The Kurobe-Unazuki Canyon Route and the Extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tsuruga
Top: A photo of the scenery visible from the observation deck in the Tarusawa Drift.
Bottom left: This elevator was installed in 1939 for construction work to develop power resources, and goes through a vertical shaft at the mid-slope of the mountain. It takes you up or down by about 650 feet instantly.
Bottom right: The observation deck at the Kurobe Dam, the tallest dam in Japan (610 feet). (Photos courtesy of Toyama Prefecture)
Infrastructure tourism is a popular activity in Japan in recent years. This means going to visit dams, bridges, and other types of public facilities for fun. One area that is getting a particularly large amount of attention is the Kurobe-Unazuki Canyon Route. This new route will open to the public and be used for commercial trips later this year. It links the Kurobe Dam—a large and well-known power generation facility—and the Kurobe Gorge, one of the most famous V-shaped gorges in Japan. In addition, a high-speed railway line called the Hokuriku Shinkansen has been extended from Kanazawa Station in Ishikawa Prefecture to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture. This extension currently offers train services and is gaining attention as it makes it easier to travel from Osaka in Kansai to the Hokuriku region as well. Let’s take a look at these trends, as well as some details on hot springs and cuisine.
About the Kurobe-Unazuki Canyon Route
Left: The Kurobe Gorge Torokko Train running above the Kurobe River. (Photo courtesy of the Toyama Tourism Organization)
Right: The scenery of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route that is linked with this new route. (Photo courtesy of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route)
The Kurobe-Unazuki Canyon Route is in Toyama Prefecture in the Hokuriku Region, an area of eastern Japan near to the Sea of Japan. This new route is about 11 miles long, connecting the Kurobe Gorge (Keyakidaira), known as the deepest and largest gorge in Japan, with the Kurobe Dam, an enormous power generation facility at the upper waters of the Kurobe River. This new route connects with the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route which is famous around the world for its mountainous scenery. This has created a new circular touring route in the area, which has attracted attention from people in Japan and overseas. Several travel agents offer tours, and you can participate in one tour by applying with an agent.
A detailed map of the Kurobe-Unazuki Canyon Route.
On the Kurobe-Unazuki Canyon Route, you can change between many different forms of transportation as you enjoy many special experiences, such as following the history of the large-scale construction work to develop power resources that support Japan’s industry, or looking at the magnificent natural landscapes.
The route starts at Unazuki Station on the Kurobe Gorge Railway, where you ride the Kurobe Gorge Torokko Train to the upper waters of the Kurobe River. You can enjoy the wonders of nature through the train window as you head to the terminal station, Keyakidaira Station.
Left: You can enjoy the scenery of the Kurobe Gorge as you ride the Torokko Train.
Right: People looking at Hitokui Iwa (the “People-eating Crag”) in Keyakidaira. (Photos courtesy of Toyama Prefecture)
You can experience an extraordinary space as you riding a battery-powered train through a tunnel called Konetsu Zuido (“high-temperature tunnel”). This tunnel is known to have been the most difficult area in the process of large-scale construction work to develop power resources. During excavation for this work, the temperature of the slate exceeded 320 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the tunnel was complete, airflow and other factors have reduced the temperature. Currently, the inside of the tunnel is around 104 degrees, and you can feel the heat of the air even inside the train. When you leave the tunnel, you can refresh yourself by looking at the Sennindani Dam, and the waterfall called Kumokirinotaki behind it.
Left: A battery-powered train. (Photo courtesy of Toyama Prefecture)
Right: The Konetsu Zuido (“high-temperature tunnel”), a historic location in the large-scale construction work to develop power resources. (Photo courtesy of SATO KOGYO Co., Ltd.)
Left: Inside the train. (Photo courtesy of Toyama Prefecture)
Right: The scenery of Sennindani. The Kurobe River No. 3 Power Station and the Sennindani Dam were constructed between 1936 and 1940. (Photo courtesy of Toyama Prefecture)
When the Kurobe River No. 4 Power Station was constructed underground in the mountains, a steep shaft was made to transport the necessary materials. You can enjoy an amazing experience riding on an incline up or down this shaft. After this, you can ride a dedicated bus through the long Kurobe Tunnel to the Kurobe Dam, the last point of the route. Before reaching the dam, the bus makes a brief stop at the Tarusawa Drift. This stop has an observation deck where you can enjoy a majestic view of the mountains that only highly skilled mountaineers could see previously.
Left: The incline is 2,674 feet long and has an angle of 34 degrees.
Right: The Kurobe Dam with a rainbow. Some courses start at the Kurobe Dam, too. (Photos courtesy of Toyama Prefecture)
Left: The observation deck in the Tarusawa Drift.
Right: Mount Tsurugi as seen from the observation deck (this is a view of the back of the mountain). You can also see the southernmost glacier in the Far East. (Photos courtesy of Toyama Prefecture)
The Extension to the Hokuriku Shinkansen Is Open for Service
Left: The Hokuriku Shinkansen.
Right: The GranClass seats are the best seats on the train. These seats come with a light meal service, and the seats can also recline using electric motors, making for a comfortable and relaxed experience when traveling. (Photos courtesy of the West Japan Railway Company)
Left: The power outlet in a GranClass seat.
Right: The vestibules of GranClass carriages have designs that express the four seasons in Japan. (Photos courtesy of the West Japan Railway Company)
In March 2024, a Japanese high-speed railway line called the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened service for an extension to the line from Kanazawa Station in Ishikawa Prefecture to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture. This has extended the line further eastwards, which has gained attention as it makes it easier to travel from Osaka in Kansai to the Hokuriku region. The Hokuriku Shinkansen reaches Kurobe-Unazukionsen Station near the new route in Toyama Prefecture in about 3 hours 20 minutes (or even as little as 3 hours with ideal conditions) from Osaka Station, or 2 hours 17 minutes from Tokyo Station. All Hokuriku Shinkansen seats have power outlets, and the train carriages have elements from traditional Japanese design in many places, allowing for a comfortable and pleasant ride. The GranClass carriages have the best seats on the train, with a design that incorporates the beautiful deep colors of lacquerwork used in traditional Japanese architecture.
Enjoy Hot Springs and Fresh Seafood, Too
Unazuki Onsen opened in Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture in 1923. It has indoor and open-air baths designed to let you enjoy the scenery, among other facilities. (Photos courtesy of the Kurobe Unazuki-onsen Tourist Board)
Left: Sushi prepared by a skilled chef using the wide range of marine life in Toyama Bay. The white baby shrimp (shiroebi) at the top right and the firefly squid (hotaruika) at the bottom right are specialties from Toyama. (Photo courtesy of Toyama Prefecture)
Right: You can enjoy a wide selection of sashimi at Unazuki Onsen. (Photo courtesy of the Kurobe Unazuki-onsen Tourist Board)
Left: A traditional multi-course Japanese dinner made with crabs. (Photo courtesy of the Kurobe Unazuki-onsen Tourist Board)
Right: In the hotels at Unazuki Onsen, you can enjoy meals with freshwater fish, as well as a dish called “tororo” made by finely grating different varieties of mountain yams. (Photo courtesy of the Unazuki Spa Hotel Cooperative Association)
The hot spring village called Unazuki Onsen at the entrance to the Kurobe Gorge is the largest of its kind in the whole of Toyama Prefecture. The source of the hot springs is upstream of the Kurobe River, so this location has some of the most transparent water in Japan. The water is kind to skin and mildly alkaline, falling under the category of a “simple hot spring.” This location has been loved by people for many years, and the water is said to beautify the skin. You can leisurely soak in the hot springs while enjoying the landscape from a carefully designed indoor or open-air bath. Many kinds of fish thrive in Toyama Prefecture. Toyama Bay is sometimes referred to as a natural fish pen, and the area is well known for its many restaurants where you can eat fresh sushi made with seafood caught in the bay. Unazuki Onsen is one place where you can eat seafood dishes across the four seasons, but it also serves food made with ingredients from the mountains, such as a variety of mountain yam called “Kurobe no maruimo” which is a local specialty.
With the Kurobe-Unazuki Canyon Route offering many surprises, the Hokuriku Shinkansen with its comfort and convenience, hot springs that help you relax, delicious sushi and more, there is so much to enjoy in Japan’s Hokuriku region. Why not try taking a trip there yourself?