Snow Valley
| Toyama | Snow Valley | Mount Tateyama | Kurobe Dam | Matsumoto Castle |
The Yuki-Tani (Snow Valley) is a man-made valley dug out of the snow along part of the Japan Alps route from Toyama to Matsumoto (this is the start and end points that “When Japan” recommends).
| The Good | The Not-So Good |
| A unique experience | It is technically artificial |
| Included in the Japan Alps trip | Food at the top is average |
| Only April – June (Best May/June) |
Walking down the Snow Valley 
View from the bus station
Getting to the Snow Valley
The snow valley was one place “When Japan” wanted to visit since before coming to settle in Japan. The timing of the visit (best time is May or early June – depending on how cold you like it) was always difficult but eventually “When Japan” made in early June, just as temperatures were comfortable during the day but the valley walls were still high.
“When Japan” recommends (although this is the only way you can get there anyway) doing to the Snow Valley as part of the Alpine Route tour that starts in Toyama City and ends in Matsumoto Castle. From the map below, you can see there is a Shinkansen which will get you from Tokyo to Toyama in 2 hours. See the Alpine Route or Toyama City article for more details.
How is the valley made?
It is not natural. See this video for and also this webpage (Japanese). The route is opened up after winter (from April) in order to allow access over the Japanese Alps for tourists and skiers.
