The tour begins in Nagano City with meetup points at Hotel Kokusai 21 followed by Nagano Station. From there it’s onto the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route. Arriving at Ogizawa Station around 09:45 your guide will give you time to prepare for your ascent before boarding the Kanden Tunnel trolley bus – the first of a variety of mountain transports you will utilise to reach the summit.

First stop is Kurobe Dam. Constructed between 1956 and 1963, this immense structure requires the labour of up to 10 million people and is Japan’s highest dam. A source of national pride and emblematic of humankind’s attempts to conquer nature, your guide will give you time to enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding mountains, before starting the next leg of your journey towards the top.

The Tateyama Ropeway is a highlight of your adventure upwards. Spanning 1700 metres, you will be transported upward to the final stop of Daikanbo, before taking the final trolley bus to the final station, Murodo. At 2450 metres, this is Japan’s highest station and your gateway to the beautiful alpine plateau below the mountain summit. Your guide will guide you on a leisurely walk following a trail of around 1 hour’s duration – suitable for anyone of reasonable fitness. As you walk your guide will introduce you to the importance of the surrounding landscape and its place within Japan’s tradition of mountain worship. Of course, should you prefer to spend the time exploring by yourself you are also free to do so and then meetup with your guide at the appointed time.

Visitors making the journey in September and October are likely to be treated to some of Japan’s most striking autumn colours, as the grasses and shrubs of the alpine meadows burn red, orange and brown while the forests below can be enjoyed from the ropeway on both your ascent and descent from Murodo Station.

Between 15:00 and 15:30 your guide will collect you and begin the journey back down, descending back to Ogizawa where the tour bus will be waiting. You will board the bus and return to Nagano City between 18:00 and 19:00.