The opening of Mt. Tateyama in autumn typically signals the start of the snow season. For core users who think, "The first skiing of the season has to be at Mt. Tateyama," we have compiled information on the mountain's conditions, access, and even backcountry tours organized by guide clubs for those first-time skiers
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The current state of Mt. Tateyama... from the Tateyama Murodo live camera
This is what Mount Tateyama looks like now in early November. Due to the cold wave last weekend, as of November 4th, the landscape is completely covered in snow, as you can see. By mid-November, the beautiful Tateyama mountain range will be covered in even deeper snow, and the full Tateyama season will finally begin
According to the three-month forecast released by the Japan Meteorological Agency on October 21, 2025, temperatures in the area where Mt. Tateyama is located in November will be normal or slightly higher than normal, and precipitation (which will turn into snow in higher altitudes) will be slightly higher than normal in December. When will the best time to enjoy the bounty of fresh powder snow at the start of the Tateyama season be?
The charm of the first skiing trip to Tateyama in November
The Tateyama mountain range, with its series of mountains reaching heights of around 3,000 meters, receives an astonishing amount of snowfall. Snow clouds rising from the Sea of Japan bring abundant snowfall to the area, and Murododaira has even created a tourist attraction called "Snow Valley," where snow piles up to a height of 15-20 meters
Due to the heavy snowfall, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which connects Toyama with Omachi in Nagano Prefecture, is closed every year from December 1st to mid-April. As a result, the only time you can ski is from the end of November, when the snow starts to fall, to mid-April to late June, when the Alpine Route begins operating in the spring
Even in spring, snowfall occurs occasionally at altitudes of 3,000 meters, and powder snow can be enjoyed even in April. In May, when the snow settles, the area becomes a mecca for spring skiing, attracting many skiers
View of the Tateyama ridgeline (mountains Oyama, Oonamiyama, Fuji no Oritate, Masagodake, Betsuyama, etc.) from Raichozawa Campsite
When snow first starts falling in November, it can be difficult to find the right time to enjoy skiing, but once the snow has covered the rocks and vegetation, you can enjoy the finest powder snow. The peak skiing season is usually around the week from around Labor Thanksgiving Day until the end of the month
The snow on Mt. Tateyama in November can be described as the best powder. The snow that falls at an altitude of 3,000 meters is extremely light and dry. It's so light that it flies away when the wind blows. When it accumulates properly, you can enjoy a floating, non-resistance skiing experience. Many skiers come to the mountain at this time of year, hoping for snow that will pile up without being blown away, but in November the balance between snowfall and accumulation is unstable, and there are often cases of what is known as "unsettled snow," and avalanches are not uncommon. Please be careful
Access to Mt. Tateyama
Tateyama can be accessed from either Tateyama Station on the Toyama Prefecture side or Ogizawa Bus Terminal on the Nagano Prefecture side, both via the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.
●From Toyama Prefecture: Approximately 40 minutes from Hokuriku Expressway "Tateyama IC", approximately 1 hour from Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route "Tateyama Station" ●From Nagano Prefecture: Approximately 40 minutes from Nagano Expressway "Toyoshina IC", approximately 1 hour from Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route "Ogizawa Station"
*However, access from Tateyama Town (Toyama Prefecture) is easier, but be aware that in November, buses may be suspended due to snowfall, making it impossible to enter or descend the mountain. *Check here for daily information on the operation status of transportation on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (Tateyama Station to Ogizawa) and the availability of parking spaces at Tateyama and Ogizawa parking lots!
