new manufacturing base Toyama prefecture is home to the TONAMI Badminton Team which won its 12th championship title in the S/J League 2024* and has fostered top athletes competing on the world stage As a region with a deep-rooted badminton culture Toyama provides an ideal location for our new facility Yonex aims to deepen ties with the local community and work together to further develop sports in Toyama Prefecture Building on Our Craftsmanship in NiigataSince its founding in Nagaoka Yonex has continuously refined its craftsmanship merging tradition with cutting-edge technology Niigata will remain our primary production base we will continue to innovate in Niigata and expand our pursuit of new innovations in Tateyama delivering MADE BY YONEX high-quality products to customers worldwide *S/J League is Japan’s top badminton league where 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams compete for the national title [Factory Location]Tateyama Inter Industrial Site (Sawanohata and Nomachi areas) Tateyama-cho [Factory Overview]- Business: Manufacturing of badminton racquets and badminton strings- Site Area: 26,040 m²- Completion: 2027 (Scheduled) Contact Us They gradually disappeared from society as private cars became more commonplace The last trolleybus departs at Murodo station as station staff gather to see the last run in Tateyama TATEYAMA – The Tateyama Tunnel Trolleybus stopped operating at the end of November It had been carrying with it the thriving history of electric transportation in Japan which had steadily been in decline since its post-World War II peak trolleybuses served as a convenient means of transportation But they gradually disappeared from society as private cars became more commonplace The end of the trolleybus line through the Tateyama Tunnel Japan’s first trolleybus is believed to have been Nihon Mukido Densha A hot springs bath resort had been developed at the time on a steep slope in the area of Kawanishi in the prefecture It ran about 1.3 kilometers from Hanayashiki Station to Shin-Hanayashiki station but was forced to close only four years later due to frequent operating issues trolleybus lines had the advantage of not needing to lay rail tracks and having lower introductory costs than trams leading them to catch the eye of local governments as a means to expand inner-city transportation when Nihon Mukido Densha went out of business the Kyoto city government opened its own trolleybus line after which fuel shortages in part drove the introduction of more trolleybus lines trolleybuses operated by municipal governments had opened in many big cities who was involved in The Kansai Electric Power Co.’s trolleybus business said: “Trolleybuses could use existing tram substations They were effective in supplementing public transportation in cities as they were used together with trams trolleybuses were able to run on electricity like a train while having the flexibility of a bus proving convenient for operators,” said Prof an expert of transportation economy studies and public transportation I can say that they were not wholly realized.” leading to an increase in traffic and congestion as they were faster and did not require electric power supply or overhead wires The trolleybus vehicles themselves were expensive and consequently became less practical Yokohama’s City trolleybus line was abolished and trolleybuses disappeared from Japan’s urban areas trolleybuses still had the advantage of having no CO2 emissions trolleybus lines were introduced along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route a popular tourist area famous for its rich natural environment Trolleybuses there were given a new mission of transporting tourists the Kanden Tunnel Trolleybus line began running between Ogizawa Station in Nagano Prefecture and Kurobe Dam Station in Tateyama Town in Toyama Prefecture the last unfinished section of the Alpine Route but exhaust fumes began building up in the tunnel due to an increase in tourists “The fact that Tateyama Kurobe Kanko chose trolleybuses when electric vehicle technology was still undeveloped best spoke to its philosophy that ‘tourism can stand only if nature exists as a resource.’ It was an initiative ahead of its time given today’s rising awareness of nature preservation,” said Masayuki Moriguchi The Tateyama Tunnel Trolleybus became the only one left in Japan after the Kanden Tunnel Trolleybus was retired In part due to replacement parts no longer being manufactured it finally ceased operations at the end of November and will be replaced by an electric bus next year The trolleybus will disappear altogether from Japan Moriguchi praised the unique role it played in public transportation unmatched by any other transportation system “The Alpine Route was a tourist destination that took passengers through the great outdoors and allowed them to change between eco-friendly transport such as ropeways and cable cars that don’t emit CO2 Trolleybuses there served as the prime example of eco-friendly transport.” ending about 100 years of trolleybus services nationwide the Tateyama Tunnel Trolleybus had safely carried 19,920,000 passengers without incident The trolleybus was used in Tateyama Tunnel because of its low environmental impact The bus traveled between Murodo and Daikanbo in Tateyama for 10 minutes at a maximum speed of 40 kph as trolleybus parts are increasingly difficult to procure Many fans and tourists went to catch its final run on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route on the last day An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.1 struck Nagano Prefecture in central Japan on Friday No severe injuries or damage to buildings were reported following the 8:19 p.m quake that jolted the northern part of the prefecture up to 100 households experienced power outages Source: Japan Meteorological Agency which occurred at a depth of approximately 13 kilometers measured a lower 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 The Japan Meteorological Agency initially put its magnitude at 5.0 The city of Omachi and nearby villages were among the areas most affected by the temblor Omachi serves as the Nagano-side gateway to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route a scenic mountain crossing that extends to the town of Tateyama in Toyama Prefecture The quake caused delays in some bullet trains on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line bound for Kanazawa Kumamoto marks 9th anniversary of fatal quakes Osaka Expo organizers prepare for 3-day isolation in disaster plan Japan to spend 20 tril. yen over 5 yrs to boost disaster resilience To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Snow and Mountain Lifestyle news and entertainment Opened on 1971, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a 23-mile sightseeing route connecting Tateyama The road rises 6,500 feet as it cuts through the Northern Japan Alps known as The Roof of Japan The Tateyama area is one of the snowiest places on earth and during the winter a 500 meter section of the road can be covered by as much as 65 feet of snow From December to April the road is completely inaccessible but in the spring a dedicated road maintenance crew work cut a path through the snowpack which has become a major tourist attraction over the years If you find yourself in Japan during the springtime consider a trip to this incredible stretch of road and appreciate the “Snow Walls of Tateyama”: The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route closes in late November when winter rolls through the area Visit in April to witness firsthand just how heavy the snow gets This is the time of year when the famed Tateyama Snow Corridor draws visitors who come to see the towering walls of snow on either side of the road that can reach a massive 20 meters high The corridor is most impressive around the Murodou Plain and is open to pedestrians from mid-April to late June images from Japan Alps Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Get the latest snow and mountain lifestyle news and entertainment delivered to your inbox. Francis@unofficialnetworks.com Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture.... With only three episodes dropped on July 9 Netflix’s groundbreaking Japanese reality dating show has already captivated viewers with its honest portrayal of same-sex relationships The Boyfriend has been shot entirely in the picturesque seaside town of Tateyama Let’s delve into the subtle beauty of this quaint town the seaside town of Tateyama is ideal for a relaxing staycation it’s no wonder The Boyfriend‘s producers chose this charming Japanese town as the filming location Also, read our story on the things to know before visiting an onsen in Japan The Netflix reality show features nine men in their twenties and thirties seeking love viewers can witness their emotional upheavals alongside stories of love and friendship during their stay at the gorgeous seaside property nicknamed the ‘Green Room’ The Boyfriend beautifully captures the essence of Japan’s Tateyama While the first batch of three episodes premiered on Netflix on July 9 three more batches comprising episodes 4-6 The nine male contestants come from diverse backgrounds Gensei (a hair and makeup artist from Taiwan) Watch The Boyfriend on Netflix Located in eastern Japan’s Bōsō Peninsula, Tateyama is approximately 64 km from the Tokyo Haneda Airport. You can book a cab or take the 80-minute direct express bus to reach Tateyama. For further insights, click here While you can explore Chiba Prefecture all year round, choose to visit during the spring for vibrant cherry blossoms from March to May or in autumn for breathtaking fall foliage between September and November. Both seasons promise pleasant weather and little rain. Also, read our copy on the best places in Asia to witness fall foliage Tateyama is home to many iconic tourist attractions and hidden gems some of which have been wonderfully captured in The Boyfriend too Let’s explore the places to visit and things to do in Japan’s Tateyama Relax and rejuvenate at Shiroyama Onsen Satomi no Yu: Featuring a diverse variety of bathing options like open-air Shiroyama Onsen Satomi no Yu is ideal for that ultimate relaxation during a vacation and a restaurant serving delectable dishes including fresh produce from the local fishing port Marvel at the beauty of Shiroyama Park: A beautiful park nestled amidst verdant valleys Shiroyama Park is home to the Tateyama City Museum Visit the Hakkenden Museum inside Tateyama Castle for enriching insights into the town’s history Experience peace at Myo-on-in Temple: Nestled amidst lush greens the Myo-on-in Temple offers much-needed peace and tranquillity for spiritual seekers Travellers can partake in various calming workshops like coping sutras (30 minutes) or blending incense (60 minutes) Explore the underwater realms of Nishikawana Ocean Park: Explore life underwater at Nishikawana Ocean Park and marvel at the diverse fish species and other marine creatures Hop on to the Nokogiriyama Ropeway: Chiba Prefecture’s only ropeway is located on Mt the observatory at the hilltop station offers a mesmerising bird’s-eye view You can head to the Nihon-ji temple from here Visit the Tateyama Bird Sanctuary: Housing a gift shop an exhibition room that recreates a local forest the Tateyama Bird Sanctuary is the perfect place to spend a day with your family and kids Head to the Aloha Garden Tateyama: Chiba Prefecture’s largest botanical garden this enclosure features a series of greenhouses You can also partake in their petting events Pick strawberries at Tateyama Strawberry Picking Centre: Open from January to early May you can experience strawberry picking and savour the freshly plucked fruits here Two of the most popular varieties of strawberries found here are Benihoppe and Akihime According to a report in The Cinemaholic the reel Green Room featuring as the main filming location of the Japanese show The Boyfriend is a real homestay called Stay Ocean Tateyama The beautiful property is close to many iconic attractions that can be explored easily Stay Ocean Tateyama is open to bookings and perfect for family get-togethers or special occasions with a capacity to accommodate over 16 people Explore more with our selection of luxurious celebrity-owned Airbnbs Menuma location on the map Related: Scandal, Love And Stunning Sets: Discover Hierarchy ‘s Filming Locations A journalist, Pyusha has previously worked with media organisations including The New Indian Express ..Read Moreand Hindustan Times. A solo traveller by choice, she loves exploring life more than anything else, after food of course. When she isn\'t gardening, writing, reading, cooking or singing out loud, you can spot her watching films and series, debating with friends or organising things unnecessarily. Read Less Dining Southeast Asia Food Asia © 2025 Copyright TRAVEL + LEISURE ASIA site by Burdaluxury Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest on travel Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Toyama Prefecture--Japan’s highest-altitude alpine sightseeing cruises will cease for good on Nov The annual number of passengers plummeted to around 18,000 in 2023 after peaking at about 55,000 a year the second-generation sightseeing boat operated by Kanden Amenix Co six years after the Kurobe Dam was completed The boat takes passengers on 30-minute excursions the operator is offering special items such as commemorative cards “We are already receiving guests who learned that this season is our last,” said Kiyoshi Kashiwabara of the company’s tourism group it has been a busier season than in recent years.” The company operates eight regular services and two non-regular services daily The tour costs 1,200 yen ($7.50) for adults and 600 yen for children Autumn colors draw sightseers to Tateyama in Northern Alps Direct express bus service puts Tokyo closer to Mt Towering snow walls ready to open to tourists on June 1 Famed Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route opens for the season Famed alpine route operators ready to welcome more sightseers Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission A giant snow corridor has been plowed through the Northern Alps in central Japan The route has reopened to traffic after being closed all winter The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route links Tateyama Town in Toyama Prefecture and Omachi City in Nagano Prefecture with transportation services including buses and cable cars A snow-packed section that stretches about 37 kilometers is closed during the winter Traffic resumed on Tuesday for the first time in about four-and-half months The temperature at the Murodo Terminal at a height of 2,450 meters was minus 2.4 degrees Celsius at 9 a.m the president of the Tateyama Kurobe Kanko which operates the route said he is sorry for the bad weather on the opening day so visitors should be able to enjoy the snow corridor for a long time The company expects about 824,000 visitors to the route this year Situated on the Tateyama⁩⁦ Kurobe Alpine Road the 500-meter (.31 mile) stretch features snow walls of up to 65 feet you’ll want to visit between mid-April and June but you don’t quite get the mesmerizing experience compared to when the walls are massive the Corridor is closed from the start of December through the beginning of April This month, YouTuber Wonder World covered the Tateyama experience The video shows how massive these walls are and what traveling to the Corridor is like Image/Video Credits: Wonder World ian@unofficialnetworks.com Born and raised in New Hampshire, Ian Wood became passionate about the ski industry while learning to ski at Mt. Sunapee. In high school, he became a ski patroller at Proctor Ski Area. He travelled out... Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version JAPANESE A paper first-authored by Akito Tateyama Trainee (Frontier Molecules Group) has been recognized with the IGP 2024 Publications Award by the International Graduate Program (IGP) Committee back to list Copyright © National Institute for Materials Science Please log in and check your service registration status.To cancel your subscription 1) === '|') document.write("&#"+unescape(l[i].substring(1))+";");else document.write(unescape(l[i]));} The Tateyama Tunnel trolleybus connects Murodo the highest point on the route at 2,450 meters above sea level and Daikanbo at 2,316 meters above sea level.   The trolleybus is powered by a motor using poles on the roof of the bus to receive electricity from overhead wires stretched across the road They were introduced in 1996 to address environmental concerns and have been in operation for nearly 30 years and were the only trolleybuses in the country.  the operation ended once and for all.   electric buses will replace them.   At the departure ceremony for the last run held at Murodo Station on the afternoon of the 30th the staff offered messages of appreciation and farewell for the final run.   the last trolleybuses departed for Daikanbo and passengers took photos and videos to bid farewell.  About Nippon Television Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp In this article, I would like to introduce you to the first two days of our itinerary! It was a great start, using Tokyo as a gateway on day one and exploring the popular Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in Hokuriku and Shinetsu regions on day two Kurobe is a city in Toyama Prefecture which is surrounded by the Hida Mountains and popular for its hot spring villages and ski areas My itinerary offers a unique overview of Japan's rich natural sceneries hidden hot springs and a spectacular railway There are experiences you’ll only find in Toyama Prefecture and a railway in between Unazuki and Keyakidaira stations with breathtaking views Tokyo and its everchanging cityscape are constantly welcoming new and interesting facilities I had the opportunity to visit the amazing HANABIYORI It is the first virtual botanical garden in Japan and is located in Yomiuri Land You can get here from Shinjuku Station within 30 minutes via the Keio Line HANABIYORI features vibrant floral chandeliers digital art and loads of Instagram-worthy photo spots with gorgeous botanical designs surrounded by plants After kicking off my morning with a relaxing cup of coffee here I headed over to Asakusa for a traditional Japanese cultural experience Upon reaching Asakusa I was excited to try creating a one-of-a-kind Edo faceted glassware in Sokichi(創吉) This type of glassware bears the name Edo Kiriko originating from the Edo period and mainly produced in Tokyo Fans of sake beverages must have seen this before as sake cups at sake bars or restaurants often feature this design Even though the process was trickier than expected I was so happy upon receiving my finished products Since I was already in Asakusa, I decided to visit Tokyo Skytree It took me only about 20 minutes to walk from Sokichi The walkway is lined with shops that have inherited the core value of craftsmanship and atmosphere reminiscent of the Edo period it was a clear day and I was thrilled by the breathtaking view of Tokyo where we head to the Hokuriku and Shinetsu area As they say, the early bird catches the worm, so I woke up at dawn and got ready for the first leg of my journey! The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is a convenient and popular route for many to access the Hokuriku and Shinetsu regions I departed from Shinjuku station and headed to Shinano-Omachi by Azusa Express train and transferred at Shinano-Omachi to Ogisawa via bus The area between Ogisawa and Tateyama is known as the Alpine Route There are a variety of transportation options to help us get up the high-altitude terrain, and it’s super easy to get to Murodo the highest point along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Even though the weather was very warm in Tokyo when I started I could breathe easily outdoors on the mountain peak without sweating The beautiful natural scenery makes us feel like I’m on top of the world and it’s also a cool retreat to escape the summer heat as the temperature rarely exceeds 20°C even on the warmest days After loads of photos were taken at Mount Tateyama, I moved to our next spot, Kurobe Dam Only 40 minutes by Tateyama’s ropeway and the Kurobe cable car I was lucky enough to visit this place on a sunny day The intense velocity of the water gushing out from the dam created a misty shower casting a gorgeous rainbow in the sunlight You might be curious about why the dam is a popular spot for sightseers here As simple as it sounds: crowds actually gather at the Kurobe Dam for the impressive view of 10-15 tons of water gushing out from the highest point staircase and the new viewing deck called the Rainbow Terrace Day two has come to a close. I’m excited for day three, as it’s all about onsens tomorrow. As a preview: I’m off to a mysterious, hidden hot-spring resort accessible from the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route called Unazuki Onsen Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages Today's print edition Home Delivery East Japan Railway has begun offering ride-hailing services at a limited number of locations using a group firm's rental cars to accommodate customers during hours when taxis and buses are not sufficiently available started the services in the cities of Minamiboso and Tateyama in Chiba Prefecture on Monday and in Senboku in the second half of this year.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); reservations accepted through a mobile app The company's move comes as taxi and bus operators along JR East's railway lines struggle with a shortage of drivers JR East aims to make the lives of residents more convenient while also promoting tourism in areas where it operates "We want to address regional transportation issues," a company official said In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Shinjuku and Ikebukuro – to the Alpine Route's loftiest point Resting at an elevation of approximately 2,450 metres Murodo is the gateway to the majestic Tateyama mountain range it has long captured the hearts of hikers and tourists alike The bus route departs Tokyo in the evening making brief stops at Shibuya Station at 9.15pm Shinjuku Kabukicho Tower at 10pm and Ikebukuro Station at 10.30pm before a 10-hour and 20-minute journey to Murodo which departs the South Exit of Tokyo Station at 8.40pm travellers are delivered to the enchanting landscape of Tateyama by 7am the next day without needing to arrange pre-hike accommodation and arrives at Ikebukuro Station at 8.15pm Shibuya Station at 9.05pm and Tokyo Station at 9.30pm but the buses are equipped with a suite of amenities to ensure a comfortable journey onboard toilets and ample luggage space so the night will pass by quickly The bus service operates from Tokyo between July 14 and August 30, and from Murodo between July 15 and August 31. One-way bus fares from Tokyo to Tateyama (Murodo) range from ¥16,000 to ¥19,000, whereas fares for the return trip to Tokyo are between ¥11,000 and ¥13,000. Ticket booking will be available online at a later date As an attractive addition to the Alpine Route experience this Tokyo-Murodo journey effortlessly combines the city life convenience with the serene solitude of mountain exploration Starbucks Japan is serving clear coffee drinks this summer Survey cites top 10 inconveniences for tourists visiting Japan Taylor Swift is bringing The Eras Tour to Tokyo in February 2024 3 Tokyo restaurants are in the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2023 list A new teamLab exhibition is coming to Kanazawa Castle in autumn 2023 Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan. A sightseeing route that runs through the Tateyama mountain range in central Japan featuring tall snow walls opened Monday for this year's tourist season connects the town of Tateyama in Toyama Prefecture and the city of Omachi in Nagano Prefecture in the Northern Alps via bus and cable car The route is open until the end of November the snow walls created by snow removal work reached 14 meters named "Yuki no Otani," is located near the Murodo plateau at an altitude of 2,450 meters a 62-year-old company employee from Ibaraki Prefecture who visited the snow corridor with his wife for the first time "The snow walls are higher than I imagined but seeing them in person is truly moving," he said This year will mark the end of a 3.7-kilometer trolley bus service that runs inside a tunnel piercing through part of the mountain range "We hope visitors will enjoy the final journeys of the trolley bus as much as they have cherished their past experiences here." Golden Week holidaymakers in Japan to reach 90% of pre-COVID level FOCUS: Local gov'ts hope new ride-hailing services will give economy a lift TOYAMA — Hikers disregarding trail etiquette abound in and around Murodo the central hub of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in Tateyama-machi please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent By Mari Kashiwagi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer Nationally precious flora and fauna inhabit Chubusangaku National Park The conservation of these cannot be realized by strict rules and regulations alone but relies on hikers being conscious of the etiquette according to officials concerned with the national park’s conservation “A father and his son carrying an insect net caught a bee and put it in a sack and then put the sack into a bag,” was written in a “Alpine-Flora Preservation Patrol” report conducted by the Toyama District Forest Office The Environment Ministry has called on hikers not to pick flowers or capture insects and other animals in national parks When a forest patrol member approached the pair the father replied that the collection was for the “education of children.” Although he released the bee on the spot the two began catching insects again a short time later The patrol guided the parent and child to a nearby “Tateyama Nature Conservation Center” and persuaded them to stop catching insects The Natural Parks Law divides national parks into three categories: (1) a special protection zone collecting any kind of plant or animal is prohibited designated fauna and flora must not be collected a national park ranger at the Tateyama Rangers’ Office saying “The basic premise is that ‘any area [within the national park] is not a place for people to catch insects for their own interest.’” including those of the Tateyama Mountain Range not only offers majestic views but also is home to rare animals such as the rock ptarmigan and alpine flora which spreads over four prefectures including Toyama The forest patrol started its activities in the Tateyama area in 1972 following the full opening of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in 1971 According to patrol records written in 1995 some hikers were seen eating lunch boxes and taking commemorative photos in an area where delicate alpine plants grew a forest development officer at the Toyama District Forest Office as we have continued to patrol the area and trekking etiquette has spread among hikers.” the part of the pole that hits the ground has rubber tips but there have been cases of hikers and mountain climbers entering the area with poles without rubber tips When the ground of the paths is poked repeatedly with such poles the condition of the trail could deteriorate A list of actions that hikers should refrain from in the national park can be found on the Environment Ministry’s website Nakahara said: “Please check the trail rules again before going to a national park The fauna and flora living in high-altitude areas such as Murodo-daira are vulnerable to damage so we want people to be always conscious of protecting them.” Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser. Copyright THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. All rights reserved. Volume 12 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.689119 This article is part of the Research TopicIce and Snow AlgaeView all 10 articles Snow algae are photosynthetic microbes that inhabit the melting snow surface in alpine and polar regions We analyzed the pigment and species composition of colored snow collected on Mt Tateyama in Japan during the melting seasons of 2015 and 2016 High-performance liquid chromatographic analyses of the pigments extracted from the colored snow showed that their composition varied within the study area and were classified into four types: Type A (astaxanthin-monoester dominant) Type B (medium astaxanthin-monoester content) Type C (abundant primary carotenoids and free-astaxanthin) and Type D (abundant primary carotenoids and astaxanthin diesters) Types A and B were most commonly observed in the study area whereas Types C and D appeared only at specific sites Analysis of the 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene revealed six major amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of snow algae The relative abundance of the algal ASVs showed that Sanguina was dominant (>48%) in both Types A and B suggesting that the difference in astaxanthin abundance between the two types was caused by the production of pigments in the algal cells The algal community structures of Types C and D differed from those of Types A and B indicating that the primary carotenoids and astaxanthin diesters were derived from certain algal species in these types astaxanthin-rich Sanguina algae mostly induced the red snow that appeared widely in this alpine area; however they were partially dominated by Chloromonas or Chlainomonas algae it is important to understand the spatial distribution and the factors controlling the occurrence of algal blooms Pigment composition also varies during the lifecycle of snow algae. For example, the cyst stage of algae contains abundant astaxanthin, whereas, in later stage, the flagellated green cells contain abundant primary carotenoids such as lutein (Osterrothová et al., 2019). Sanguina snow algae have more primary carotenoids during the earlier season, whereas they have astaxanthin during the later season (Remias et al., 2005) there is still uncertainty between the environmental conditions and the pigment composition of snow algae It is important to clarify the relationship between algal species and the pigment composition to understand their ecology on the snow surface Colored snow is widely observed on snowpacks in Japan and has been taxonomically studied in recent decades (Fukushima, 1963; Segawa et al., 2005; Muramoto et al., 2008; Tanabe et al., 2011; Matsuzaki et al., 2015; Terashima et al., 2017) an alpine area at elevations between 2,000 and 3,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.) is one of the snowiest mountains in Japan and is a place where colored snow frequently occurs during spring and summer Red snow appears every year on the snow surface above the tree line at ~2,100 m a.s.l.; however its distribution is spatially and seasonally heterogeneous in this alpine area The variations in algal pigments and the community structure in this area are still not well-understood we analyzed the pigment composition and the 18S rRNA gene of snow algae in the colored snow collected from various sites in Mt Tateyama during the melting seasons of 2015 and 2016 This study describes the spatial and temporal variations of algal pigments and the community structure in snowfields and discusses the relationships between species Tateyama is located in the Toyama Prefecture in the western part of Japan It is a northern part of the Hida mountain range one of the major mountain ranges on the main island (Honshu Island) of Japan Because the strong monsoon westerly blows from the Sea of Japan to the mountains during winter heavy snow accumulates more than 5 m in depth in the mountain every year The snow usually starts to melt in April and continues until the end of August red or green snow of algal blooming is commonly observed above the tree line (~2,100 m a.s.l.) from May to July every year Snow samples were collected at seven sites in Murodo-Daira, a flat and old lava plateau in this alpine area at an elevation of ~2,400 m a.s.l (Figure 1, Table 1). Fieldwork was conducted in June and July of 2015 and June of 2016. We found visible red snow at all times and collected a total of 54 colored surface snow samples (Figure 2, Table 2) Red snow appeared widely in June 2015; however it was patchy on a scale of ~10 cm in July 2015 and June 2016 The snow color varied slightly among the study sites; it was deep red and orange at S2 but red to brown at S7 The samples were transported in a frozen state to the laboratory at Chiba University and were stored in a freezer at −20°C until analysis A part of the samples was kept at 0°C and used for microscopic observation The algal cells in the samples were observed with an optical microscope (BX51 Cell concentrations of each algal morpho-type were quantified by direct cell counting with the microscope (A) Maps showing the location of the study area in Mt (B) Locations of the sites where the red snow samples were collected Numbers in the map indicate the altitude above sea level List of study sites showing the number of samples collected The site S3 is not visible from this shooting point (B) Red snow surface at the site S6 observed in June 2015 Number of samples classified into four pigment types at each study site and month Frozen snow samples (−20°C) were thawed in a refrigerator (4°C) before analysis The meltwater of the samples was filtered through a glass fiber filter (Whatman Glass Microfiber Filters N′-dimethylformamide (DMF: density 99.5%) in an 8-mL polypropylene tube and left in the refrigerator for 24 h The extracted pigments were stored at −20°C before analysis The extracted pigments in the DMF were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC; SHIMADZU LC-20A Series composed of liquid chromatography (LC-20AT and a column thermostat set at 60°C 150 × 4.6 mm] is used a reverse-phase column Solvent A contained 28 mM tetrabutylammonium acetate (1.0 M solution in water The UV and visible detectors were set at 450 nm and the diode array detector was set at 480 and 663 nm Liquid chromatography and solvent were purged for 10 min before a new sample was injected The injection contained 600 μL of solvent A and 400 μL of the filtered sample Analysis was undertaken with two methods in the different time sequences of the mixing ratio of the solvents Method 1 (percentage of solvent B): 0 min (20%)−18 min (45%)−65 min (90%)−66 min (95%)−71 min (95%)−72 min (20%)−82 min (20%) Method 2: 0 min (20%)−10 min (50%)−15 min (80%)−45 min (95%)−48 min (20%)−53 min (20%) Methods 1 and 2 were used for the samples collected in 2015 and in 2016 Peaks that appeared in the chromatograms of 450 nm wavelength were identified and quantified with carotenoid and chlorophyll standards: chlorophyll a Chlorophyll a was quantified using the chromatograms of 663 nm wavelength since its peak often overlapped with those of antheraxanthin in the 450 nm chromatogram Astaxanthin esters were quantified only for the trans-isomer in the 480 nm chromatogram using (3S The standard was measured within 1 month before or after the sample was measured The pigment content of each sample quantified in this study is summarized in Supplementary Table 1. The hierarchical clustering of samples, as by calculating the Bray–Curtis dissimilarity index of pigment compositions, was conducted with R (version 4.0.5) and a VEGAN library (R Core Team, 2017) 10 mL of melted snow was filtered through a glass fiber filter (Whatman Glass Microfiber Filters combusted at 300°C for 1 h to remove DNA contamination before use melted snow was directly added to the DNA extraction tube without filtration DNA on the filter was extracted using a DNA extraction kit (FastDNA SPIN Kit for Soil MP Biomedicals) by following the standard protocol of the manufacturer Glass fiber filters were placed in lysing tubes directly and homogenized together with filtrates The extracted DNA samples were stored at −30°C until subsequent analysis Partial 18S rRNA gene sequences (V4 region, ~380 bp) were amplified using primers Euk454F (5′-CCAGCASCYGCGGTAATTCC-3′) and EukR (5′-ACTTTCGTTCTTGATYRA-3′) (Logares et al., 2012) Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) mixture (20 μL) contained 1× KAPA Taq EXtra HotStart ReadyMix (Roche PCR was performed under the following cycling conditions: initial annealing at 95°C for 3 min followed by 25–35 cycles of 95°C for 30 s and with a final extension at 72°C for 5 min All PCR products were purified with AMPure XP (Beckman Coulter) As some of the PCR products included multiband or smeared bands PCR products were excised from the gel and purified using a NucleoSpin Gel and PCR clean-up kit (Macherey Nagel The PCR products were labeled with a sample-unique index and Illumina adapter sequences at their 5′ end using the Nextera XT index kit v2 (Illumina The PCR mixture (10 μL) contained 1× KAPA HiFi HS ReadyMix 2 μL each of forward and reverse primers and 1 μL of the recovered PCR products PCR was performed under the following cycling conditions: 95°C for 3 min followed by 8 cycles of 95°C for 30 s All index PCR products were purified with AMPure XP and measured using a Qubit 2.0 Fluorometer (ThermoFisher Scientific) with Qubit dsDNA HS Assay Kit (ThermoFisher Scientific) Tagged amplicons were mixed with PhiX control DNA at a ratio of 80:20 and used as a template for MiSeq paired-end sequencing (2 × 300 bp) using Reagent kit v3 (Illumina) at the National Institute of Polar Research The taxonomy of ASVs was assigned using BLAST against the NCBI nr/nt database Raw sequence data are available from BioProject: PRJNA726817 in the Sequence Read Archive of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sra/) Sequences of 6 major ASVs are deposited in NCBI Genbank (Accession number: MZ317533 - MZ317538) Whole cell or center of the cell was colored light green and oval The size of cells was 16.7 ± 3.1 μm in the major axis and 10.6 ± 1.9 μm in the minor axis Figure 3. Microscopic photographs of snow algal cells in red snow samples collected in Mt. Tateyama (reproduced from Nakashima and Takeuchi, 2017) (E) Orange oval cell with cell wall flanges (F) Yellow oval cell with cell wall flanges The relative abundance of these cell types varied among the samples and green spherical cells and green oval cell were contained in almost all samples in this study area The other cell morphology appeared only at the specific site Red ellipsoidal cells were included only in the samples at the site S2 Orange oval cell included in the samples at the sites S2 Yellow oval cell was included in the samples at the sites S2 and S4; however HPLC analysis of algal pigments revealed that the algal snow collected in this contained mainly two chlorophylls (chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b) and primary and secondary carotenoids (violaxanthin, lutein, β-carotene, and astaxanthin) (Figure 4) Astaxanthin included mainly three different forms: 3S 3S′ trans-astaxanthin (free-astaxanthin) The astaxanthin esters showed several peaks in the chromatogram HPLC chromatograms of four major pigment types of red snow samples (A: Type A D: Type D) in this study (detection wavelength: 450 nm) Peaks with numbers or alphabet in the chromatograms indicate the algal pigments identified in this study Cluster analysis performed based on the algal pigment composition of red snow samples Four groups classified in this study based on the result were shown (Types A Mean pigment composition of four types of red snow samples in Mt Abbreviations: Chl a: chlorophyll a; Chl b: chlorophyll b; Lut: lutein; Vio: violaxanthin; BetaC: β-carotene; Ast-f: free-astaxanthin; Ast-e: astaxanthin-monoester; Ast-d: astaxanthin-diesters The mean compositions of algal cell morphology in the four pigment types are shown in Supplementary Figure 1 and green spherical cells were dominant in both Types A and B (>90%) however red spherical cells was more abundant in Type A than Type B Type C was dominated by the orange oval cell Type D was dominated by the red ellipsoidal cell Table 2 shows the number of samples of the four pigment types in each study site indicating that the pigment types varied spatially in the study area Types A and B were most commonly observed in this area: Type A occurred at five sites (S1 and S7) and Type B occurred at five sites (S2 Types C and D occurred only at sites S4 and S2 There was almost no difference in the appearance of pigment type among the different months of sample collection Types A and B were always observed at site S7 in all field investigations (June 2015 18S rRNA-gene-based maximum likelihood phylogeny of Sanguina spp showing phylogenetic position of one of the major ASV reads (ASV1) detected in the red snow samples in Mt Posterior probabilities (≥0.95) and bootstrap values from maximum likelihood analysis (≥50%) are shown Full statistical support (1.00/100) is marked with an asterisk Thick branches represent nodes receiving the highest posterior probability support (1.00) or field sample codes are indicated after each species name Figure 8. 18S rRNA-gene-based maximum-likelihood phylogeny of snow-inhabiting Chloromonas/Chlainomonas spp. showing phylogenetic positions of the five major ASV reads (ASV2–ASV6) detected in the red snow samples in Mt. Tateyama, Japan. The labeled clades “A,” “B,” and “C” correspond to Matsuzaki et al. (2019) Posterior probabilities and bootstrap values from maximum likelihood analysis are shown Top six ASVs (377-378 bp long) of 18S rRNA genes aligned and assigned to Chlorophyta in the samples the closest relatives of the 18S rRNA genes that are based on the Nucleotide BLAST search in NCBI and the sequence identity of 18S rRNA gene (%) The third most abundant ASV was ASV3 (MZ317535), representing 7.6% of Chlorophyta sequences reads and belonged to an unnamed moderately/highly supported Chloromonas clade. It consisted of uncultured alga OTU003 (LC371421.1), uncultured Chloromonas sp. TA-9 (AB903024), uncultured Chloromonas SV-3 (AB903022), etc. (Figure 8) The ASV5 (MZ317537), representing 3.5% reads of Chlorophyta sequences, was a member of the Chloromonas clade-D (Figure 8) and closely related to Chlainomonas sp ASV5 was 100% identical with the two algae tentatively assigned as “Chloromonas_sp_TA_1” (AB903004) and “Chloromonas_sp_TA_3” (AB902981) by single cell sequencing Figure 9 shows the relative abundance of the ASVs of snow algae among the four pigment types Both Types A and B were dominated by ASV1 and ASV2 Types C and D were dominated by ASV2 (94%) and ASV5 (95%) Mean relative abundance of algal ASVs containing the four pigment types it is reasonable to suggest that the red snow of Types A and B was dominated by Sanguina sp all the sites were located near the mountain ridge where there was less vegetation due to windy conditions The abundance of astaxanthin in the algal cells of ASV1 may be affected by the environmental conditions of the snow surface and cell maturation process we cannot exclude that an undescribed Sanguina sp this type of snow probably has conditions to be dominated by the Chloromonas alga The phylogenetic tree showed that ASV5 was closely related to Chlainomonas sp and algal cell morphology in Type D was distinctive from other pigment types—red ellipsoidal cell dominant resembled in cell size cell shape and pigment colouration of snow Chlainomonas The snow surface at this site may be a suitable condition for the growth of this alga in this region The site S2 was located on a southern mountain ridge in this study area; however we did not find any other specific chemical (pH or EC) or topographical conditions at this site Our results showed that the community structure of red snow in the Tateyama Mountains area varied seasonally and spatially among the sites and largely affected the pigment composition The presence of diverse algal communities within a relatively small mountainous area suggests that the algal community of red snow is determined by local environmental conditions and the migration process of algal cells to the snow surface ASV2, which close to putative Chloromonas sp., was also commonly present in the red snow in the study area. Chloromonas reported to be regionally endemic distribution (Segawa et al., 2018) The broad distribution of ASV2 in the study area may disperse locally To reveal reasons for the distinct distribution of this alga in this region (when compared to other species in this dataset) measurement of physical and chemical snow parameters may be helpful Seasonal and spatial variations in the appearance of each algal species suggest that they have different dispersal processes and suitable conditions for growth on the snow surface This snowy area of the Tateyama Mountains is one of the best places in the world to study snow algae global climate warming is changing the environmental conditions of this alpine area and will affect the snowpack in this unique ecosystem soon understanding the ecology of the snow algae in this area is urgently required This study revealed that red snow appeared extensively on the Mt Tateyama snowfields during the melting seasons HPLC analysis showed that the algal pigment compositions of the red snow varied spatially and seasonally and could be classified into four distinctive types (Types A–D) although they appeared visually to be almost the same color Types A and B contained abundant astaxanthin-monoester; however its abundance was relatively greater in Type A than in Type B These two types occurred most commonly in the study area Types C and D were characterized by primary carotenoids These two types occurred only at specific sites Phylogenic analysis using the 18S rRNA gene showed no significant difference in community structure between Types A and B As both Types A and B are dominated by Sanguina spp. the difference in the abundance of astaxanthin between the two types was probably due to the environmental conditions and also cell maturation process as well The pigment composition of Type C was likely induced by ASV2 because Chloromonas algae have abundant primary carotenoids The pigment composition of Type D was likely derived from ASV5 The factors determining the pigment composition or community structure in red snow remain uncertain Further detailed studies examining the physical parameters such as snow water content the amount of snow and solar radiation intensity and chemical conditions of the snow at each site are required The dispersal process and annual life cycle of each algal species are also important for understanding their spatial and seasonal variations TN and JU performed DNA extractions and sequencing All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version This work was supported from JSPS KAKENHI (19H01143 and from the Arctic Challenge for Sustainability II (ArCS II) and by Czech Science Foundation (GACR) projects 18-02634S LP has been supported by Charles University Research Centre program No The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest Hajime Iida and Kotaro Fukui for kind support for field works in Mt Yukiko Tanabe for kind support for HPLC analysis Daniel Remias and Shinichi Takaichi for their valuable comments for algal pigment identification on HPLC chromatogram We would also like to thank two reviewers for their helpful comments The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2021.689119/full#supplementary-material Evidence a photoprotective for secondary carotenoids of snow algae 1 Environmental control of the cell cycle in Drosophila: nutrition activates mitotic and endoreplicative cells by distinct mechanisms Distribution and biogeography of Sanguina snow algae: fine-scale sequence analyses reveal previously unknown population structure A community of clones: snow algae are diverse communities of spatially structured clones CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar DADA2: High-resolution sample inference from Illumina amplicon data Snow algae communities in Antarctica: 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Nozomu Takeuchi, bnRha2V1Y2hAZmFjdWx0eS5jaGliYS11Lmpw Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish go cycling and take herbology workshops at this stylish wellness retreat in Toyama prefecture the rural town of Tateyama in Toyama prefecture is an obvious destination for outdoor adventurers who love long treks and camping under the stars With this new guest house and wellness retreat nature enthusiasts can enjoy a more relaxed approach to experiencing the region’s idyllic landscapes A semi-underground hexagonal structure with two private saunas, The Hive is designed to blend in with its surrounding greenery while providing guests a comfortable space to rejuvenate in fresh air. It’s set within a larger resort called the Healthian-wood which features a farm-to-table restaurant and holistic spa where you can treat yourself to a massage to relieve your tired muscles.  but it can accommodate up to six people with three bedrooms plus a small dining room The saunas are set at different temperatures and differ in layout – one is for single-person use while the other is big enough for a group You are encouraged to pick plants and herbs from the field opposite the site and use them to aromatise the steam you can cool off in the outdoor water bath that’s filled with melted snow sourced from the nearby mountain ranges Guide to Japan’s reopening for tourism: visa-free travel, valid vaccines, PCR tests and more This teamLab exhibition in an abandoned bathhouse in Kyushu is also a spa retreat You can now get Dr Martens shoes and bag with Hokusai's iconic Japanese prints Netflix is making a series about Kyoto geisha directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda This cool new glampsite in Zushi with sea views is just 90 minutes from Tokyo TOYAMA--Japan’s last fleet of trolleybuses will cease operations on Dec Modern electric buses will replace the beloved trolleybuses that have carried millions of tourists on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route since 1996 The company said the decision was due to a limited supply of spare parts for the trolleybuses--rubber-tired vehicles powered by electricity drawn from overhead wires The trolleybuses run through the Tateyama Tunnel on the route which links popular tourist spots in Toyama and Nagano prefectures A 10-minute journey through the 3.7-kilometer tunnel connects Daikanbo Station and Murodo Station the highest point on the entire route at 2,450 meters a separate fleet of trolleybuses on the route that Kansai Electric Power Co operated was also replaced with electric vehicles Those trolleybuses connected Ogizawa Station in Nagano Prefecture and Kurobe Dam Station in Toyama Prefecture A sight to behold: Changing colors of Tateyama Alpine route Copyright © The Asahi Shimbun Company. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission. But we can assure you that this incredible site is very real CNN reports that the famous snow corridor within what's often known as the "roof of Japan" is reopening to visitors on Saturday The snow walk known as Yuki no Otani (or Great Valley of Snow) has walls that are 20 meters (about 65 feet) high and are carefully carved out by snowplow drivers The pathway is about 500 meters (a bit less than one-third of a mile) long and takes visitors some 20 minutes to pass through The snow corridor's reopening after a long winter break is an annual tradition but this year the attraction is offering a new opportunity for visitors travelers will be invited to grab a shovel to help create a new route Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route/FacebookIf you won't be able to make it to the snow corridor's grand opening, no worries at all. According to the route's website the best time of year to visit the attraction is June when it is less crowded and the walls are typically still an impressive 10 meters (about 33 feet) high even after a bit of melting A June visit to the area also has the added benefit of presenting an opportunity to view a white ptarmigan a bird referred to as a "messenger from God" which is said to bring happiness to those who encounter it.  For additional details, including information on current conditions that could impact your ability to see the attraction, you can visit this website Enrolling in Hawaiʻi’s public schools is a straightforward process that involves determining school eligibility and completing an application either online or in person We are committed to providing a high-quality education for all students and we look forward to welcoming your child to our school system. Learn how to determine your school through the SchoolSite Locator App The Department provides bus service in neighborhoods around the islands to ensure broad access to educational opportunities for Hawaiʻi’s students and serves about 25,000 student riders across the state.  Students who consistently attend school are more likely to achieve academic excellence students gain access to a world of knowledge and develop the confidence to reach their full potential.  educational specialists and staff to foster equity and excellence in our public schools skilled and passionate professionals who will help bring the Department’s Strategic Plan to life stories and events from Hawai‘i public schools 1390 Miller St. Honolulu, HI 96813Main Line: 808-784-6200Email Here in the American northeast we've got a bit of a storm on, with six to twelve inches of snow projected to fall on Core77 HQ. That sounds like a lot of snow, until you put it in perspective by looking at the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route which connects the Japanese municipalities of Tateyama and Omachi How on Earth do they manage to clear that road and get the sidewalls so freaking straight As you'll see in the video below—which seems it was produced in the '80s—they use a combination of snowblowing vehicles and a backhoe to "sculpt" the walls Test it out; it only takes a single click to unsubscribe is a full-service engineering and industrial design firm specializing in the developmen.. We are a multidisciplinary product innovation and development firm that brings bold ideas to market... Mighty Studios is a business-savvy product design consultancy a creative engineering and product development design studio We specialize in electronic product design and engineering for wearables we are an experienced full-service product design firm .. BlueMap design is a multi-disciplinary product development firm Here in the American northeast we've got a bit of a storm on, with six to twelve inches of snow projected to fall on Core77 HQ. That sounds like a lot of snow, until you put it in perspective by looking at the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route As you'll see in the video below—which seems it was produced in the '80s—they use a combination of snowblowing vehicles and a backhoe to \"sculpt\" the walls Don't have an account? Join Now Already have an account? Sign In Please enter your email and we will send an email to reset your password Japanese version Toyama Prefecture--Tourists marveled at breathtaking mountain views and towering walls of snow as the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route fully opened here on April 15 Visitors can travel by bus and cable car along the tourist route running through the snowcapped Northern Japan Alps The route spans 37.2 kilometers across Toyama and Nagano prefectures were especially dazzling against the backdrop of the clear said it was a magnificent and powerful landscape similar to photos she has seen of the Alps in Europe The route remains open until the end of November while the walking path between the snow walls is available until June 25 Ruins of railway embankment built 150 years ago shown New bullet train service for Nishi-Kyushu gets thumbs up Toyama — To prepare for the Garve sightseeing boat service coming to an end later this year The event was blessed with fine weather and attracted many tourists who took commemorative photos in the wheelhouse and received tickets with a button pin as part of the “Last Year Campaign.” Elementary school students accompanied by an adult could board the boat for free The tour has allowed visitors to enjoy Kurobe’s glorious nature while gazing up at the Northern Alps since the original sightseeing boat Due to a decrease in passenger numbers and the aging of the vessel the Garve is scheduled to end its service on Nov View Larger Map I’ve known the mountains here all my life We often used to visit the mountains on school trips and on clear days I used to love looking out at the peaks towering majestically over the town where I grew up For a while after graduating from photography school I lived and worked in a small lodge in the mountains taking and editing photos of the surrounding landscape Three mountain ranges run north to south through the center of the Japanese archipelago and Akaishi mountain ranges—often called the Northern Tateyama is not the name of a single mountain It refers to a range of peaks that stretches out across the far north-west section of the Northern Alps Ōnanjiyama (3,015 meters) is in the north; to the south is Jōdosan (2,831 meters) and several other mountains around the 3,000 meter mark extend away from these Tateyama’s charm lies in the pure white snows that blanket it in midwinter People are often left speechless by this world of limitless the snowy landscape stands in stark contrast to the brilliant blue skies as if you have stepped into an ancient world The area around Tateyama is famous for its heavy snowfall cold fronts whip across the Japan Sea from Siberia and drive south into these mountains snow-laden clouds that dump their cargo as they collide with the mountains the drifts of fallen snow can reach heights of over 20 meters It was recently confirmed that Tateyama is home to three glaciers This is the farthest south that glaciers have been found in the northern hemisphere It is the tremendous amount of snow that has allowed the glaciers to form at such a low line of latitude (just 36 degrees north) In my twenties and thirties I travelled to Alaska and Greenland to take photographs of the spectacular nature to be found there I was in my forties when I started to get serious about taking pictures of Tateyama But the magic of the landscape continues to surprise me and the mountains reveal new aspects of themselves with every year that passes The Murodō plateau The north face of the Tateyama ridge line (April) Sunset on the Midagahara plateau (May) Male ptarmigans competing for territory (April) A geyser bursts from the Jigokudani valley into the moonlit sky (April) Cotton grass on the Tengudaira plain Sunrise reflecting off the waters of Mikurigaike (July) Tateyama ridge line covered in snow (August) A ptarmigan and chick in summer plumage (July) Marshes on the Midagahara plateau (July) A snowy gorge in Raichōzawa (July) Tanbodaira in the fall (October) A twilight world of azure (November) Tateyama mountain range in midwinter (November) Ice sculptures shaped by snow and wind (November) A ptarmigan takes a moment’s rest (November) Mikurigaike in the moonlight (November) The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route opens every year in mid-April Vehicles travel along a road with 20-meter walls of snow on either side one lane in a 500-meter section of the road is opened to pedestrians so they can get a feel for the scale of the snowy walls around them The region has recently become a popular destination for tourists from China (Photographs and original Japanese text by Yanagi Akinobu.) The view is from Nagisa no Eki Tateyama in Tateyama located in a straight line 110 kilometers from the nation’s highest mountain the mountain’s silhouette appears to rise out of the water and the peak shines orange like a diamond Nagisa no Eki is a tourist facility with an observation deck that provides a superb view of the quiet Tateyama Bay Diamond Fuji will gradually move south and west along the city’s coastline and can be seen from National Park Resort Kyukamura Tateyama on Wednesday; from Sunosaki Lighthouse on May 25; from Aihama Port on May 31 and from Merasaki Shrine on June 2 A sightseeing route running through the Tateyama mountain range in central Japan's Northern Alps opened Monday offering views at one point of snow walls as tall as 17 meters each side of the road which connects the town of Tateyama in Toyama Prefecture and the city of Omachi in Nagano is popular with its spectacles of mountains visitors can walk through a pathway next to the high snow walls called "Yuki no Otani" (Huge valley of snow) It is forged through the Tateyama Murodo plateau at an altitude of 2,450 meters I guess we cannot see such a high snow wall anywhere else," said Yusuke Ogura who came from the western Japan prefecture of Wakayama The opening of the 37.2-kilometer-long sightseeing route for this season was pushed back one day because of heavy snowstorms Given a growing number of foreign tourists the route operator expects 1 million visitors during the season through the end of November Metrics details Finding a viable electrolyte for next-generation 5 V-class lithium-ion batteries is of primary importance A long-standing obstacle has been metal-ion dissolution at high voltages The LiPF6 salt in conventional electrolytes is chemically unstable which accelerates transition metal dissolution of the electrode material yet beneficially suppresses oxidative dissolution of the aluminium current collector; replacing LiPF6 with more stable lithium salts may diminish transition metal dissolution but unfortunately encounters severe aluminium oxidation Here we report an electrolyte design that can solve this dilemma By mixing a stable lithium salt LiN(SO2F)2 with dimethyl carbonate solvent at extremely high concentrations we obtain an unusual liquid showing a three-dimensional network of anions and solvent molecules that coordinate strongly to Li+ ions This simple formulation of superconcentrated LiN(SO2F)2/dimethyl carbonate electrolyte inhibits the dissolution of both aluminium and transition metal at around 5 V and realizes a high-voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4/graphite battery that exhibits excellent cycling durability This allows the direct application of the mature fabrication technology of 4 V-class lithium-ion batteries the well-developed negative electrodes (for example and high-voltage positive electrodes (for example spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 and some layered oxides) new challenges—which mainly arise from the electrolyte—hinder the practical application of the next-generation 5 V-class battery we report an electrolyte system to resolve the dilemma We select stable yet dissociative lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide (LiFSA) as the salt and oxidation-stable carbonate esters as the solvent We demonstrate an unusual liquid with a peculiar three-dimensional structural network obtained at extremely high salt concentrations The superconcentrated electrolyte not only effectively suppresses the anodic Al dissolution but also remarkably inhibits the transition metal dissolution and stable and fast-rate high-voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4|graphite battery (a) Images of various salt-to-solvent molar ratios of LiFSA/DMC solutions Viscosity (b) and ionic conductivity (c) for solutions of LiFSA in DMC The XLiFSA mole fraction is the molar amount of LiFSA salt divided by the total molar amount of the salt and solvents The LiFSA-to-solvent molar ratios of the solutions are shown on the upper axis (d) Flame tests of a commercial dilute electrolyte of 1.0 mol dm−3 LiPF6/EC:DMC (1:1 by vol.) and (e) the lab-made superconcentrated electrolyte of 1:1.1 LiFSA/DMC the 1:1.1 LiFSA/DMC solution does not burn as fiercely as the commercial dilute electrolyte The superior thermal stability and flame retardant ability of the concentrated electrolytes contribute to the remarkably improved safety properties as compared with the dilute electrolytes The results showed that both dilute (1:10.8) and superconcentrated (1:1.1) LiFSA/DMC electrolytes enabled a reversible Li+ de-intercalation/intercalation on the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4|Pt electrode indicating a reasonably good compatibility between the present electrolyte system and LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 material at ∼5 V Charge–discharge voltage curves of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4|lithium metal half-cells using (a) dilute 1:10.8 (b) moderately concentrated 1:1.9 and (c) superconcentrated 1:1.1 LiFSA/DMC electrolytes at a C/5 rate (d) Discharge (Li+ intercalation) capacity retention of the half-cells using different concentrations of LiFSA/DMC electrolytes at a C/5 rate (e) Rate capacity and subsequent cycling retention of the half-cells using 1:1.3 LiFSA-based electrolytes with different carbonate solvents Charge–discharge tests were conducted at 25 °C with a cutoff voltage of 3.5–4.9 V and a maximum-time restriction of 10 h except for that using the 1:1.1 LiFSA/DMC electrolyte whose cutoff voltage was 3.5–5.2 V The 1C-rate corresponds to 147 mA g−1 on the weight basis of the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 electrode the electrolytes using low-dielectric-constant and low-viscosity linear carbonate solvents (for example EMC and DEC) showed a faster rate capability as compared with those using high-dielectric-constant and high-viscosity cyclic carbonate solvents (for example which is at least partly owing to the much higher ionic conductivity of the former These results demonstrate that the salt-superconcentrated strategy is a simple effective and fruitful approach to various safe and stable high-voltage electrolytes this is the first time that stable and fast charge/discharge cycling of a 5 V-class electrode using amide salt-based organic electrolytes has been achieved LSV of an aluminium electrode in various concentrations of LiFSA/DMC electrolytes in a three-electrode cell The insets are scanning electron microscopy images of the Al surface polarized in the dilute 1:10.8 (left of panel) and superconcentrated 1:1.1 (right of panel) electrolytes Many corroding pits cover the surface of the Al electrode polarized in the dilute electrolyte no corroding pits appear on the surface of the Al electrode polarized in the superconcentrated electrolyte indicating a good inhibition of anodic Al dissolution Free and coordinated DMC molecules are marked in light blue and grey CIP and AGG states of FSA− anions are marked in red the first step proceeds more rapidly and extensively than at the conventional operating voltage of 4 V the subsequent coordination and diffusion must be strongly inhibited by the nature of electrolyte solutions to suppress the metal ion dissolution In the moderately concentrated 1:2 LiFSA/carbonate electrolytes the presence of significant free solvents and CIPs (with two or more coordination sites remaining vacant) could coordinate to Al cations and fail to inhibit Al dissolution completely at 5 V the superconcentrated 1:1.1 LiFSA/DMC electrolyte effectively inhibits Al dissolution even over 5 V which can be ascribed to its peculiar AGGs-predominant solution structure: (i) all DMC solvents and all FSA− anions strongly coordinate to Li+ cations and thus have a much lower probability of coordinating to other metal cations; (ii) the resulting reinforced three-dimensional network further retards the diffusion rate of the metal cations Charge–discharge voltage curves of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4|graphite full cells using (a) a commercial 1.0 mol dm−3 LiPF6/EC:DMC (1:1 by vol.) electrolyte and (b) lab-made superconcentrated 1:1.1 LiFSA/DMC electrolyte at a C/5 rate and 40 °C (c) Discharge capacity retention of the full cells at a C/5 rate The inset shows EDS spectra on the graphite electrode surface (200 × 200 μm2 area) after 8-day cycling tests which is equivalent to the operating time of 100 and 20 cycles for the battery using the commercial and superconcentrated electrolytes (d) Discharge capacity of the full cell at various C-rates and 25 °C All charge-discharge cycling tests were conducted with a cutoff voltage of 3.5–4.8 V 1C-rate corresponds to 147 mA g−1 on the weight basis of the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 electrode the superconcentrated electrolytes also show a good compatibility with the natural graphite-negative electrode even in the absence of EC It breaks through the limitation of a general requirement of EC for a SEI formation for a lithium-ion electrolyte and diversifies the electrolyte formulation towards various EC-free electrolytes Different from the conventional electrolyte design that requires a high-dielectric-constant (usually high-viscosity) solvent the superconcentrated electrolyte prefers a low-viscosity solvent Although the ionic conductivity of the superconcentrated electrolyte is lower than that of the conventional dilute electrolyte it does not necessarily compromise the rate capability of the battery Clarification of the corresponding mechanism would be enlightening for developing novel high-power batteries the superconcentrated electrolytes show superior thermal stability and flame retardant ability alleviating the safety risk for a high-voltage battery using conventional dilute electrolytes it is noteworthy that our reported superconcentrated electrolytes do not contain any additives signifying the potential to further enhance the performance These desirable features above outperform the conventional dilute electrolytes; meanwhile the wide-temperature window of the liquid state (ensuring a good contact with the electrode materials) as well as the convenience of the approach the superconcentrated electrolytes might offer opportunities to build safe and stable high-voltage batteries that are not limited to the lithium-ion LiFSA (Nippon shokubai) and all solvents (DMC Ltd) were lithium battery grade and used without purification Electrolyte solutions were prepared by mixing a given amount of LiFSA with solvents in an Ar-filled glove box The commercial electrolyte of 1.0 mol dm−3 LiPF6/EC:DMC (1:1 by vol) was purchased from Kishida Chemical Co Both the lab-made LiFSA-based electrolytes and as-received commercial LiPF6-based electrolyte were dried by molecular sieve before tests as detected by a coulometric Karl Fischer Titrator LSV was performed by VMP-3 (BioLogic) in a beaker cell with an Al belt (1 × 4 cm2, 0.6 cm soaked in the electrolyte) as a working electrode and lithium metal as the reference and counter electrodes (shown in Supplementary Fig. 5 inset) LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4|Li half-cells and LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4|graphite full cells were assembled in the standard 2032-type coin cell hardware in an Ar-filled glove box composed of cellulose separator (Nippon Kodoshi placed on the positive electrode side) and glass fibre separator (Advantec GB-50 The amount of electrolyte in a coin cell was ca 160 μl to fully wet the separators and electrodes the weight ratio of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4:graphite was ∼2:1 which corresponds to ∼1:1.3 of their theoretical capacity ratio Galvanostatic charge/discharge cycling and rate capability tests were conducted on a charge/discharge unit (TOSCAT) Charge and discharge were conducted at the same C-rate without using a constant-voltage mode at both ends of the charge and discharge The density and viscosity of solution samples were evaluated with a DMA 35 density meter and a Lovis 2000 M viscometer The ionic conductivity was measured by AC impedance spectroscopy at 1 kHz (Solartron 147055BEC) in a symmetric cell (Pt|electrolyte|Pt) The flammability was tested on an electrolyte-soaked glass fibre filter (Advantec GB-100) The solution structure was studied by a Raman spectroscopy with an exciting laser of 514 nm (NRS-5100) The samples were sealed in a quartz cell in the glove box to avoid any contamination from the air The morphology of Al electrodes after LSV tests were observed by a field-emission scanning electron microscopy at 2.0 kV The transition metals deposited on the graphite electrode in the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4|graphite full cells after charge/discharge cycling were estimated by an EDS The cells were disassembled in the glove box The obtained electrodes were rinsed in DMC and dried in the glove box The sample was exposed in air for <1 min at sample loading The experimental details for thermogravimetric analysis and XPS measurements are shown in Supplementary Fig. 1 legend and Supplementary Methods The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request Superconcentrated electrolytes for a high-voltage lithium-ion battery Challenges in the development of advanced Li-ion batteries: a review Rechargeable lithium batteries and beyond: Progress High voltage spinel oxides for Li-ion batteries: From the material research to the application Next-generation lithium-ion batteries: the promise of near-term advancements Electrochemical behavior of current collectors for lithium batteries in non-aqueous alkyl carbonate solution and surface analysis by ToF-SIMS Identity of passive film formed on aluminum in Li-ion battery electrolytes with LiPF6 Review on electrode–electrolyte solution interactions related to cathode materials for Li-ion batteries Mn(II) deposition on anodes and its effects on capacity fade in spinel lithium manganate-carbon systems Understanding the capacity fading mechanism in LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4/graphite Li-ion batteries Understanding transition-metal dissolution behavior in LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 high-voltage spinel for lithium ion batteries Fluorinated electrolytes for 5 V lithium-ion battery chemistry Fluorinated electrolytes for Li-ion battery: An FEC-based electrolyte for high voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4/graphite couple Impact of lithium bis(oxalate)borate electrolyte additive on the performance of high-voltage spinel/graphite Li-ion batteries A multifunctional phosphite-containing electrolyte for 5 V-class LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathodes with superior electrochemical performance Improved performance of high voltage graphite/LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 batteries with added lithium tetramethyl borate Electrolytes and Interphases in Li-Ion Batteries and Beyond Nonaqueous liquid electrolytes for lithium-based rechargeable batteries Corrosion of aluminum at high voltages in non-aqueous electrolytes containing perfluoroalkylsulfonyl imides; new lithium salts for lithium-ion cells Inhibition of anodic corrosion of aluminum cathode current collector on recharging in lithium imide electrolytes Transport and electrochemical properties and spectral features of non-aqueous electrolytes containing LiFSI in linear carbonate solvents Mechanism of anodic dissolution of the aluminum current collector in 1 M LiTFSI EC:DEC 3:7 in rechargeable lithium batteries Suppression of aluminum corrosion by using high concentration LiTFSI electrolyte Concentrated electrolytes: decrypting electrolyte properties and reassessing Al corrosion mechanisms Solvent activity in electrolyte solutions controls electrochemical reactions in Li-ion and Li-sulfur batteries Oxidative-stability enhancement and charge transport mechanism in glyme-lithium salt equimolar complexes The vibrational spectra and structure of dimethyl carbonate and its conformational behavior Electrolyte solvation and ionic association II Acetonitrile-lithium salt mixtures: highly dissociated salts A superconcentrated ether electrolyte for fast-charging Li-ion batteries Unusual stability of acetonitrile-based superconcentrated electrolytes for fast-charging lithium-ion batteries Review-Superconcentrated electrolytes for lithium batteries Corrosion prevention mechanism of aluminum metal in superconcentrated electrolytes Evidence of loss of active lithium in titanium-doped LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4/graphite cells Electrochemical intercalation of lithium ion within graphite from propylene carbonate solutions A new class of solvent-in-salt electrolyte for high-energy rechargeable metallic lithium batteries CPMD. http://www.cpmd.org:81/manual/node4.html Copyright IBM Corp (1990-2015) Copyright MPI für Feskörperforschung Stuttgart (1997-2001) Separable dual-space Gaussian pseudopotentials Download references This work was partially supported by JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A) (No 26708030) and JSPS Specially Promoted Research (No The calculations were carried out at the super-computer centres of National Institute for Materials Science and the K computer at the RIKEN through the HPCI System Research Projects (hp150209) Reiko Kawakami and Dr Kouhei Okitsu for their assistance in the experiments and specially thank Dr Sai-Cheong Chung for his valuable suggestions on the manuscript Jianhui Wang and Yuki Yamada: These authors contributed equally to this work Elements Strategy Initiative for Catalysts and Batteries International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics carried out the experiments and analysed the data designed and conducted the theoretical calculations The authors declare no competing financial interests Supplementary Table 1 and Supplementary Methods Reprints and permissions Download citation Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science Snow removal work is underway Saturday on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route which winds through the northern Alps of Toyama and Nagano prefectures The work is in preparation for the April 15 opening the snow accumulation around Murodo at an altitude of 2,450 meters was 7.9 meters up more than 2 meters from the same period last year Mt. Tateyama, one of Japan’s Three Holy Mountains Mounds of the solid substance coat the area traveling along the road that snakes along the mountain is impossible those who do venture into the winter wonderland are greeted by a wondrous wall of solid snow It hugs the edges of a roughly quarter-mile stretch of road forming a “snow canyon” with the pavement as its base It looks like something straight out of Game of Thrones—an icy impenetrable barrier forged with something greater than human strength But this wall wasn’t forged with any sort of icy magic. Every March, fleets of bulldozers begin clearing the snow along the highway the massive machines shove the snow out of the way Once they’ve come within six feet or so of revealing the pavement buried below teams of workers bearing rotary blowers set to work blasting away the last bits of snow Driving through the cleared mountain pass is one of those rare life experiences that truly makes you feel small It’s possible to drive or hop on a tour bus that’ll take you along the cleared road You'll want to get out and join the other folk wandering along the foot of the wall and try to snap a photo that truly depicts the scale Remember to dress appropriately as the temperature in the plains and cities at this time of year is hinting at shorts weather but by the time you get to the walls it can feel like mid-winter again This twisty section of highway in the Himalayan foothills is lined with thousands of small mirrors Modern commuters still pass through this 2,000-year-old Roman archway An unexpected public exhibit showcases the diversity of Dutch street posts The worst road in Colorado is the main gateway to some of its highest peaks The road plays 30 seconds of the Marine’s Hymn when driving over the grooved pavement An Oklahoma museum that celebrates the history of the "Mother Road." A short tunnel built straight through a magmatic dike This distinctive snowfield on the slopes of a Colorado fourteener has several legendary origin stories Toyama Prefecture--An overnight express bus now takes visitors from Tokyo to the spectacular Mount Tateyama range in Toyama Prefecture hikers no longer need to stay overnight before climbing Mount Tateyama which is part of the Northern Japan Alps with peaks of more than 3,000 meters The service connects hubs in central Tokyo and Murodo the highest point of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route at 2,450 meters above sea level allowing  passengers ample time to climb the mountain and go sightseeing “The charm is that they can come directly from the metropolitan area,” a representative of the operator said Murodo is a famed scenic spot boasting panoramic view of the majestic mountain range It is also home to a wide variety of alpine flora The express service is jointly operated by Toyama Chihou Railway Inc. the bus leaves from the South Exit of Tokyo Station at 8:40 p.m 9 at the Shibuya Fukuras commercial complex adjacent to Shibuya Station at 9:15 p.m. Tokyu Kabukicho Tower in the Shinjuku district at 10 p.m and the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station at 10:30 p.m the bus departs Murodo at noon and makes stops in order Reservations are accepted via the Japan Bus Online website at (https://japanbusonline.com/en) Fares from Tokyo to Murodo cost between 17,000 yen ($120) and 19,000 yen Fares for the return trip are priced at between 12,000 yen and 13,000 yen passengers can take the bus for a one-way trip for 20,000 yen paid on board Specialized Chiba raceway a playground for the super-rich Survey warns mountaineers to avoid carrying in invasive plants Toyama Prefecture--The popular Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route running through the Northern Japan Alps and spanning 37.2 kilometers across Toyama and Nagano prefectures Visitors took part in a walking event on the day during which they enjoyed strolling along the towering snow wall called Yuki no Otani formed on both sides of part of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route The 500-meter-long snow wall is near Murodo The snow wall's height has averaged 16.3 meters in the past decade “It’s been a while since the last time I made a trip," said a 62-year-old visitor from Aichi Prefecture "I’m so happy to see the Yuki no Otani wall for the first time.” operator of the route based in Toyama city is hoping visitor numbers will recover after dipping due to the novel coronavirus pandemic “We are taking thorough measures to prevent infection so we may welcome many visitors," said a staff member of Tateyama Kurobe Kanko "We hope visitors will be awed by nature and relax.” when Tateyama Kurobe Kanko canceled the walking event to help stem the spread of the novel coronavirus visitors dropped to 230,000 compared to 883,000 visitors in 2019 Even when the walking event resumed in 2021 the operator will run other events near Murodo which it had to downsize due to the pandemic in previous years Famed alpine route taking shape for April opening Changing autumnal foliage is drawing hordes of visitors to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route whose heavily forested hillsides are now ablaze in a panorama of hues which connects Toyama and Nagano prefectures is a major tourist attraction also in early spring when a huge snow wall is created on both sides of the road said the Mount Tateyama range began its annual transition in shades from late September and now is the perfect time to view the reds and yellows of Japanese rowan and Erman’s birch around the area called Nanamagari due to consecutive curves in the road Packed sightseeing buses are now a common sight in the area The autumn sight can be enjoyed until early November as trees at lower altitudes gradually change color No reproduction or republication without written permission.