Kurobe Gorge Railway – When I thought that Tateyama Alpine Route was the only foreign term I would hear from hubby, he suddenly blurted out about Kurobe Gorge Railway. So, I had to learn more about it and decided to add both to our Nagoya itinerary.
And now, everything was history, and we’re glad we also included it on our recent Japan trip!
If you’re here for the first time, I’d like to invite you to follow me on my socials – Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok so you’re updated on our recent food, hotel, and travel reviews!
Kurobe Gorge from Nagoya
It’s fairly easy to get to Kurobe Gorge from Nagoya. All you need is to ride the Hokuriku shinkansen and get off at Kurobe Unazuki Onsen station, and then transfer to a local train.
Ride the Toyama Chiho Railway and get off at Unazuki Onsen Station.
The travel is about 4 to 5 hours – so if you want to save time, better to spend a night or 2 at Toyama instead. In our case, we stayed for 2 nights at Toyama Manten Hotel because we also went to Tateyama Alpine Route also.
Why should you add the Kurobe Gorge Railway to your Nagoya itinerary
I’m sure that Kurobe Gorge Railway autumn is the best view, because you’ll witness the vibrant autumn leaves. However, the view was just as beautiful even before the color change in leaves. We didn’t witness the stunning orange hue of the leaves, but we did enjoy our train ride and the cool breeze that slapped our faces during the trip.
The train ride
The Kurobe Gorge Railway map isn’t as long as that of Tateyama Alpine Route – of course, since the Tateyama Route has many transfers, in Kurobe Gorge Toyama, you’re just going to ride the same train back and forth.
Once you reach the end of the road, the train will stop and let you go down for a few minutes. It’s nice to stretch and take some photos and souvenirs, then be back on the tracks once more to return to Unazuki Onsen station.
The scenery
There aren’t many Kurobe Gorge train reviews out there yet, so it’s still underrated. Many people don’t think about visiting it yet, but did you know that there’s so much to see while riding its railway?
The major spot is the Shin-Yamabiko bridge was once used to transport construction materials to the power station.
And if it isn’t enough, you’ll also catch a glimpse of the Unazuki dam, the newest dam in Kurobe Gorge. I love how green the water is beneath the bright red Komen Bridge. The relaxation it brings adds to the train vibrations and sounds while you’re passing by.
Different experience
I’m sure you’ve already ridden a train at least once, but Kurobe Gorge Railway offers a different experience from others. The long ride in that open railway removes all your stresses and makes you one with nature.
I love that you see trees, bodies of water, and sometimes animals in every part of the way. Though we didn’t see one, other tourists saw a monkey crossing the bridge, so if you’re lucky, you might see one!
Enjoy onsen in the area
At Unazuki Onsen station, there’s a public footbath onsen where you can dip your tired feet for FREE! However, if you want a more extensive onsen, you can check out some of the ryokans in the area before you leave.
There are daytime baths you can use for a price nearby, so if you want more than a foot bath, you can check them out as well!
Kurobe Gorge Railway ticket price
We usually check whether we can buy tickets online because more often they are cheaper when bought in advanced. Upon checking Kurobe Gorge Railway tickets, I learned that you could reserve slots online.
So, while we weren’t sure about the time, we booked online.
Types of seats
When choosing the dates, I found there are 2 types of train you can ride.
Either you ride the open air benches, or you can choose an enclosed train, which is the more comfortable one (of course, it pricier). But in my opinion, I’d rather choose the open air benches because I also want the full experience of the ride.
An untoward incident happens…
I calculated the time we should leave the Toyama Manten Hotel so we could catch the train to get to Kurobe Gorge Railway on time. I have reserved 10:30 AM. However, as always, our normal walking time isn’t as fast as how the Japanese walk.
In the end, the train departed 15 seconds before we reached the station!
Uh oh…
I talked to the station staff about how we could catch our reserved time. She advised we could still reach the area if we ride the cab.
But it isn’t the best choice for us since you know how pricey cabs can be. So I tried my luck and cancelled our reservation before the exact time. I was afraid we would waste money on the advance reservation.
We rode the next train, wishing that the cancellation would push through. So when we arrived the area, and waiting for the next schedule – I finally received an email confirmation that our cancellation was approved, and that we just have to wait for the bank to reimburse the payment.
Whew! God really is good!
Kurobe Gorge Railway reviews conclusion
I want to make sure to cover what you need to know before you go in this Kurobe Gorge Railway 2025 review. It wasn’t even autumn yet when we visited, so we had that chilly weather, but it’s sad we missed to orange hue of the place.
I hope we could go back there again in the future in a different season, so I could take lots of Kurobe Gorge Railway photos with an even more splendid view!
If you’re here for the first time, I’d like to invite you to follow me on my socials – Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok so you’re updated on our recent food, hotel, and travel reviews!
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Other things to do in Toyama
When you’re already in Toyama, you should not forget to visit other nearby places to make your travel worthwhile. I’m sure you’re just as excited as I am, so let’s not prolong this introduction anymore!
Tateyama Alpine Route
Yesterday, we went to Tateyama Alpine Route – except that it didn’t have the snow wall we’ve been eyeing. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the different transfers, the views, and the final place we walked into.
Learn more about my Tateyama Alpine Route review here.
Kanazawa tour
Kanazawa is just an hour away from Toyama, and you just have to ride the Hokuriku Expressway to get there. And the best way to enjoy the day without worries is by booking this tour!
Toyama Pass
I love budget passes! Because who doesn’t want value for their money, right?
If you haven’t researched much about what to to in Toyama, then you can check this one out! It has lots of suggestions for you and it’s valid for 7 days, so you don’t have to cram the 3 activities you have chosen for the 1,056 PHP (17.85 USD or 2,795.66 JPY).
