July 2003 Kurobe Dam Tour (Kurobe Dam - Uchimura Dam)

The time required is taken as a rough estimate, but it may vary considerably since it ignores the time spent in the area. Please consider it as a guide only.
*Touring the dam can be dangerous. Please follow the instructions of road signs and on-site information signs. This site assumes no responsibility for any problems that may occur during the dam tour.

Comment

This time, since the Kurobe Dam is the main attraction, we had to move around it, and it was quite a difficult plan. Also, we did not actually visit the TEPCO Museum. This itinerary is only a schedule and may differ from the actual schedule.

First, as for access to "Kurobe Dam," there is a way to use Route 147 from the Toyoshina IC, but the staff at the interchange told us that it is better to use the North Alps Panorama Road, so we took that route. We then arrived at Ogisawa via the Omachi Alpine Line. Kurobe Dam is very crowded during the high season, and neither the trolley bus nor the Garbe could make it on time.

Therefore, we passed by the TEPCO building due to time constraints. From the TEPCO building, a free tour bus to Takase Dam, which we could not visit this time, is available, so please take this time into consideration when you visit Takase Dam. However, it is recommended to take a cab rather than a bus, because you can visit the dam halfway freely. Incidentally, you can get to Takase Dam from well before the dam site (about an hour's walk?). Private vehicles are not allowed to enter the dam site.

After passing through the TEPCO Museum, we went to the "Omachi Dam. This area is full of monkeys. Watch them from a distance so as not to irritate or feed them. Further into the Omachi Dam, you will come to Nanakura Dam.

After Nanakura Dam, we headed south again along the North Alps Panorama Line to Kakeyu Onsenkyo (hot spring village), where we decided to stay this time, stopping at the "Daio Wasabi Farm" on the way. I highly recommend this farm, which not only produces wasabi, but is also a tourist attraction, and it is free of charge. After the Daio Wasabi Farm, head to the "Uchimura Dam" via the Misayama Tunnel (toll fee).

Nagano is full of sights to see, and there are many dams that we didn't get to visit. You can plan many variations of your trip, depending on whether you want to focus mainly on dams or other sightseeing.

Reference Schedule

Recommended accommodations for this drive