Kurobe Gorge Railway Guide 2026: Torokko Train & Unazuki Onsen

The Kurobe Gorge is one of the deepest ravines in Japan, and the most enjoyable way into it is a narrow-gauge open-sided sightseeing train — the torokko — built to construct and service the great upstream dams and now carrying visitors along a river of extraordinary turquoise between sheer forested walls. At the gorge mouth sits Unazuki Onsen, a small hot-spring town that makes the natural base. This guide explains the ride, the important 2026 changes to the line, the onsen town and how to plan two unhurried days.

At a glance: 2 days · the railway runs roughly late April to end-November · Unazuki–Nekomata torokko round trip about ¥2,820 (2026) · for travellers who like scenery, slow trains and hot springs · the open cars are cool even in summer, so bring a layer.

Important: the 2026 route is shortened

Before you plan, know this: the Kurobe Gorge railway is truncated in 2026 and does not reach its former terminus at Keyakidaira. Damage from the 2024 Noto earthquake and subsequent rockfall repair work have severed the upper line, so for most of the 2026 season the torokko runs only from Unazuki up to Nekomata, a turnaround deep in the gorge, as an out-and-back ride of about two hours. The stops beyond — Kanetsuri and Keyakidaira, and the Sarutobikyo gorge reached on foot from there — are closed. An autumn extension was under review at the time of writing, with a decision expected by early July 2026, so check the latest operating notice before you travel. The confirmed Unazuki–Nekomata stretch still delivers the gorge’s best scenery; this guide is built around it.

Riding the torokko

The torokko is the reason most people come. Tiny open-sided carriages climb the ravine across dizzying bridges and through rough-hewn tunnels above the turquoise river, past dam reservoirs and glimpses of riverside hot springs. Even on the shortened run to Nekomata you get the V-shaped valley at its most dramatic, the famous arch of the Atobiki Bridge, and the steep green walls closing in far from any road. The Unazuki–Nekomata round trip costs around ¥2,820 for an adult (approx., 2026); reserve ahead, especially during the autumn foliage when seats are scarce. Standard open cars have no glass, so the ride is breezy and cool even in midsummer — carry something warm.

Unazuki Onsen

Unazuki Onsen is the hot-spring town at the gorge mouth and the obvious place to stay. Its compact streets cluster above the station, fed by clear, alkaline water piped seven kilometres down from springs upstream, with a free public footbath in the square and casual eateries good for soba, simmered dishes and Toyama’s dark, soy-rich black ramen. The classic walk here is the Yamabiko Bridge and its riverside promenade: the old railway bridge, now a footpath, looks straight across at the red span where the torokko trains cross high above the water — the single best photograph of the gorge, free to anyone on foot. The path continues a few hundred metres past a small observation point, the rock close and the river loud below.

Where to sleep

The town’s ryokan are part of the appeal. Enraku is Unazuki’s most refined inn, set on the riverside with baths that look directly into the gorge and a kaiseki dinner built on Toyama Bay seafood and mountain vegetables; soaking in the open-air bath as dusk settles over the Kurobe, in water said to leave skin notably smooth, is the heart of an Unazuki stay. There are simpler and larger options too, but for a gorge trip the river-view ryokan is the right indulgence — good food, hot water, and the torokko terminal a short walk away for the morning.

A suggested two days

Two days is the relaxed way to do the gorge: arrive and settle into the onsen, then ride the torokko fresh the next morning. Day one reaches Unazuki, walks the Yamabiko Bridge promenade, soaks in the town’s alkaline water and sleeps at a riverside ryokan; day two takes the open-car train up the ravine to Nekomata and back, with a last lunch in the onsen town before the journey on. That is exactly the shape of our Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen itinerary, written around the confirmed 2026 route. If you are also crossing the high mountains, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route lies just to the south — see our Alpine Route guide to combine the two.

Beyond the train

The torokko is the headline, but the onsen town gives you reasons to slow down for a second day. Unazuki is known for its soft, smooth onsen-water tofu and for sweets and pickles made with the spring water, so the local eateries and shops are worth a browse. Near the station, a small free museum tells the story of the Kurobe River’s hydroelectric development — the dams and tunnels the torokko was built to serve — which adds real context to the gorge you have just ridden through. And the riverside promenades around the Yamabiko Bridge make easy walks at any pace, with the green water below and the trains rattling across the red span above. There is also a small modern art museum in town for a rainy hour, and the public footbath in the square is a pleasant place to rest tired feet between walks. None of it is rushed, which is the whole point of basing yourself in the town rather than treating the gorge as a day trip — the onsen and the railway together make a fuller, gentler experience than either would alone.

Getting there

Unazuki Onsen is reached by the Toyama Chiho Railway, about 25 minutes from Shin-Kurobe, the Shinkansen station on the Hokuriku line. The gorge railway’s own Unazuki Station sits right beside the onsen tram stop, so the connection is easy. Drive times are short within the area, but the gorge itself is accessible only by the torokko — there is no road up the ravine, which is part of why it stays so wild.

FAQ

Is the Kurobe Gorge railway running in 2026? Yes, but on a shortened route. Earthquake and rockfall repairs mean the torokko runs only from Unazuki to Nekomata for most of the 2026 season, not all the way to Keyakidaira. The confirmed stretch still shows the gorge’s best scenery; check the official operating notice before travelling, as an autumn extension was under review.

How long is the Kurobe Gorge torokko ride? The Unazuki–Nekomata round trip takes about two hours including the turnaround. The full original run to Keyakidaira was longer, but that section is closed for repairs in 2026.

Where should you stay near the Kurobe Gorge? Unazuki Onsen, the hot-spring town at the gorge mouth, is the natural base, with ryokan ranging from refined riverside inns like Enraku to larger hotels. Staying overnight lets you ride the torokko fresh in the morning and enjoy the town’s alkaline hot springs.

Do you need to reserve the torokko train? Reserving ahead is wise, and essential during the autumn foliage peak when the open cars fill quickly. Book through the gorge railway, and aim for an earlier departure to give yourself time at the turnaround and back.

When is the best time to visit the Kurobe Gorge? The railway runs roughly late April to the end of November. Fresh green in late spring and the crimson foliage of late October to early November are the most beautiful windows; the line is closed entirely in winter.

Plan your trip

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