How to Get to the Kurobe Gorge Railway
The Kurobe Gorge Railway is accessed via the hot spring town of Unazuki Onsen. To reach Unazuki Onsen, most visitors will ride the Toyama Chiho Railway Main Line to the final stop, Unazuki Onsen Station.
It is important to note that the Kurobe Gorge Railway operates from Unazuki Station, located next to Unazuki Onsen Station.
We hope the following information is helpful in planning your visit:
From Kurobe-Unazukionsen
Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station is the nearest shinkansen station to Kurobe Gorge, and as such, is a convenient hub from which to reach the gorge and railway. It is on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line running from Kanazawa to Tokyo:
Once at Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station, crossover the walkway to Shin-Kurobe Station and transfer to the Toyama Chiho Railway bound for Unazuki Onsen Station.
The journey from Shin-Kurobe Station to Unazuki Onsen Station takes between 20 to 30 minutes and costs JPY640-JPY750 (depending on which service you choose).
Once at Unazuki Onsen Station, simply follow the signs to nearby Unazuki Station and the Kurobe Gorge Railway.
For daily train schedules, please refer to our ‘Hokuriku Shinkansen Timetable’ page.
From Toyama
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Toyama Station to Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station – 12 min / JPY1470 – and once there, follow the directions above to reach the Kurobe Gorge.
From Kanazawa
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Kanazawa Station to Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station – 35 min / JPY3560 – and once there, follow the directions above to reach the Kurobe Gorge.
From the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route
The Alpine Route can be access via two stations – Tateyama Station on the Toyama-side of the mountain range and Ogizawa Station on the Nagano-side.
To access Kurobe Gorge from the Alpine Route, it is best to come down the Toyama-side to Tateyama Station and once there, take the Toyama Chiho Railway Tateyama Line to Terada Station, and once there, transfer to the Toyama Chiho Railway Main Line bound for Unazuki Onsen Station. The journey takes between 120 to 160 minutes depending on which services you choose and costs JPY2140.
Please note, because of the time required for both activities, it is not possible to experience the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route and Kurobe Gorge Railway on the same day. We recommend booking local accommodation and enjoying a multi-day stay in the region.
From Nagano
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Nagano Station to Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station – 45 to 55 min / JPY5940 – and once there, follow the directions above to reach the Kurobe Gorge.
From the Jigokudani Monkey Park
To reach Kurobe Gorge from the Jigokudani Monkey Park takes time but is relatively straight-forward when done via Nagano Station. From the park, you have the option of: 1. a direct express bus from the park to Nagano Station or 2. a local bus to Yudanaka Station followed by an express train to Nagano Station.
Starting from the park, the express bus costs JPY1500 each way and takes 55 minutes to reach Nagano Station. In comparison, taking the local bus from the park to Yudanaka Station followed by the train, takes 15 minutes and costs JPY310 before the limited express train to Nagano takes another 45 minutes and costs JPY1290 – a total journey of around 60 to 70 minutes and costing JPY1600.
Once at Nagano Station, follow the directions above.
From Karuizawa
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Karuizawa Station to Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station – 75 to 85 min / JPY8260 – and once there, follow the directions above to reach the Kurobe Gorge.
From Matsumoto
From Matsumoto Station, take the Limited Express Shinano to Nagano Station. There are many services every day taking around 50 minutes.
For the daily train schedule, please refer to our ‘Limited Express Shinano Line Timetable’ page. Once in Nagano, follow the directions above to reach the Kurobe Gorge.
From Takayama
From Takayama Station, take the Limited Express Hida service to Toyama Station – 90 min / JPY2890.
Once in Toyama, follow the directions above to reach the Kurobe Gorge.
From Kamikochi
The Kurobe Gorge can be accessed from Kamikochi via Takayama Station, with frequent services running to and from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center – located next to Takayama Station. From the Kamikochi Bus Terminal, take the bus to the Hirayu Onsen Bus Terminal – 25 to 30 minutes – and then switch to the bus headed to Takyama – another 60 minutes.
Once in Takayama, follow the directions above to reach Kurobe Gorge.
From Tokyo
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station – 140 to 150 min / JPY11,550 – and once there, follow the directions above to reach the Kurobe Gorge.
From Narita Airport
Kurobe Gorge can be accessed from the airport via Tokyo Station or Ueno Station.
Two rapid train services connect Narita Airport to central Tokyo:
1 / the Narita Express (NEX) runs from Narita to Tokyo Station. It takes 55 minutes to reach Tokyo Station (depending on the service) and costs JPY3070 with trains departing every 30 to 60 minutes.
Once at Tokyo Station, follow the directions above.
2 / the Keisei Skyliner runs from Narita to Ueno Station. It takes between 40 to 55 minutes to reach Ueno Station and costs JPY2520 with trains departing every 30 to 40 minutes.
Once at Ueno Station, transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen bound for Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station and follow the directions above.
From Haneda Airport
Kurobe Gorge can be reached from Haneda via Tokyo Station.
Two train services connect Haneda Airport to central Tokyo:
1 / the Tokyo Monorail connects the airport to Tokyo Station via Hamamatsucho Station in around 30 minutes.
From the airport take the monorail to Hamamatsucho Station (20 min/JPY170) and then switch to the JR Yamanote Line or JR Keihin-Tohoku/Negishi Line Rapid bound for Tokyo Station (5 min/JPY160) – a total journey of around 30-minutes / JPY660 one-way. Once at Tokyo Station, follow the directions above.
2 / the Keikyu Railway connects the airport to Tokyo Station via Shinagawa Station. Take the Keikyu Airport bound to Shinagawa Station (approx.11 min/JPY300) and transfer to the Yamanote Line bound for Osaki to reach Tokyo Station- 13 min / JPY170 or a total journey of around 30 min / JPY470.
Once at Tokyo Station, follow the directions above.
From Nagoya
From Nagoya Station, take the Limited Express Shirasagi – 180 min / JPY6930 – to Kanazawa Station. Once in Kanazawa, follow the directions above to reach Kurobe Gorge.
From Kyoto & Osaka
From Shin-Osaka Station and Kyoto Station Kurobe Gorge, can be reached fairly easily via Kanazawa Station.
From either of those stations, take the Thunderbird Limited Express to Kanazawa. Frequent services run between the cities and involve the following travel times and costs: 150 to 155 minutes / JPY7260 from Shin-Osaka and 125 minutes / JPY6490 from Kyoto.
Once in Kanazawa, follow the directions above to reach the Kurobe Gorge.
Private Charters to/from Kurobe Gorge
Based in Nagano City and operating all year round, we are Nagano’s No.1 rated tour and charter operator, offering a range of services including group tours, private tours and charters.
Our drivers and vehicles are fully certified, allowing us to transport you to and from your preferred destinations, in combination with any activity that suits your interests and schedule including transport to and from any ski resort in the region.
We can arrange both private tours with an English-speaking guide or a private charter, including a private vehicle and driver but without a guide. We’d love to be part of that experience and help you discover even more!
Why choose us?
Awarded a 2022 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award for our 1-Day Snow Monkeys, Zenko-ji Temple & Sake Tour – recognised as one of the Top 10 Experiences in Japan – we have the local knowledge and experience to help you get the most out of your time in Nagano and Central Japan.
Got a question about arranging a charter to/from Kurobe Gorge? Feel free to contact us and let’s get planning together!
