Kurobe Gorge Railway: Scenic Vistas and Hot Springs Await Passengers on this Breathtaking Route
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Rolling Through Lush Panoramas
The Kurobe Gorge in Toyama Prefecture is one of Japan’s top scenic spots. Visitors to the area can enjoy the surrounding beauty in the open-air trains of the Kurobe Gorge Railway. The line runs some 20 kilometers from Unazuki Station at the north end of the gorge to Keyakidaira Station at the south. The trip whisks riders along a route dotted with features like sheer rock faces, towering peaks, and railway bridges hovering tens of meters in the air. Every time the train emerges from a tunnel, an exciting new vista is revealed.
The gorge was carved by the Kurobe River that runs between the Tateyama mountain range, known for peaks like Mount Tsurugi and Mount Yakushi, and the Ushiro Tateyama mountain range, home to Mount Hakuba. The deep, V-shaped valley, with its emerald-green river and dense forests, boasts an elevation difference of 3,000 meters end to end. It is considered to be one of Japan’s “three great gorges”—the other two being Kiyotsu Gorge in Niigata Prefecture and Ōsugidani Gorge in Mie Prefecture.
Passengers on the Kurobe Gorge Railway can choose between open-air cars and enclosed carriages. However, Nishida Yoshihiro of the railway’s public relations department says that the open-air cars are the best way to enjoy the scenery, although he suggests that riders bring a jacket as the many tunnels the train runs through are chilly. Having enjoyed the open air, riders may wish to sit in the more comfortable enclosed cars on the return leg.
From Workhorse to Tourist Train
Unazuki Station has several nearby scenic attractions, including the Yamabiko trail. The walking path takes sightseers across a bridge, from where they can observe trains crossing the Shin-Yamabiko Bridge that spans the valley. Visitors can also enjoy the picturesque scene from the Yamabiko lookout at the far end of the station’s parking area. It is a favorite spot among photographers, who wait patiently to snap a photo of trains emerging onto the bridge from an adjacent tunnel.
Unazuki Station has a food court, cafe, and souvenir shop. There is also a display on the second floor that details the history of the Kurobe Gorge Railway.
The Kurobe Gorge Railway was initially constructed to haul materials for building hydroelectric power plants along the river. But as word spread of the scenic views to be had on the route, it was later repurposed to carry tourists.
There are several hydropower facilities on the Kurobe River, the most famous of which is the Kurobe Dam on the very upper reaches of the waterway past Keyakidaira Station. The first sections of the trainline opened in 1926, but it was not until 1937 that the entire route between Unazuki and Keyakidaira Stations went into operation.
Initially, local resident were able to ride the line free of charge, but as word of the stunning views along the route spread, operators of the railway turned their eyes to the area’s tourism potential. In time, the line began attracting droves of mountain climbers and travelers headed for nearby hot springs. As ridership increased, the railway decided in 1929 to charge fares. However, as the line’s main purpose remained transporting building materials, tickets warned passengers that the railway assumed no responsibility for their safety.
Following World War II, Kansai Electric Power Company took over the running of hydropower plants along the Kurobe River, and in 1953 the line inaugurated regular passenger service. The Kurobe Gorge Railway was set up in 1971 as a KEPCO subsidiary, and over time the line has come to be affectionately known as the “trolley train.”
A Photographers’ Dream
A long stretch on the outward-bound leg of the trip up to Kanetsuri Station has the Kurobe River on the right and mountainous terrain looming up close on the left. The best view can be attainted on the right-hand side of the train, from where passengers can fully take in the scenic panoramas. As a service, the train’s PA system announces upcoming sights. Heading from Unazuki Station to Kuronagi Station, riders can see a suspension bridge built to enable resident macaques to cross from one side of the river to the other. Lucky passengers might even spot monkeys actually using it.
The blue Atobiki Bridge near Kuronagi Station hovers 60 meters above the ground and is the highest span on the route. The bridge takes its name from the Japanese phrase atobiki, meaning to “pull back,” something climbers are purported to do out of fear when staring down from the dizzying height. True to its reputation, the bridge offers a view of a dam aqueduct and steep mountainsides that is breathtaking.
The stretch between Kuronagi Station and Kanetsuri Station features sheer cliffs and fantastical rock formations.
At Kanetsuri Station, the train pulls onto a sidetrack to allow trains coming in the opposite direction to pass before reversing direction and continuing up the narrow valley. A rarity in Japan, the “switchback” maneuver is a must-see operation for railway buffs. Visitors can also walk down to the river, where in the summer months families flock to escape the heat. In one spot along the riverbank, thermal waters gurgle to the surface, and visitors can create their own private outdoor hot spring bath by strategically placing rocks to form a pool.
Stopping Along the Line
There are a number of hot spring hotels and inns and plenty of appealing spots around Keyakidaira Station, the last stop on the line. The views from 34-meter high Okukane Bridge are stunning and the cliff face overhanging the walking trail is a thrilling sight.
The journey to the end of the line is one and a half hours, and the complimentary foot bath at the riverside lookout is a welcome treat. Visitors can also take a break at the visitor center, which has an exhibit on nature in the Kurobe Gorge and the history of development along the route.
The area is known for its heavy snowfalls, forcing the railway to suspend services from December to mid-April. Operation resumes between Unazuki and Sasadaira Stations in mid-April, and the rest of the line operates from May to the end of November. Nishida, the public relations officer, says each season offers visitors distinct attractions, including snowcapped mountains contrasting with the budding spring greenery, cooling waters on the riverbank in summer, and the brilliant colors of the autumn foliage. He encourages visitors to get off the train to explore the sights around the stations at their leisure.
Kurobe Gorge Railway
- Unazuki Station: 11 Kurobekyōkoku-guchi, Kurobe, Toyama Prefecture
- In operation: Unazuki–Keyakidaira, May 1 to November 30; operates between Unazuki and Sasadaira April 20–30
- Fares: Unazuki–Keyakidaira (round trip) adults ¥3,960, children ¥1,980; additional ¥530 for the “relax” car and ¥370 for the premium car
- Timetable: Please visit the official website for information
(Originally published in Japanese. Reporting, text, and photos by Nippon.com. Banner photo: The train crossing Shin-Yamabiko Bridge.)