Located three or so hours from Tokyo you will find Kurobe Gorge in Toyama Prefecture, one of the most picturesque getaways in all of northern Japan.
Here you will find not just Onsen’s, gorges, and a legendarily scene railway, but also a traditional part of Japan that time seems to have forgotten.
How to get to Kurobe Gorge from Tokyo
Getting from Tokyo to Kurobe Gorge by train is an adventure in itself, combining the sleek efficiency of Japan’s rail system with the stunning transition from urban sprawl to untouched natural beauty. Starting your journey at Tokyo Station, you’ll board the Hokuriku Shinkansen—a bullet train that embodies Japan’s blend of cutting-edge technology and seamless travel. This high-speed train zips you out of the bustling capital and straight into the heart of Toyama Prefecture, a region known for its dramatic landscapes and historic charm.
The ride to Toyama Station takes around two and a half hours, giving you just enough time to unwind and enjoy the scenery that gradually shifts from cityscapes to rolling countryside. Toyama itself is worth a stop if you have time, offering a mix of traditional Japanese culture and modern amenities, but the real adventure lies ahead.
At Toyama Station, you’ll transfer to the Toyama Chiho Railway, a local line that takes you deeper into the mountains. The journey to Unazuki Onsen, the gateway to Kurobe Gorge, is a picturesque hour-long ride. As the train winds through the mountainous terrain, you’ll start to catch glimpses of the natural beauty that makes this area so special—dense forests, flowing rivers, and the towering peaks of the Japanese Alps.
Kurobe Gorge Town
Arrival at the train station is an adventure itself, with the quaint little town really having some old world charm to it. The hotels in the town, of which there are a but a few are all within walking distance of the train station, but will also pick you up.
Once settled you get to explore the town, with the word quiet really going n nowhere near doing this place any justice. From what I could see there were just a few restaurants and cafes, some of which such as Mozart Cafe were closed. In fact the only restaurant successes we had were for ice-cream and some truly fine cheesecake.
In fact there are not even 7-Elevens, or Family Mart’s to keep you going, with all the snack action coming at the railway station for the scenic railway, which we will deal with later. Alas we did not know this so had to deal with bug chunks of fake crab for sustenance.
Dinner wise this means that your options are the buffet at your hotel, something I truly found out the hard way.
The Kurobe Gorge Railway
I will not make a huge deal out of this, as it will get its own article at some point, but this railway on open top carriages is not just iconic, but frankly amazing.
And it fits both practical, as well as touristic needs. The train offers stunning views of the gorge through breathtaking scenery, as well as dropping you at some of the Onsen’s present in the area. Coming here is all about the Onsen action.
The Onsen’s of Kurobe Gorge
An Onsen in case you are blissfully unaware is a hot spring in Japan that is at times mixed sex, but usually single sex with most getting dude to do it.
This will again get its own article, but is frankly like a religion in Japan. People truly take this stuff seriously with those with tattoos such as me not allowed in due to association with the Yakuza.
We personally went to Unazuki Onsen which involved a fairly serious hike on both legs, but a very beautiful place to hang out. Here they had mixed, singe sex, outside, as well as inside Onsen.
As it was summer I personally gave this a miss, feeling it only really works when it is cold outside. Again I will give this place its own article.
This though is far from the only Onsen, with not only our hotel having one, but there are also being one in town.
Grandvrio Hotel
Another place that might even justify its own article. This was the main hotel at Kurobe Gorge, and it was equally puzzling and good at the same time.
Of course they did not allow us to check in early, but it was their Nazi like attitude to dinner which ground my gears. Essentially they would not allow us to book, nor seemingly dine way from our group, with independence being a very very foreign concept. This was so annoying I simply just did not eat. On the flip side though the rooms were epic and the other atmosphere and vibe was amazing.
Overall Kobe Gorge was frankly an amazing place to spend a night before we headed to Osaka, raw chicken and to further explore the Extremes of Japan.