Let’s check the highlights before getting on Trokko in Kurobe Gorge! I will introduce 8 popular spots along the Kurobe Gorge Railway line.

Kurobe gorge is the Hida Mountains (commonly known as North Alps) that across 4 prefectures of Toyama, Gifu, Nagano and Niigata. Among them, Kurobe gorge is the most precipitous large V-shaped valley in Japan which flow from the middle to the upper stream of Kurobe river to the east of Toyama prefecture,

In Kurobe gorge, Torokko (the trolley train) is running. “Trokko” is a freight car that carries soils and stones from construction sites and English truck is its word origin.

Kurobe Gorge Railway

Trokko in Kurobe gorge originally operated as a work train that transport construction materials for Kurobe dam since 1923. From 1953, it started to operate as a passenger train. There are total of 10 stations on the railway line, however the station you can get on and off are only four that are the first “Unazuki station”, “Kuronagi station”, “Kanetsuri Station” and the last “Keyakidaira station”. Other stations are just passing by because those stations are for people who are related to power plant and dam get on and off. The travel distance from Unazuki station to Keyakidaira station is 20.1km and it takes approximately 1 hour and 20 mins for one way. You will go through 41 tunnels and cross 21 bridges.

There are two types of passenger cars. One is an open car with a simple rain shelter and the other one is a luxury car with a roof and glass windows.

Shin-Yamabiko bridge

The red iron bridge that the train will across first when you depart from Unazuki station is “Shin-Yamabiko bridge (New echo bridge)”. As the sound of the train become echoes and turn into a hot spring town, this name was given to that bridge. The red bridge just beside is “Yamabiko Bridge” that was used to be a track of Torokko and now it is a part of a promenade. If you check the arrival and departure time of Trokko at Unazuki station, you can shoot Trokko crossing Shin-Yamabiko bridge.

Bridge for Monkeys only

After the dam construction, a bridge for monkeys are made so that monkeys could across over the dam to the other side even if the water is stored. You can see it from the train window.

Unazuki lake

On the lakeside of Unazuki lake, there is a hydraulic power plant made with the impression of the Western castle. There is a station near power plant, but you cannot get on and off because this is a private station for people working at power plant. You can see it from the train window.

Atobiki Bridge

A part of Kuronagi station home is located on the iron bridge “Atobiki Bridge” that crosses Kuronagi river. Atobiki Bridge is a blue color bridge over deep and steep valley that people afraid of. Its height is 60m and length is 64m. Because it is a deep valley that people afraid and step back when they look down the it. So, it was named as “Atobiki Bidge”. Atobiki in Japanese means “step back from something”.

Kurobe Perpetual Snow Observation Deck

As soon as you get off Kanetsuri station, you will find “Kurobe Mannen Yuki Observation Deck (Kurobe Perpetual Snow Observation Deck)”. The snow fell on the mountain on the other side across Kurobe River is lain as avalanche and remain until the next winter’s new snowfall. So, it is called perpetual snow. The amount of snow is heavy every year until around May.

Open-air bath of Kanetsuri hot spring

There is an open-air bath of Kanetsuri hot spring in the river that you walk down from the Kanetsuri station. At there, Kurobe river flows right in front of you. You can enjoy making your own outdoor hot spring because a hot spring wells up from anywhere. But many tourist goes to Kanetsuri hot spring, so most people just enjoy footbath at here.

Sarutobi Gorge

There is “Sarutobi Gorge (Monkey jumping gorge)” where walked about 30 minutes from Keyakidaira station. Sarutobi Gorge has the narrowest river width in Kurobe River and monkeys can also jump to across the river, so it was named as Sarutobi Gorge. It is the typical landscape of Kurobe gorge and its landscape is designated as a place of special scenic beauty and special natural monuments.

People-eating Crag

Finally, get off at the end point, Keyakidaira station. As soon as you cross Okukane Bridge, there is Hitokui Iwa (People-eating Crag). The projecting rock cliff seems to be opening mouth and try to swallow walkers, so it is called as Hitokui Iwa (People eating Crag). At there, a helmet is prepared for your own safety. If you go further in the direction along Hitokui Iwa from Babadani River, there are “Babadani Jigoku(Babadani Hell)” and “Babadani hot spring”. In Babadani area, steams of hot springs are rising up from the ground everywhere. So, people are afraid to approach there and in Japan, such hot springs are called as “hell”.

Kurobe Route

There is a transportation route between Keyakidaira Station and the Kurobe Dam, called the Kurobe Route, whose entire section (about 18 km) is almost entirely tunneled. This tunnel was excavated for the construction of the Kurobe River No. 4 and No. 3 power plants, and even today, trains and work cable cars (incline) are still in operation to maintain the power generation facilities and transport materials. The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. is organizing a tour of the Kurobe Route to let as many people as possible know about its hydroelectric project.

Access to Kurobe Gorge Railway Unazuki Station

From Tokyo

It takes about 2 hours 30 minutes from JR Tokyo Station to JR Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Station by Hokuriku Shinkansen and get off at JR Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Station. From JR Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen Station to Toyama Chitetsu Shin-Kurobe Station, it takes 5 minute-walk. It takes about 25 minutes from Toyama Chitetsu Shin-Kurobe Station to Toyama Chitetsu Unazuki Onsen Station, get off at Toyama Chitetsu Unazuki Onsen Station and walk about 5 minutes to Kurobe Gorge Railway Unazuki Station.

From Osaka

It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes from JR Shin-Osaka Station to JR Tsuruga Station by JR Tokaido Main Line (limited express). Transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen at JR Tsuruga Station and get to JR Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Station in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.