The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which officially opens every April, is a dream trip for many travelers eager to witness the legendary Snow Wall. While you don’t need an admission ticket to enter the Alpine Route, you do need to purchase a Tateyama Kurobe Transportation Ticket to travel across the entire route!
Knowing how to buy the right ticket is absolutely crucial for a smooth journey.
In this article, Tsubaki breaks it all down for you:
What exactly is the Tateyama Kurobe Transportation Ticket?
Should you buy it online or on-site?
What are the JR discount passes available for foreign travelers?
And most importantly, how can you secure your tickets in advance online—so you won’t have to worry about them selling out?
For a complete Tateyama Kurobe independent travel guide, I recommend reading the full series:
Chapter 1 – Pre-Departure Essentials for a DIY Tateyama Kurobe Trip
Chapter 2 – Opening Periods, Seasonal Highlights & What to Wear (to help you decide when to go)
Chapter 3 – Transportation Tips: Where You Can’t Drive & How to Connect Between Points (to help you understand the logistics and discount passes)
Chapter 4 – How to Book Tickets Online for the Alpine Route (to help you reserve seats smoothly)(this article)
Chapter 5 – Must-See Stops Along the Alpine Route (including the famous snow corridor)
Chapter 6 – Sample One-Day Itinerary with Budget Breakdown (for practical trip planning)
Switch language：繁體中文
What is the “Tateyama Kurobe Transportation Ticket”?
When people refer to the “Tateyama Kurobe Transportation Ticket,” they’re talking about the official pass for the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, and that’s the term I’ll use throughout this article.
IC cards (like Suica or ICOCA) are not accepted on the Alpine Route, so you’ll need to purchase the Tateyama Kurobe Transportation Ticket to ride all six forms of transport between Tateyama Station and Ogizawa Station.
If you don’t plan to ride the entire route, you can buy a one-way ticket for just a portion—for example, the electric bus between Ogizawa Station and Kurobe Dam.
That said, most people choose the full one-way ticket from Tateyama to Ogizawa or a round-trip ticket that allows them to turn back mid-route. It’s far more convenient than buying tickets for each segment separately.
Alternatively, foreign visitors can ride the entire Alpine Route for free using the JR Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Pass. More details on this pass are included later in the article.
Transportation Modes Included in the Alpine Route
・Tateyama Cable Car
・Tateyama Highland Bus
・Tateyama Tunnel Trolley Bus
・Kurobe Cable Car
・Kurobe Ropeway
・Kanden Tunnel Electric Bus
If you’re interested in a detailed breakdown of all six transportation modes, Tsubaki will cover them in Chapter 3. Stay tuned for the full explanation!
Tateyama Kurobe Transportation Ticket: Basics & Tips
One-Way or Round-Trip Options
There are two main starting points for the Alpine Route:
・Tateyama Station (Toyama side)
・Ogizawa Station (Nagano side)
Depending on your travel route, you’ll decide whether to go one-way across the entire route, or round-trip, turning back midway.
If you’re driving, like we did, and plan to turn back partway (for example, from Ogizawa to Murodo and back), you can opt for a midway round-trip ticket.
Alternatively, even if you’re driving, you can purchase a full one-way ticket and use a car delivery service to have your vehicle transported to the other end of the route. However, this is not cheap—the service costs ¥27,000 per car, so it’s only cost-effective if you’re traveling with a group and can split the expense. More details on this will be shared in Chapter 3!
Add-on Tickets for Public Transportation Connections
If you’re starting your journey from a major station like Dentetsu Toyama Station or Nagano Station, you can also purchase an add-on ticket that connects these points to the start of the Alpine Route. This way, you can use a single ticket for the entire journey, making transfers much smoother. A fare table is available below for reference.
However, if you’re using public transportation, it’s worth considering the JR Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Pass, which is only available to foreign travelers.
For example:
The regular fare from Dentetsu Toyama to Nagano costs ¥16,660.
In contrast, the JR Pass costs ¥24,000 for 5 days and allows you to travel to multiple destinations, making it a much better value!
Departure from Tateyama or Ogizawa Requires a Reserved Time Slot
The first segment of the Alpine Route—departing from either Tateyama Station or Ogizawa Station—requires a reserved departure time, due to limited seating. You must board according to the time you’ve booked.
For the rest of the segments, although there are timetables, reservations aren’t available. You’ll need to line up on-site, but the timing is generally more flexible, giving you the freedom to stop and explore along the way.
One-Time Use Only, Valid for 5 Days
Each segment of the Tateyama Kurobe Transportation Ticket can only be used once. Aside from the reserved first segment, the rest of the ticket remains valid for five days, which is perfect if you need to stay overnight in the mountains or delay your return due to weather.
If you want to ride a section again after using it once, you’ll need to purchase a new ticket.
Tateyama Kurobe Ticket Prices
Here is the 2025 fare chart for the Tateyama Kurobe Transportation Ticket.
The top right shows one-way fares for each section: blue text for adults, red text for children.
The bottom left shows round-trip fares.
Sample Ticket Prices:
One-way through ticket (ideal for non-drivers):
Dentetsu Toyama → Alpine Route → Nagano Station: ¥16,660
Nagano Station → Alpine Route → Dentetsu Toyama: ¥16,660
Midway round-trip tickets (ideal for drivers parking near the route):
Tateyama ⇆ Murodo: ¥7,380
Ogizawa ⇆ Murodo: ¥12,300
Since we were driving from Tokyo, we started from Ogizawa Station and turned back at Murodo, so our ticket cost was ¥12,300 per person.
To be honest, we didn’t expect the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route to cost quite this much. But considering that all transportation runs through mountainous terrain, and includes cable cars, trolley buses, and highland buses—all of which require intensive construction and maintenance—it makes sense that operational costs are high, and the price reflects that.
❗️Ticket prices may change yearly. Please check the official website for the latest fares. [Click here to view the official site]❗️
Highly Recommended: JR Alpine Route Area Pass for Foreign Travelers
If you’re planning to explore the area using public transportation, I highly recommend the JR Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Passs.
It costs only ¥27,000, and allows unlimited rides for 5 consecutive days on local and limited express JR trains between Nagoya, Toyama, and Matsumoto, plus full access to all transportation on the Alpine Route!
To put that into perspective:
Just a one-way trip from Dentetsu Toyama to Nagano via the Alpine Route costs ¥16,660.
So if your itinerary includes Toyama, Takayama, or Narai-juku, this JR Pass offers incredible value.
How to Purchase the Tateyama Kurobe Transportation Ticket
There are three main ways to buy the ticket:
1. Buy it directly on-site
2. Reserve online in advance, then pick it up or change the time at the station or kiosk
3. Join a tour group, where the travel agency arranges the tickets for you
I’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each method in the next section.
⚠️ Important tip: Every April, when the route opens for the season, the Alpine Route gets extremely crowded. Tickets for popular time slots can sell out fast. That’s why Tsubaki highly recommends reserving online in advance—you’ll not only lock in your preferred departure time but also avoid long waits on the day of travel.
How to Buy the Tateyama Kurobe Transportation Ticket On-Site
If you’re starting from the Toyama side, you can purchase your ticket on the day of travel at Dentetsu Toyama Station or Tateyama Station.
If you’re coming from the Nagano side, you can buy your ticket directly at Ogizawa Station.
However, be aware that during peak season—especially from April to May when the Snow Wall is open—on-site ticket lines can get extremely crowded. In some cases, tickets may sell out due to the high volume of visitors. If you plan to buy your ticket on the spot, be sure to check the opening hours of the ticket counters and arrive early to queue up.
That said, Ogizawa Station tends to see fewer tour groups, so the crowd is often slightly more manageable compared to Tateyama.
[Click here to check the number of same-day tickets available in real time] (Japanese only)
Some travelers online have reported lining up at 5 a.m., only to get a seat on a 7 a.m. departure.
On-Site Ticket Counters:
・Toyama Side: Tickets are sold at Tateyama Station starting 20 minutes before the first departure
・Nagano Side: Tickets are sold at Ogizawa Station starting 40 minutes before the first departure
Also note: On-site tickets can only be purchased for the same day, and only from the station where you’re currently located.
How to Reserve the Tateyama Kurobe Ticket Online
In addition to buying tickets on-site, the official Alpine Route website also offers two types of online reservation systems that allow you to secure your tickets in advance.
These are:
・General Advance Reservation
・Last-Minute Additional Sales
However, keep in mind that the total number of tickets is limited—with allocations split between online and on-site sales. So even if you can’t get your desired time slot online, you can still try your luck by lining up early on the day. (Scroll down for a step-by-step online reservation guide.)
Also, if you’ve already booked your ticket online but feel your departure time is too late, you can go to the station early and change your time slot at the counter by showing your reservation QR code. There is a ¥500 change fee per ticket, but considering how hard it can be to get tickets during busy periods, this flexibility offers great peace of mind.
In our case, we originally reserved a 12:30 p.m. departure, but arrived at Ogizawa Station at 9:30 a.m.. Luckily, it wasn’t too crowded, and we were able to change to the 10:00 a.m. departure—making our itinerary much smoother and more flexible.
General Advance Reservation
General ticket reservations typically begin about one month before the planned opening of the Alpine Route, around mid- to late March. That’s when you’ll be able to start booking April tickets.
But because of high demand and limited availability, tickets often sell out within minutes of becoming available.
So if you’re aiming for a specific departure time, make sure to follow the official announcements closely and be ready to book the moment reservations open!
2025 Sales Schedule: Shown above. Check the official site each year for the most up-to-date dates.
Reservation Window
Starts: Around mid-to-late March (varies each year)
Booking period: Tickets for April to November
[Official Online Reservation Website]
Last-Minute Additional Sales
When demand surges, the Tateyama side sometimes adds extra early morning departures. These are usually announced 3–4 days in advance on the official site and made available for online booking.
These temporary additions typically start around 6:50 a.m., with additional departures every 20 minutes—up to four extra departures in total.
While the timing is quite early, it’s a great backup option if you missed out on peak time slots and want to beat the crowds.
Summer Early-Bird Discount Ticket
Each April, the official site releases a “Summer Early-Bird Ticket” that’s valid for rides between June and August. If you book during the promotional period, you’ll receive 10% off the regular ticket price—a nice bonus for those planning ahead!
Canceling Online Reservations
If you need to cancel your reservation:
・Cancel at least 10 days before your departure date: No cancellation fee
・Cancel within 9 days of departure: ¥1,000 cancellation fee per ticket
So if your plans change, it’s best to decide early to avoid unnecessary charges.
How to Reserve the Tateyama Kurobe Transportation Ticket Online
Currently, the online reservation system is only available in Japanese and English. To make things easier to follow, I’ve used screenshots from the English mobile version to walk you through the process!
However, since I entered a Japanese address when registering my account, some of my screens switched to Japanese after login—thanks for your understanding!
Step 1: Go to the Official Website and Register a New Account
Once you’re on the registration page, scroll down and tap “Membership registration” to create a new account.
[Click here to access the online reservation membership page]
Step 2: Enter Your Email Address
After selecting new membership registration, input your email address, agree to the terms and conditions by checking the box, and proceed to the next page.
Step 3: Enter the Email Verification Code
You’ll receive a verification code by email immediately. If you don’t see it in your inbox, be sure to check your spam or junk folder.
Step 4: Fill In Your Personal Information
Once verified, you’ll need to fill out your personal information, including your name, address, and password. You can use an overseas address and phone number here.
Step 5: Go to the Member Page and make a reservaton
After registering, you’ll be taken to your member dashboard. If your address is set to overseas, the interface will display in English. Tap the center button that says “Make a new reservation” (新規予約はこちら) to start your ticket booking.
Step 6: Choose Departure Station and Date
Be careful with your selections here, as they determine the travel section and ticket validity.
Start by selecting either Tateyama Station or Ogizawa Station as your departure point. Since we were traveling from the Kanto region, Ogizawa Station was more convenient for us.
Under “How to search (入力方法),” select the first option: “From ticket name (きっぷ名から)”. You’ll then see two ticket options:
・“予約WEBきっぷ” (Web ticket reservation)
・“夏季早鳥きっぷ” (Summer Early-Bird Ticket)
Choose your ticket type and then select your travel date from the calendar.
Step 7: Select the Travel Route
Choose your travel section here. If you selected Ogizawa Station as your starting point, you’ll only see Ogizawa departure tickets (either one-way or round-trip).
・片道 : One-way
・往復: Round-trip
Step 8: Select Departure Time
Once you’ve chosen your route, available departure times will appear. As mentioned earlier, popular slots often sell out quickly, so availability may be limited.
Step 9: Enter Number of Passengers and Add Optional Tickets
Input the number of passengers and choose whether to include optional extras, such as return bus tickets to major stations.
Step 10: Review Details and Make Payment
After filling in all the details, the system will display a summary of your reservation. Carefully check to make sure everything is correct.
Then tap “Enter payment information(お支払い情報の入力)” to proceed to the credit card entry page and complete your purchase.
Step 11: Get Your QR Code and Reservation Details
Once payment is complete, your reservation confirmation and QR code will be displayed. You’ll also receive a confirmation email with the QR code.
If you’re worried about connectivity, take a screenshot and save it on your phone.
If you don’t receive the confirmation email, you can always log in to the website and click “Confirm Reservation (予約の確認) ” from your member page. There, you can:
・View your booking
・Access the QR code
・Change the number of passengers
・Cancel the reservation
Step 12: Exchange Your Ticket at the Station Using the QR Code
On the day of your trip, be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before your reserved departure time and go to the designated pickup window.
Use the automatic ticket machine to exchange your QR code for a physical boarding pass. During peak periods, there may be long lines, so plan accordingly!
❗️Important: If you fail to exchange your ticket in time, your reservation may be automatically canceled by the system—don’t be late!
[Map of ticket machines]
[Official English guide for desktop version]
Highly Recommended: JR’s Discount Rail Pass for Foreign Travelers
Aside from the official Alpine Route transportation ticket, JR also offers an incredible-value rail pass specifically for international tourists. And when I say it’s a good deal, I mean it’s super, super, SUPER worth it!
JR Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Pass
This JR Pass is designed for non-Japanese passport holders, and gives you unlimited rides for five consecutive days on:
・Local and limited express JR trains (non-reserved seats) between Nagoya, Toyama, and Matsumoto
・All transportation on the Alpine Route
To put things into perspective:
A one-way trip from Dentetsu Toyama to Nagano already costs ¥16,660.
If your itinerary also includes places like Toyama, Hida-Takayama, or Narai-juku, this pass will seriously make you say, “Totally worth it!”
・Coverage: JR lines in Nagoya, Matsumoto, and Takayama area + the entire Alpine Route
・Validity: 5 consecutive days
・Price: ¥24,000
Click here to purchase JR Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Pass
( First-time Klook users can enter promo code “SP9YHJ” to get a discount!)
Prefer Convenience? Join a Tour!
If handling tickets and planning an itinerary on your own sounds overwhelming, you might want to consider joining a tour through KKday, Klook or Tripadvisor. There are plenty of options available—from day trips to overnight packages—that take care of everything for you. It’s a time-saving and stress-free way to enjoy the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, especially if you’re looking for an easy and comfortable experience.
Plus, since the Alpine Route is such a popular destination, many travel platforms often offer early bird discounts. Planning in advance not only increases your chances of securing tickets, but may also get you a better deal!
Experience Options
✔️ KKday – Compare Tour Packages
✔️ Klook – Compare Tour Packages
✔️ TripAdvisor – Compare Tour Packages
First-time Klook users can enter promo code “SP9YHJ” to get a discount!
With this guide, you don’t have to worry about buying the wrong ticket or getting stuck in long lines.
In the next article, Tsubaki will walk you through how to navigate the transportation flow along the route, the recommended travel paths, and even share a sample one-day itinerary for the Alpine Route.
Be sure to keep reading!
Chapter Guide
Chapter 1 – Pre-Departure Essentials for a DIY Tateyama Kurobe Trip
Chapter 2 – Opening Periods, Seasonal Highlights & What to Wear (to help you decide when to go)
Chapter 3 – Transportation Tips: Where You Can’t Drive & How to Connect Between Points (to help you understand the logistics and discount passes)
Chapter 4 – How to Book Tickets Online for the Alpine Route (to help you reserve seats smoothly)(this article)
Chapter 5 – Must-See Stops Along the Alpine Route (including the famous snow corridor)
Chapter 6 – Sample One-Day Itinerary with Budget Breakdown (for practical trip planning)
Notice for this article:
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