Kurobe Dam

Kurobe Dam is an engineering marvel and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Japanese Alps. Completed in 1963 after seven years of grueling construction that claimed 171 lives, the dam stands 186 meters tall, making it the tallest dam in Japan. Nicknamed Kuroyon, the dam holds back the emerald waters of Lake Kurobe in a breathtaking alpine setting surrounded by peaks exceeding 3,000 meters. From June to October, the dam performs spectacular water releases that send 10 tons of water per second cascading down the face, creating rainbow mists in the sunlight. The dam is a key stop along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, a scenic mountain crossing that uses a series of cable cars, ropeways, and trolleybuses. Visitors can walk across the dam's crest and enjoy panoramic views from the observation deck and the adjacent rest house.