1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Kurobe Gorge, Unazuki Onsen, and Shomyo Falls

In the Northern Japanese Alps lies a small beautiful onsen town sitting at the entrance of an even more amazing sight, Kurobe Gorge, Japan's deepest V-shaped gorge. On this tour you can experience the great natural beauty of Japan and the small-town feel of a popular onsen resort. Your local guide will show you foot baths and healing buddhas, ride on the trolley train across spectacular gorges and, finally, visit Shomyo Falls. City and scenery, bridges and buddhas, trolley trains and quaint walks, fully enjoy a lesser traveled part of Japan in Unazuki Onsen and the Kurobe Gorge!

Highlights

• Experience one of Japan’s most scenic areas – Kurobe Gorge!
• Enjoy walking through the onsen town of Unazuki Onsen.
• Ride the trolley car through the stunning gorges as you go deeper and deeper into the mountains.
• See the tallest waterfall in Japan, described as having one of the most pleasant sounds in the country.

*For those looking to join the tour from Toyama, Nagano and Tokyo, please see the FAQ Section below

NOTE: Due to the 2024 January 1st Noto Earthquake, there was damage to one of the bridges that leads to the final station. For that reason, this tour will be a slightly modified version until the full railway is repaired; this includes the deepest part of the gorge. With repairs are expected not to be complete even in 2026 and due to guest feedback, we've added a trip to the nearby Shomyo Falls: the highest waterfall in Japan.

Review

Description

This tour has two starting points, the first being Kanazawa Station. Your guide will meet you in front of the Information Center near the Shinkansen Ticket Gates. You will have the opportunity to put your belongings in a coin locker at the station as well if you feel the need. Of course, you can store your luggage on the bus if there is enough space.

**NOTE: Depending on availability, we may use public transport to get to and from Unazuki Onsen. This will not affect the itinerary or cost of the tour.

Finally, we arrived at Unazuki Onsen proper. This onsen area was founded just over a hundred years ago and even today it is recognized as having the clearest onsen spring water in all of Japan. The architecture of the town reflects its time period, which was the 1920’s in the Taisho period. This was a time of significant mixing of western and Japanese styles so the buildings give a kind of modern retro feel to them.

Right after coming off the train, we will head on a walk out of the town to get some nice views of the town itself, one of the red bridges and the beautiful valley. There is a small 20-30 minute walk where we will see the stunning valley from all different angles. There are also certain times when the train runs across the bridge and we will wait at one of the observation decks to get the picture!

We will hop on the trolley train to deep inner parts of Kurobe Gorge next. Enjoy the breathtaking views as you feel the air rush through the train car. This is a long ride so make sure to dress for the weather. There is a roof on the carriage, but it is not 100% effective at keeping all the rain out. The train will take about an hour and forty minutes in total, including one stop where you can get off and walk around the station area shortly. The train is on a shortened version currently, running between only Unazuki and Nekomata Station. Even now you can still see the deepest gorge in Japan, beautiful waterfalls and lakes and other interesting sights throughout.

The long spectacular train ride will eventually come to an end and next we will some time for you to explore and get a feel for the onsen water’s quality with one of the town’s covered foot baths. A Buddha statue where you pour onsen water over the part of him that you want to be “healed” is also a fun activity to try out. At the far end of Unazuki Onsen is the Omokage Observation Deck , an unusually shaped lookout. You can see the town and valley from a different angle with the nice river running right below. This will also be time for lunch. There are plenty of options in and around the station so feel free to ask your guide for recommendations. Afterwards, we will return to the bus to head to Shomyo Falls; the last activity of the day.

As we go through the highway, we'll eventually transition to more narrow and traditional road used by pilgrims to start their journey up the mountains. We'll head a little deeper into the mountain valley to reach our final stop: Shomyo Falls.

There is a short hiking trail up to the base of the falls. The 350m waterfalls were first formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago, which carved the path of the valley. In spring and early summer, the melting snow from the mountaintop pushes the waterfall to its peak and also forms the Hannoki Falls, directly facing the Shomyo Falls.

Shomyo literally means "chanting scripture" and the sound of the waterfall's four drops is said to be one of the most beautiful in Japan. Ancient pilgrims thought the noise sounded like monks chanting in a temple. You'll have to decide for yourself if you agree, but it is undeniable that the sound of the waterfall and the feel of the spray is relaxing. Especially against the heat of the Japanese summer!

It is finally time to go home so we will head back to the bus and begin our journey back. Feel free to kick back and relax if you like, but this is also a great time to ask your guide any questions about the next stage of your Japan trip. They'll be happy to answer all of your questions as best they can! Once back in Kanazawa, it's time to say our goodbyes!

Meetup Points

KANAZAWA STATION @ 08:00

The meetup point is outside of the Shinkansen ticket gates, in front of the information center. If you are heading out from the gates, look forward and to the right and you will see three large sumo wrestlers lined up. This is where we will be meeting. For those coming from outside the station, you will find this sign immediately inside of the East Entrance of Kanazawa Station. You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 8:00 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag.

Notes

Tour Availability Disclaimer

All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.

Included

• English speaking guide throughout the tour
• Bus transportation to and from Unazuki Onsen.
• Shinkansen train tickets from Kanazawa Station to Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen Station.
• Train tickets to and from Shin-Kurobe Station to Unazuki Onsen Station if necessary.
• Trolley train tickets to and from Unazuki Onsen Station and Nekomata Station

Excluded

• Lunch (bento)
• Accommodation
• Transportation to start point

Other Information

• This tour involves several hours of walking in the outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or rain coat if necessary.
• In winter the temperatures will be below 10℃ at the high , and in the morning and evening may be close to or below 0℃. Please wear warm clothing and footwear appropriate for snowy and cold conditions. There may also be snow and ice on the road/sidewalk, and so you should take care to not slip by preparing the correct shoes for such conditions.
• There will be free time along the way for guests to enjoy the locations at their own pace. However, please make sure that you are at the respective meetup points at the time stated by your guide. If you get lost or need assistance, feel free to call the number which is listed on your tour pass, and our staff will assist you immediately.
• If you have special dietary needs, it is advised that you either bring a bento from your hotel or buy one ahead of time. The area around Unazuki Onsen Station may not have the specifics of what you require. There is a convenience store in the town, though.