Highly Recommended: Toyama’s Kurobe Gorge, Full of Picturesque Natural Beauty

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  From mountains to rivers, Unazuki Onsen is rich with natural scenery.

How to Get to Kurobe's Unazuki Onsen Area

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  Cross the street to find the local Shin-Kurobe Station.

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  For the best deal, go for a round-trip ticket.

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  When you finally arrive at Unazukionsen Station, you'll be greeted by a hot spring fountain!

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  If you want to really stretch out in a private bath, or you just want to rent one for up to eight people, check out Togen Ryokan's larger open-air rental bath. This one requires a fee, 2,000 yen for 45 minutes, but hey, if not now then when? Treat yourself. To make sure you can reserve a spot, make your reservation at check in.
  
  (Available 15:30 - 23:15/6:00 - 9:45. 2,000 yen plus tax for 45 minutes. )

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  If you want the true onsen experience, then you've got to spend some time in the public baths! Visiting a ryokan with hot spring facilities means you're in for a pretty spectacular bathtime experience. Togen Ryokan has open-air baths built from hinoki cypress, and the warm wood gives off a pleasant aroma. Since the ryokan is right next to the river, you can watch the cold Kurobe River water rush by while feeling the hot spring water gently lap up around you.
  
  In addition, there is also a boulder bath (岩風呂) and a special granite bath (御影石風呂) indoors.
  
  (15:00 - 23:30 – rock bath open to men, granite bath open to women.
  24:00 - 10:00 – rock bath open to women, granite bath open to men.)

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  The bath is lined with smooth stone, and the far corner has head rests letting you comfortably lie down in the water.

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  The ante-room provides all kinds of amenities, from nice face creams to blow-dryers. Just grab the towel from your room and you’re ready to go.

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  If you want to wear a colorful yukata, a little fancier than the ones provided for free, you can rent one for 500 yen. Once you’re fresh and clean and positively glowing from the hot spring water, do a yukata photoshoot!

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  Ryokan are known for offering really delicious multi-course traditional Japanese meals, so this ryokan staple is a great way to try some of Toyama Prefecture's impressive agricultural specialties. We tried firefly squid (ホタルイカ), Toyama's local variety of high-quality wagyu called “himi-gyu” (氷見牛), and very fresh abalone.

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  Our firefly squid shabu-shabu hotpot.

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  The unbelievably tender himi-gyu beef, seared on a portable ceramic grill.

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  The “dance” of the steamed fresh abalone is a little morbid, but the freshness is hard to beat.

Sightseeing in Kurobe: ① Canyoning!

Sightseeing in Kurobe: ② Unazuki Dam

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  Walking to see the impressive dam is a 2.7 km (1.7 mile) walk from Unazukionsen Station (Google Maps), but you can also skip the trek and get a great view right from your seat on the Torokko Train that passes by.

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  Unazuki Onsen is also home to an aqueduct bridge, designed 90 years ago by famous Japanese architect Bunzo Yamaguchi.

Sightseeing in Kurobe: ③ Kurobe Gorge Railway's Torokko Train

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  This railway was built in 1923, and was originally used to carry cargo around the area, but opened for general passenger use after 30 years in 1953. The history of the shift from freight train to leisure railway is actually kind of an interesting story. While working on dam construction along the river, workers would ride the railway with the cargo to get to the construction sites. Looking around at the scenery while they rode, these construction workers happened to lay eyes on some particularly picturesque views, noting how beautiful the lay of the land was. These comments made their way to the wealthier residents of Kurobe, eventually becoming a topic of local gossip. The original cargo train was absolutely not set up for passengers, making it fairly dangerous, but the rumors of the scenery's beauty rose to such a fever pitch that some of the upper class started to say "I don't care if I die, I just have to see the scenery once in my life!" From that point, the area became a sightseeing destination. With such strong desire to gain access to the Torokko Train, starting so many years ago, it seems like the railway has always been the best way to view the local scenery.

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  Image Source: Kurobe Gorge Railway Official Website
  
  Route Map from Unazuki Station to Keyakidaira Station
  
  
  The Torokko Train runs a set number of times each day, so it's a good idea to think about how you're going to allot your time before you hop on (check the official timetable). The time between each of the stations is about 20 to 30 minutes, and the price of tickets depends on which kind of car you ride in. We recommend riding in one of the open-air passenger cars, where a one-way ticket from Unazuki Station to Keyakidaira Station will run you 1,980 yen (or 990 yen for children).
  
  A straight shot from Unazuki Station to Keyakidaira Station lasts about an hour and ten minutes, but you can get off at each of the stations in between, and make a whole sightseeing day trip out of it. Let us tell you about some of the most beautiful natural scenery and onsen, and the best photo spots, you'll find at each of the Torokko Train's stations.

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  The view of the tracks from the Yamabiko Observation Deck.

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  A Torokko Train commemorative photo spot. (You can climb right in!)

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  Just steps from the train station, you'll find a totally free-to-use foot bath. Rest your tired feet at the end of the day.

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  Kuronagi Onsen, an outdoor open-air hot spring.

  One thing to know about Kuronagi Onsen: it's a mixed-gender hot spring! You're totally welcome to wear a swimsuit in the water, if you feel more comfortable that way, but there will also be people in the nude there. If you'd prefer separate-gender hot springs, there are some indoors at the small ryokan next-door.
  
  (Kuronagi Onsen day pass: adults 700 yen, children 300 yen.)

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  The next-door Kuronagi Onsen Ryokan is where you'll find the reception for the outdoor bath as well.

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  Atobiki Bridge (後曳橋), seen over the seemingly bottomless valley.

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  Kurobe's perpetual snow... also known as the "tiramisu"!

  This time around, the river had flooded from heavy rain and water levels were too high for us to explore the river's beach. Luckily, we still got to see the Kurobe Mannen Yuki, a snowbank that sticks around even through the heat of summer. The dust and debris that falls onto the snowbank really does look a bit like cocoa powder, doesn’t it? Stare long enough, and it starts to look good enough to eat... can you imagine a real tiramisu that big?

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  #keyakidaira

  Our recommendation for a group photo spot is definitely right here! With the invigorating scenery of the gorge and Okukane Bridge in the background, we challenge you to take a truly insta-worthy shot.

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  #sarutobikyo

  This spot's name, Sarutobikyo (猿飛峡) literally means "monkey jumping gorge." The distance between the two sides of the canyon are so close here, people have long believed that it's where monkeys would jump across. There's an observation platform right nearby.

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  #hitokuiiwa

  This craggy overhang looks a little like an open mouth, making it feel like you might just get eaten up when you walk through. That's where the name comes from, since "hitokuiiwa" (人喰岩) literally means "people-eating crag."

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  #okukanebridge

  The Unazuki Onsen area has three kinds of bridges: bridges for transportation, bridges for hydroelectric power, and then bridges for pedestrians. Okukane Bridge (奥鐘橋) is the third variety, and it's there just for you to leisurely walk its length and admire the beautiful scenery of Kurobe Gorge.

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  #dinnerwithaview

  While you're more likely to eat lunch than dinner at Keyakidaira Station's food court, you'll still be able to see the scenery while you try out the local specialty of "black ramen." After eating, head to the roof and take a moment to really appreciate your surroundings.

Sightseeing in Kurobe: ④ Local Specialties for Foodies

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  Japanese Glass Shrimp (白エビ)
   

  These shrimp can only be caught in Toyama Bay, which is why they're sometimes called "The Treasure of Toyama." When deep-fried, they make a satisfyingly crunchy snack that goes great with beer, but you can also find the small shrimp carefully peeled one by one, as delicately sweet and decadent sashimi.
  
  Eating lunch at the Keyakidaira Station food court, we tried the glass shrimp curry. The shrimp lent the curry a lighter and more refreshing feeling than any hearty meat would have.

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  Firefly Squid (ホタルイカ)

  
  This variety of small squid can only be sampled in Hyogo or Toyama Prefectures, when in Japan. It can be prepared in lots of ways, including steamed, soy-pickled, stir-fried, and as sashimi. One of these dishes, firefly squid okizuke, is prepared by pickling the squid inside and out in a mix of sake and soy sauce. They say that if you try firefly squid okizuke on white rice, it’s so delicious you won’t need anything else to go with it! In addition, we recommend you try the much rarer dish of firefly squid shabu-shabu hotpot. You can find that particular entree at the ryokan we mentioned before, Unazuki Onsen Togen Ryokan.

Kurobe's Unazuki Onsen, A Place to Enjoy the Great Outdoors