Kurobe Dam
黒部ダム
Japan's tallest arch dam, at 186 m. In summer and autumn, the dam releases water for sightseeing, and mist sprays up. It is the grand finale of the Alpine Route.
Kurobe Dam was completed in 1963 and is the tallest dam in Japan. Construction took seven years, and the film *The Sun Over Kurobe* depicts its hardships. From summer through autumn, the dam conducts sightseeing water releases every day, and rainbows often appear. About 220 steps climb from one side of the dam to an observation deck with panoramic views. Behind the dam, the Kurobe Lake has a sightseeing boat called the Garube, which runs in summer and autumn. You can reach the dam from the Toyama side via the Alpine Route, or from Ogizawa in Nagano by electric bus, about 16 minutes. A round trip in a day is easy.
Opening hours
While the Alpine route is open (approx. Apr 15–Nov 30)
Nearby sights
- Daikanbo & Kurobedaira
- Mount Tateyama (Oyama)
- Murodo & Mikurigaike Pond
- Yuki-no-Otani Snow Corridor
- Midagahara
- Shomyo Falls
- Bijodaira
- Kurobe Gorge Railway