Kurobe Gorge

Background

Kurobe Gorge lies in Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture, along the middle and upper reaches of the Kurobe River among the peaks of the Northern Alps. The Kurobe River carved this V-shaped gorge through the granite of the Ushiro-Tateyama range; the little train runs along the river past deep valleys, streams and hot springs. Unazuki Onsen at the gorge entrance opened in 1923 and is the gateway to gorge sightseeing. Upstream, the 186-metre Kurobe Dam is the tallest dam in Japan; it belongs to a separate sightseeing route, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which you can plan as a separate trip. The area was designated part of Chubu-Sangaku National Park in 1934. The railway is said to have been built originally to carry materials for hydroelectric development on the Kurobe River, becoming a sightseeing train only later.

Local customs

• Ride the little train from Unazuki to Keyakidaira, getting off at stations along the way to stroll and look at the gorge and streams
• walk the trails and soak your feet in a foot bath around Keyakidaira
• spend a night at Unazuki Onsen.

Travel tips

• The Kurobe Gorge Railway runs seasonally, generally from mid-April to the end of November
• in winter only parts of the gorge can be reached on foot. Some sections underwent repairs after the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, so check official announcements for operating sections and timetables. Trails around the Shimo-no-Roka are only 20 to 50 centimetres wide and about 500 metres above the riverbed
• they are extremely dangerous and suitable only for experienced mountaineers.
• Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station, transfer to the Toyama Chiho Railway to Unazuki-Onsen Station, then board the Kurobe Gorge Railway into the gorge. The autumn foliage season is the busiest
• spring greenery and summer shade are also good for a train ride. In winter the railway stops and deep snow closes the inner gorge.