Unazuki Onsen and Kurobe Gorge Trolley Model Course

Based in Unazuki Onsen, one of the finest hot spring towns in Toyama, this day course rides a trolley train into a gorge lined with cliffs. You savor both ravine scenery and famous baths at once. Note that the Kurobe Gorge Railway had a suspended section for a long time due to disaster damage, but full operation from Unazuki to Keyakidaira resumed on October 1, 2026. Boarding is now possible at four stations - Unazuki, Kuronagi, Kanetsuri and Keyakidaira - and Nekomata, the temporary turnaround point, no longer accepts passengers.

Course Route

9:00 Start at Unazuki Onsen Stroll the hot spring town spread along the clear Kurobe River to begin your journey.

9:30 Board the trolley train Climb aboard the red trolley at Unazuki Station of the Kurobe Gorge Railway. The open windowless ordinary cars are the signature ride.

10:00 View the Yamabiko bridges Cross the vermilion iron bridges as the deep valley and emerald green dam lake come into view.

11:00 Stop at Kanetsuri Station Gaze at riverside baths and perennial snow to feel the depth of the gorge. From Unazuki to Kanetsuri is roughly a little over one hour one way.

12:30 Reach the terminus Keyakidaira Unazuki to Keyakidaira takes about one hour and 16 minutes one way (departing Unazuki 8:17, arriving Keyakidaira 9:33). In 2026, however, you cannot walk around Keyakidaira. The Kurobe Gorge Railway states that "due to the effect of restoration work on the slope and retaining wall downstream of Keyakidaira Station, you may not proceed beyond Keyakidaira Station and the Visitor Center," so Okane Bridge, Hitokui Iwa, Sarutobikyo Gorge and the Meiken Onsen area are all off limits. The number of passengers accepted for Keyakidaira is also limited. Treat Keyakidaira as a place you reach, view the gorge from the station, and turn back.

16:00 Bath hopping in Unazuki Back in town, warm your chilled body in the springs and ease the day's fatigue.

Highlights

Fresh greenery and autumn leaves seen from the trolley, the emerald green dam lake, and the sheer cliffs of Keyakidaira are the trip highlights.

Practical Travel Notes

• Operating status (check first): Full operation resumed with the first train from Unazuki on Thursday 1 October 2026, so you can now ride all the way from Unazuki to Keyakidaira. Boarding is limited to four stations - Unazuki, Kuronagi, Kanetsuri and Keyakidaira - and Nekomata, the temporary turnaround point, no longer accepts passengers. The railway also announces that the Unazuki to Sasadaira shuttle from 1 to 6 December 2026 is taken by telephone only. Always confirm the latest schedule on the official site.
• Fare guide: The one-way official fares are 1,780 yen for adults from Unazuki to Kanetsuri and 2,480 yen from Unazuki to Keyakidaira. Please check the official site for the latest fares.
• Time needed: Unazuki to Keyakidaira is about one hour twenty minutes one way. With stopovers it becomes a half-day to full-day outing.
• Access: From Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, reach Unazuki Onsen via Shin-Kurobe Station on the Toyama Chitetsu line. Unazuki Station, the trolley terminus, is right by the hot spring town.
• Reservations: The trolley is fully reserved seating. Booking online ahead is recommended in peak periods.
• Clothing and crowds: Tunnels and the gorge feel chilly, so a jacket is reassuring. The fresh-green and autumn-leaf seasons are busy, so an early departure gives a calmer ride.

A Quick Tip

The open windowless ordinary cars are full of thrills but cold. Bring a jacket, and enjoy how the scenery looks different on the way up and down.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Reservations: Reservations are taken by telephone or through the online ticket booking site. Bookings open 3 months before the date of travel and close at 15:00 the day before (for fiscal 2026, trains to Keyakidaira are handled by telephone only)
• Choosing a carriage: The ordinary open-sided carriages, which have no windows, carry no extra charge. The "Relax Carriage," which has windows and roomier seats, requires a separate carriage ticket costing 600 yen each way
• Parking (in front of Unazuki Station): A paid parking lot with room for about 350 vehicles. Ordinary cars pay 1,000 yen for up to 6 hours from the time of parking
• Unazuki Onsen public bathhouse "Yumedokoro Unazuki": 9:00 to 22:00 (last reception 21:00); bathing costs 510 yen for high school students and older, 250 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and is free of charge for children below elementary school age. Closed on the 4th Tuesday of every month
• Inquiries: 0765-62-1011 (Kurobe Gorge Railway Customer Center / 9:00 to 16:30), 0765-62-1126 (Yumedokoro Unazuki)
• Official information: Official website of the Kurobe Gorge Railway / "Kurobe Meguri," the official website of the Kurobe and Unazuki Onsen Tourism Bureau

* The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Times and fees are subject to change, so please check official information before you set out.