Autumn colors have come to the Mount Tateyama range, especially along the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route used by sightseeing buses. (Video footage by Masahiro Hirano)

Changing autumnal foliage is drawing hordes of visitors to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, whose heavily forested hillsides are now ablaze in a panorama of hues.

The route, which connects Toyama and Nagano prefectures, is a major tourist attraction also in early spring when a huge snow wall is created on both sides of the road.

Tateyama Kurobe Kanko, the operator of the route, said the Mount Tateyama range began its annual transition in shades from late September and now is the perfect time to view the reds and yellows of Japanese rowan and Erman’s birch around the area called Nanamagari due to consecutive curves in the road.

Packed sightseeing buses are now a common sight in the area.

The autumn sight can be enjoyed until early November as trees at lower altitudes gradually change color.