On the ‘Roof of Japan,’ an otherworldly 17-meter-deep snow corridor

One of the world’s wildest mountain drives, Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in Japan has reopened to tourists for another season.

Stretching across the Toyama and Nagano prefectures north of Tokyo, the 90-kilometer sightseeing route – dubbed the “Roof of Japan” – offers incredible views of the 3,015-meter Mt. Tateyama and 2,478-meter Mt. Akazawa-dake peaks, while providing access to everything from Japan’s highest altitude hot spring to the country’s highest waterfall.

But the route’s biggest attraction when you travel here is the unbelievable Snow Wall Walk, located along the pathway in Yuki no Otani (or Great Valley of Snow).

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: The 90-kilometer sightseeing route, which stretches along the Japan Alps, opens every April to November. Its biggest attraction is the impressive Snow Wall Walk.

Snow Wall Walk: The stunning snow corridor in Yuki no Otani (or Great Valley of Snow), near Murodo station, is flanked with snow walls that rise as high as 17 meters.

Snow corridor: The otherworldly pathway is the result of months of strenuous work by snowplow drivers. Workers began removing snow from the roadway in January.

A seasonal attraction: The walk takes around 50 minutes to complete and stays open until June 22. The wall starts to recede as the weather warms in June.

A popular checkpoint: Local officials expect more than 5,000 visitors daily in April and May.

More snowy fun: Other highlights along the Snow Wall Walk include Panorama Road (with views of the Tateyama peaks), a snow hut, a snow maze (pictured and a snow slide.

The long road: The entire Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, stretching from Tateyama Station in Toyama Prefecture to Ogizawa Station in Nagano Prefecture, can easily take more than six hours to drive.

Accommodations: There are multiple accommodations available along the route. Some hotels will arrange activities like star-gazing and bird-watching.

Public transportation only: Private cars are prohibited. Visitors can only use local public transportation, while trek is allowed only in designated areas.

Want to avoid the crowd? For visitors hoping to avoid the crowds, it's advised to visit in June, when the wall will still be standing higher than 10 meters and the weather will be warmer.

'Roof of Japan': Giant snow corridor opens to visitors

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The corridor features walls of snow that tower as high as 17 meters over the road, the result of months of strenuous work by snowplow truck drivers.

The walk takes around 50 minutes and stays open until June 22, when the walls recede as the weather warms. It’s expected the route will receive more than 5,000 visitors daily in April and May.

Other highlights along the Snow Wall Walk include Panorama Road (which offers views of the Tateyama peaks), a snow hut, snow maze and a snow slide – each with different opening periods.

The Snow Wall Walk may close during adverse weather condition. Visitors should check the official website, Alpen-route.com, before making the journey.

Other beautiful treks

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, with an elevation of 2,400 meters, is called the "Roof of Japan."

The entire Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route can easily take more than six hours to drive. The starting points are Tateyama Station in the west or Ogizawa Station in the east, while the Great Valley of Snow can be accessed from Murodo station, which at 2,450 meters high is the highest station of the route.

Travelers can opt to stay a night or two in one of the mountain accommodations on offer. Information on accommodations and baggage delivery service can be found on the official website, too.

As private cars are prohibited, visitors must use local public transportation – including a tunnel trolley bus and Japan’s longest supported ropeway cable car – and trek along designated areas.

Some of the most scenic trekking routes include Bijodaira, a primeval forest that’s home to 1,000-year-old cedars and beech trees, and Murodo (near the Snow Wall Walk), where visitors can find the photogenic volcanic crater lakes of Mikurigaike and the oldest mountain hut in Japan.

Keen mountaineers can attempt one of the summits of Mt Tateyama, which offer views as far as Mt Fuji on a clear day.

These trails are especially popular among visitors during the fall thanks to Mt Tateyama’s vibrant fall colors.

Travelers visiting the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route are advised to wear winter clothing and gear suitable for trekking or mountaineering.

There are a variety of ways to access the area, with regular trains making the journey from Tokyo to Tateyama Station, though travelers will need to change trains in Toyama. More info on travel options can be found on the Alpen-route.com website.

CNN’s Junko Ogura contributed to this story.