The Central Japanese Alps are not only famous for the beautiful snow capped mountains of the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine but also the valleys and gorges created from the streams and river following from them. The Kurobe Gorge is one of those areas and is the biggest gorge in all of Japan. The entrance to that stunning natural scenery is the town of Unazuki Onsen. 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. The scenery of the gorge even in this area can be refreshing and a good taste of things to come.

— Where is Unazuki Onsen

— About the Hot Spring Resort Town

— How to Get There

— 25 Things to Do Around Toyama

— Tours & Charters Around Unazuki Onsen

WHERE IS THE UNAZUKI ONSEN

The mountains in the east of Toyama prefecture has many famous spots including the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine and the Kurobe Gorge. Although technically close to each other, they are separated by some of the tallest mountains in Japan with no direct connection(yet). The onsen town itself sits in an opening in river gorge that eventually becomes the deepest gorge in all of Japan. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, the sense of adventure as you escape from modern society grows as you go deeper and deeper. Unazuki Onsen is the jumping off point and rest spot for those journeys.

ABOUT THE HOT SPRING TOWN

This small onsen town in the mountains opened its first hot spring in 1923 and has been visited by many famous authors and artists throughout history. It is famed for the clearness of the hot water that run through the same rocks you can see all over the Kurobe Gorge. Today there are numerous traditional Japanese Inns, hotels and day spas that you can choose from if you want to experience the waters.

The town itself always has some nice sights with a small temple where you can pour hot water over a statue for good luck, footbaths, traditional restaurants and a shrine with cute protection amulets with a moon on it. If you tire of walking around the town then head out for a short nature walk. There are a few hints at the spectacular Kurobe Gorge on this trail where you can get great pictures of the river, train and mountains all in one shot. You can also see a western looking “castle” and a modern art inspired observation deck.

There is so much to explore in this small town even before hopping on the Kurobe Railway (open April to November) to see the beautiful gorge. Unazuki Onsen is the gateway to the Kurobe Gorge a scenic train that runs about once or twice an hour. The round trip takes about 3 hours as you wind your way through the gorge. Deep in the mountains you can get off at Keyakidaira and walk around and soak in the natural beauty of the Northern Japanese Alps.

Stick around to enjoy a small traditional Japanese onsen town that has been popular for over a century before hopping on the scenic train running through stunning landscapes. This is a trip worth at least a day or two.

HOW TO GET THERE

The easiest way to get to Unazuki Onsen is from the Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen Shinkansen Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Make sure you are on the Hakutaka train, because only the “local” shinkansen run through this station about once an hour. The journey from Osaka or Kyoto takes 3 or 2.5 hours respectively and requires transfers at Tsuruga and Kanazawa. If you’re travelling from Kanazawa or Toyama it takes 36 or 12 minutes respectively. For those travelers coming from the east, trains from Tokyo take about 2.5 hours, while those from Nagano will take only 50 minutes.

Once you are at the station, hop on the Toyama Chiho Railway at Shin-Kurobe Station to Unazuki Onsen Station. This train takes 24 minutes. The journey is a very rural train line with nice views as you slowly make your way into the mountains.

TOP 25 THINGS TO DO AROUND TOYAMA

Stunning mountain landscapes in the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route and Kurobe Gorge, historical temples throughout Takaoka, and traditional experiences in a UNESCO World Heritage site, Toyama has little bit of everything for travelers to Japan. The region doesn’t just have things to se but things to eat and do. You can try your hand at wood-carving, metal working or even papermaking. The seafood in the area is one of Japan’s best and freshest so you can’t miss the sushi. Our ’Top 25 Things To Do Around Toyama & Where To Stay’ page explains just how everything works, what’s on offer and where to stay.

TOURS AND CHARTERS AROUND UNAZUKI ONSEN

At Snow Monkey Resorts we have tours operating around Japan – and that includes the Toyama area. With so much going on, and so much natural beauty, there is no chance that we would ever have left this area out of our line up. If you’ve been convinced that visiting Toyama is a good idea (and it really is), then have a look at our group tour below:

1 Day Tour

1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen
Period	May to November
Time	08:00 – 17:30
Meeting Place	Kanazawa Station Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen Station
Adult Rate	¥30,000 / 24,000
Child Rate	¥24,000 / 21,000

Accessible from Toyama Station via Unazuki Onsen, 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 Kurobe Gorge 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. On our day tour of the area, you will have a day to enjoy the train ride and stunning scenery of the area, with a guide to help you make the most of it.

For a more personalized experience, private charters are also available. We can pick you up from a location of your choice anywhere in Central Japan, and bring you to your preferred destination. Airport pickup from Tokyo or Nagoya, even Osaka, is also possible. Our services may be used for taking day trips that include a few hard to reach destinations as well, removing the hassle of using often infrequent public transport options. A guide can be requested for an additional fee to turn the day into a completely private tour, where you decide the itinerary and our guides show you around in a timely and engaging manner. For more information concerning pricing and availability, please see here.