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Sushi, anime, J-pop, Nintendo, samurai, Pokémon, ultra-advanced technology, cherry blossoms… Yeah, Japan surely has engraved a multi-layered international image for itself. But there’s something that most people don’t think about when they hear the word ‘Japan.’ Snow. And not just regular snow… But insane, humongous amounts of snow that actually make one Japanese city the world capital of snow. And if you go for a drive through Tateyama Kurobe, a mountain route that is rather unique… You would easily understand why.
More info: japan-guide
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Remember the great icy wall from Game of Thrones?
Image credits: https://www.hbo.com/
Turns out, reality can be as fascinating as fiction. Welcome to the majestic Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, just a few hours from Tokyo
Image credits: Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
It’s a part of the ‘Roof of Japan’, a mountain road across the Toyama and Nagano prefectures
Image credits: Wonder World
Located North of Tokyo, on the so-called ‘Roof of Japan’, a 55- miles-long (90 km) route, the Snow Wall is easily the main tourist attraction.
The season when the otherworldly mountain passage is open lasts only a few months
Image credits: Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
This place to see is open for a very limited time only. In 2019, the snow corridor is open to pedestrians from April 15 to June 22.
Once here, tourists can indulge in an hour’s walk through the icy passages
Image credits: Wonder World
Even though accessible for few months only, the Snow Wall Walk is a huge tourism attraction with approximately 5000 daily visitors
At its highest point the snow wall reaches as high as 55 ft (17 meters)
Image credits: Wonder World
To put it into perspective, 55 ft (17 meters) of snowfall is taller than an average three-story building.
And it’s only accessible by specialized tourists’ buses
Image credits: Wonder World
An average round-trip ticket price for an adult costs around $40.
In order to prepare this road for visitors, the Japanese use special snowplow trucks that are created precisely for this location.
Image credits: Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
Image credits: Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
Image credits: Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route
Image credits: Wonder World
Image credits: Wonder World
But surprisingly, that’s not the only snowy attraction that can be found in Japan
Image credits: AOMORI JAPAN
In the north of Japan there’s Aomori City, home to 300,000 people.
Blizzards and ice storms turn the nature surrounding Aomori into a unique viewing
Image credits: Low Pressure Lover
Icy Siberian winds sweep into Japan by bringing massive amounts of snow that pile up in unusual formations, proving that nature is a one-of-a-kind artist
Even though annual snow-cleaning costs around $30 million, the frozen wonderland that the snow creates here makes it more than worth it
Image credits: Low Pressure Lover
People compared this to their own snow-related experiences
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What do you think ?
Withnail 6 years ago (edited)
Night gathers, and now my watch begins... but can I just say; dayum, that's a lot of snow!
CrazyCatLady 6 years ago (edited)
In Belgium 'only' code red with 5 cm of snow, well done neighbours. In The Netherlands everything grinds to a halt with only 1cm of snow these days, no trains code red all over the place. I'm thinking of the brutal snowstorm 40 years ago in February, literally snowmontains everywhere, but still having to go to school (drowning in snow). Arriving at school and being send home straight away because the teacher was stuck in her house.
RaroaRaroa 6 years ago
I assume that's why it's only open for a couple of months. They probably close it as soon as the weather starts to warm, then open it again when the melt is over.
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Russian Otaku 6 years ago
If you know japan and seen many images of it it's hard to believe that this is japan. Kinda like some other places as well like California when you see it it's also always the southern and or coastal parts instead of the very north
Daria B 6 years ago
I think I understand what you're talking about, but as someone who was obsessively studying about Japan since ever and living in the neighborhood (S.Korea) now, for me that doesn't look unusual at all for Japan, to be honest. I mean, isn't Sapporo famous for its snows too?
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Curious Cat 6 years ago
Hey.. at least the road is plowed. Im waiting for the city to get the street cleared. #winnipeg
Night Owl 6 years ago (edited)
True, but someone up there in the article already made the same comment, almost word for word
Load More Replies...
PhoenixInferno 6 years ago
Sorry to be that one grammar nazi, but did anyone else notice the spelling mistake? "But surprirsingly, that’s not the only snowy attraction that can be found in Japan"
Full Name 6 years ago
Maybe it was transcribed phonetically from an interview ;-P
Load More Replies...
Aunt Messy 6 years ago
Nope. A WORLD of nope. NOTHING makes that amount of snow "worthwhile", and I speak from more experience that most of the posters here. I grew up plugging in block heaters, shovelling sidewalks and driveways, walking to school in -40C, and wearing long underwear under my pyjamas to sleep under a down duvet AND two wool blankets at night. ...///... No. Just keep the snow, thanks. We'll be retiring in a place where I will never have to see it again.
Full Name 6 years ago
This place has beautiful snow walls etc with zero effort required. I like snow when I'm not the one having to shovel the roof to clear the vents etc. I'd love to see insanely tall snow walls like that.
Load More Replies...
Aunt Messy 6 years ago
So you were there for 15 minutes in August and it wasn't snowing? Wow.
Load More Replies...
Withnail 6 years ago (edited)
Night gathers, and now my watch begins... but can I just say; dayum, that's a lot of snow!
CrazyCatLady 6 years ago (edited)
In Belgium 'only' code red with 5 cm of snow, well done neighbours. In The Netherlands everything grinds to a halt with only 1cm of snow these days, no trains code red all over the place. I'm thinking of the brutal snowstorm 40 years ago in February, literally snowmontains everywhere, but still having to go to school (drowning in snow). Arriving at school and being send home straight away because the teacher was stuck in her house.
RaroaRaroa 6 years ago
I assume that's why it's only open for a couple of months. They probably close it as soon as the weather starts to warm, then open it again when the melt is over.
Load More Replies... Russian Otaku 6 years ago
If you know japan and seen many images of it it's hard to believe that this is japan. Kinda like some other places as well like California when you see it it's also always the southern and or coastal parts instead of the very north
Daria B 6 years ago
I think I understand what you're talking about, but as someone who was obsessively studying about Japan since ever and living in the neighborhood (S.Korea) now, for me that doesn't look unusual at all for Japan, to be honest. I mean, isn't Sapporo famous for its snows too?
Load More Replies... Curious Cat 6 years ago
Hey.. at least the road is plowed. Im waiting for the city to get the street cleared. #winnipeg
Night Owl 6 years ago (edited)
True, but someone up there in the article already made the same comment, almost word for word
Load More Replies... PhoenixInferno 6 years ago
Sorry to be that one grammar nazi, but did anyone else notice the spelling mistake? "But surprirsingly, that’s not the only snowy attraction that can be found in Japan"
Full Name 6 years ago
Maybe it was transcribed phonetically from an interview ;-P
Load More Replies... Aunt Messy 6 years ago
Nope. A WORLD of nope. NOTHING makes that amount of snow "worthwhile", and I speak from more experience that most of the posters here. I grew up plugging in block heaters, shovelling sidewalks and driveways, walking to school in -40C, and wearing long underwear under my pyjamas to sleep under a down duvet AND two wool blankets at night. ...///... No. Just keep the snow, thanks. We'll be retiring in a place where I will never have to see it again.
Full Name 6 years ago
This place has beautiful snow walls etc with zero effort required. I like snow when I'm not the one having to shovel the roof to clear the vents etc. I'd love to see insanely tall snow walls like that.
Load More Replies... Aunt Messy 6 years ago
So you were there for 15 minutes in August and it wasn't snowing? Wow.
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