Unazuki Station
Unazuki Station is a small station and terminus of the Kurobe Gorge Railway. Located in Unazuki Onsen, the station is a brief walk from Unazuki Onsen Station – the terminus of the Toyama Chiho Railway – and point from where the Kurobe Gorge Railway operates. On this page you will find the following information:
— Accommodation Nearby the Station
— 25 Things to Do Around Toyama & Where to Stay
— Book a Private Charter or Tour
As a hot spring town, visitors have many accommodation options located around the station with the main attraction being the nearby Kurobe Gorge using the Kurobe Gorge Railway. There is plenty of accommodation in the area, ranging from large hotels to smaller, traditional ‘onsen’ (hot spring guesthouses).
Many if not most visitors heading to Kurobe Gorge will do so from nearby Toyama City. A stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line running from Kanazawa to Tokyo, Toyama is a convenient point from where to explore the region including the Tateyama-Kurobe Route, Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. and the historic old town of Takayama. The city itself is also worth exploring, best-known for its seafood sourced from nearby Toyama Bay. For more suggestions of just what’s on offer including accommodation listings, see ’25 Things to Do Around Toyama & Where to Stay’ below.
GETTING TO UNAZUKI STATION
Most visitors heading to Unazki Station and the Kurobe Gorge will do so using the Toyama Chiho Railway. Operating from Dentetsu Toyama Station – nearby Toyama Station – the Toyama Chiho Railway runs connects the city to similarly named Unazuki Onsen Station while also stopping at Tateyama Station – the western gateway to the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route – and Shin-Kurobe Station. The journey from Dentetsu Toyama Station to Unazuki Onsen Station takes around 100 minutes and costs JPY1800 one-way. Once at Unazuki Onsen Station it’s only a couple of minutes walk to Unazuki Station.
Enroute to Unazki Onsen Station, services also stop at Shin-Kurobe Station. Shin-Kurobe is a small station connected to the larger Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station – a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line running from Kanazawa to Tokyo. Toyama is also a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line allowing you to use that service to Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station and then transfer to the Toyama Chiho Railway. From Shin-Kurobe Station the journey to Unazuki Onsen Station is only 25 to 30 minutes / JPY640.
KUROBE GORGE RAILWAY
The Kurobe Gorge Railway is a narrow-gauge rail line running along the beautiful Kurobe Gorge from Unazuki Station to Keyakidaira. Along the 20km track, the line passes over more than 20 bridges and through 40 tunnels stopping at: Unazuki / Kuronagi / Sasadaira* / Kanetsuri / Keyakidaira. From Unazuki Station, the following stops can be reached:
— to Kuronagi: 25 min / JPY660
— to Kanetsuri: 60 min / JPY1410
— to Keyakidaira: 80 min / JPY1980
*Services stop at Sasadaira Station only in April and May. There are also other stations along the line however they are not open to tourist.
Open-air carriages allow visitors an intimate experience of the surrounding landscape with stations along the route allowing access to walk trails, onsen, restaurants and accommodation. The line is open to the public from the second half of April until the end of November. For daily train schedules, refer to our ‘Kurobe Gorge Railway Timetable’ page.
DISCOVER THE KUROBE GORGE
Long known by Japanese for its immense beauty, Kurobe Gorge is quickly emerging as a popular destination for international visitors. Regarded as one of the three most beautiful gorges in Japan, Kurobe is best experienced riding the railway which covers a meandering and winding 20km span in approximately 80 minutes. The open-air carriages allow visitors an intimate experience of the surrounding landscape with stations along the route allowing access to walk trails, onsen, restaurants and accommodation.
The rail line includes several spectacular bridges and truly beautiful hot springs including Kuronagi Onsen and the riverside Kanetsuri Kawara Onsen.
ACCOMMODATION NEARBY THE STATION
Situated at the entrance of the beautiful Kurobe Gorge, Unazuki Onsen is the largest hot spring town in Toyama Prefecture. Home to many guesthouses including traditional ‘ryokan’ and large hotels, the hot springs of Unazuki Onsen are known for the clarity of their water, known to aid healthy and vibrant skin. Located close the coast, the guesthouses of Unazuki Onsen are known for the quality of their seafood and with a local craft beer brewery nearby, this is a great place to stay when wanting to enjoy the best of Toyama. For accommodation and booking options, please refer to our ‘Unazuki Onsen & Kurobe Gorge Area’ hotel page.
25 THINGS TO DO AROUND TOYAMA & WHERE TO STAY
Located nearby Toyama Bay, the city and region are known throughout Japan for its fantastic seafood – best enjoyed at a coastal market or at one of the city’s many restaurants. The city itself is modern and energetic and an ideal launching point from where to access the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route, Takayama and the North Alps. For tips and suggestions of what’s on offer, see our ’25 Things To Do Around Toyama & Where To Stay’ page.
HOW TO GET TO KUROBE GORGE
Whether you’re coming from nearby Toyama or further afield from Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka, Kurobe Gorge is easy to reach thanks to Japan’s fantastic rail network. Our ‘How to Get to Kurobe Gorge’ page has everything you need to know on how to get there from these and other popular staring points.
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