Lake Kurobe Cruise Boat to Stop Sailing This Season; Draws Tourists with Commemorative Event

TATEYAMA, Toyama — In preparation for the end of the Garve sightseeing boat service later this year, a commemorative event was held on August 11 on Lake Kurobe in Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture.

The event was blessed with good weather and attracted many tourists, who took a souvenir photo in the wheelhouse and received cards with a button pin as part of the “Last Year Campaign”. Primary school children accompanied by an adult were allowed on board the boat for free.

A 38-year-old office worker from Hanyu, Saitama Prefecture, who was on vacation there, said: “I was overwhelmed by the nature here. The color of the lake was beautiful and the cruise was pleasant.”

The tour has given visitors the opportunity to enjoy Kurobe’s beautiful scenery while gazing out over the Northern Alps since the original tour boat, Kurobemaru, debuted in 1969, according to Kanden Amenix Co. Due to a decline in passenger numbers and the ship’s aging, the Garve is expected to cease operations on Nov. 10.