Seasonal Attraction

AutumnSeptember - October

Seasonal Attraction

AutumnSeptember - October

The operating period for 2025 is as follows,

Full route (Dentetsu Toyama – Nagano) April 15th to November 30th,2025
The route is closed from December 1st to April 14th.

The leaves take six weeks to change color beginning at the end of September and lasting until the beginning of November. The change begins at higher areas and moves down the mountain. There are no other tourist sites with this much change in altitude. Depending on the season, you can see the color contrast created by the nature, with green leaves at the foot of the mountain, the red autumn leaves in the middle, and the white snow at its peak.

Temperature

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route is located at an altitude of over 3000 meters. There is a noticeable difference in temperature compared with the surrounding plains.

Average monthly temperatures within the Alpine Route – Murodo
Month	9	10	11
Highest temperature	15°C (59°F)	10°C (50°F)	2°C (36°F)
Lowest temperature	9°C (48°F)	3°C (37°F)	-5°C (23°F)

Autumn Style

The weather starts to get chilly, and the leaves start to redden. In October, it starts to snow in Murodo, so it would be nice to have a warm jacket which you can wear over your clothes.

Other useful items: windbreaker, sunglasses

Calendar of Fall Foliage　Chubu region　(the central part of Japan)

Insects

Insects such as butterflies and dragonflies thrive on the clean water, grasses and trees found in the Midagahara area. In summer you can see them fluttering through the air.

Lesser Marbled Fritillary

These butterflies have spotted wings that look like leopard skin. They are found mainly in the Midagahara area.

Oriental Whiteface Dragonfly (Leucorrhinia dubia orientalis)

This small dragonfly has a black body with reddish brown and yellow spots. As its name suggests, this dragonfly has a distinctive white face.

Trees (Deciduous)

Evergreen trees such as Tateyama Cedars look plainer than broad leaved trees but some produce beautiful flowers

Japanese Rowan

This plant’s name comes from its wood’s resistance to fire. Small white flowers bloom in summer and red berries match the red leaves in autumn.

Japanese Beech

This is a tall tree with grey patterned bark. The leaves change color from green in the summer to red and yellow in the fall. Because they absorb and store a lot of water, Japanese beech trees are a symbol for Japanese environmental protection. The virgin forest of these trees is found in Bijodaira.

Erman’s Birch

This tree grows only in highland areas. It has grey bark and its leaves turn a vivid yellow in autumn before falling.