Kurobe Gorge is a beautiful natural attraction located in the forest of the northern Japanese Alps, cut through by the Kurobe River, and is considered one of the deepest gorges in Japan. It features steep cliffs, lush dense forest, and open-air hot springs, making it a famous destination for nature-loving travelers.
The best way to explore Kurobe Gorge is to ride the Kurobe Gorge Railway, which was originally built to carry materials for hydroelectric power development on the Kurobe River, the same river as the Kurobe Dam. It's now open for tourists to use. This winding railway line is about 20 kilometers long.
The Kurobe Gorge Railway has 4 stations in total, starting at Unazuki Station, then continuing to Kuronagi Station and Kanetsuri Station, before ending at Keyakidaira Station. The whole journey takes about 80 minutes. Along the way, the train crosses 20 bridges and passes through more than 40 tunnels, giving passengers beautiful views of the gorge below. The train stops at every station, so you can get off and explore along the way.
Note: Until September 30, 2026, trains do not run between Nekomata and Keyakidaira because of earthquake repair work. The full line is planned to reopen on October 1, 2026.
This train operates from May 28 to November 30, and is most popular in autumn (mid-October to mid-November), when the trees along the gorge slopes beside the railway turn beautiful shades of bright orange, yellow, and red.
photos by foooomio from flickr.com/photos/foooomio/14894581628(cc by 2.0)
A one-way train ticket costs ¥1,710 for the standard class car, which has a roof but no windows and seats without backrests. You can upgrade to second class, which has enclosed windows and seats with backrests, for an extra ¥370, or to first class, which uses the same type of car as second class but has seats that can be turned to face backward, for an extra ¥570.
The Kurobe Gorge Railway runs 1–3 trains per hour, departing from Unazuki Station from around 7:00 AM until about 3:00 PM, with the last return train from Keyakidaira Station departing at around 5:00 PM.
* Kurobe Gorge is a different route from the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which has the Snow Wall.
** The timetable is subject to change, so please check the schedule again at the train station.