Kurobe Gorge Railway Torokko Train
A sightseeing train from Unazuki station into the Kurobe gorge, in windowless open cars.
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Kurobe Gorge Railway Torokko Train
SaveA sightseeing train from Unazuki station into the Kurobe gorge, in windowless open cars.
In summer the moving air is cool, and from September some days turn cold.
MoreWhat kind of place
The Kurobe Gorge Railway runs small open cars from Unazuki deep into the Kurobe Gorge, and its year splits in two.
From April 20 to September 30 the trains turn back at Nekomata; from October 1 to November 30 they run the full length of the line to Keyakidaira.
Fall color normally starts around Keyakidaira in mid-October and works down toward Kanetsuri and Unazuki by the middle of November.
How far into the mountains the line goes shows up in the phone signal: every carrier works around Unazuki and near the stations, but along the track itself only au gets through.
Sources and evidence (10)
- The train is entirely non-smoking, and smoking is only allowed in the designated spots.source
- A trained guide dog in its harness may come aboard with its user, who carries a guide dog user's certificate.source
- The restrooms at Unazuki and Keyakidaira stations have changing tables.source
- There is a nursing room on the second floor of Unazuki station.source
- Coin lockers at Unazuki and Keyakidaira stations cost 500 yen a use and take bags up to about 31 by 14 by 19 inches (80 by 35 by 48 cm).source
- Bags too large for a locker are held for 1,000 yen each at Unazuki, Kanetsuri, and Keyakidaira stations.source
- The paid parking lot in front of Unazuki station holds about 350 cars, and a regular car costs 1,000 yen for up to six hours.source
- For a regular car, parking costs 1,000 yen for up to six hours from when you park.source
- Fall color normally runs from mid-October to mid-November, coloring up around Keyakidaira in mid-October and peaking between Kanetsuri and Unazuki by the middle of November.source
- The railway has announced that a new photo spot area opened at Nekomata station on August 8, 2026.source
With kidsThe part that matters
The Nekomata round trip runs about two hours with no restroom on the train, so everyone goes before boarding; the next chance is the bathroom stop at the turnaround.
The regular cars have no windows at all, so the gorge air comes straight in: cool in summer, cold on some days from September, and wet when it rains.
Ponchos keep you in those open cars through a shower, and if you would rather have windows, the enclosed Relax car costs another 600 yen a ride.
Unazuki station has a nursing room on the second floor, changing tables in the restrooms, and an elevator between the platform and the ticket gate.
Every train sells only as many tickets as it has seats, so everyone riding has a seat.
Sources and evidence (5)
- Under an hour to Nekomata, then 20 minutes off the train while the loco is swapped. The paw-print stamp is only here.source
- A six-month-old in a carrier on the open car: fed under a cover on board, no changing table at the stop.source
- A six-year-old on the 10:22 to Nekomata and back, two hours. The seafood bento from Unazuki station was the hit.source
- Mid-May, 20C on the ground, yet the wind and the run of tunnels felt cold in the open car on the 9:00 departure.source
- Unazuki Onsen station and the gorge railway's Unazuki station are 200 m apart; you leave one building and walk over.source
By age0-1 / 2-3 / 4-6
- Ages 0-1The standard cars have no windows at all, so the gorge air reaches a baby held in your arms just as it is; in summer it turns cool once the train starts moving. Every train is seat-limited, and a seat is secured for every passenger.The standard cars have no seat backs and you step across between cars to board them; for that reason wheelchair users are pointed to the windowed Relax car instead. The Relax car needs a separate 600-yen car ticket for each ride, and its doorway is 59 cm wide. There is a nursing room on the second floor of Unazuki station, and baby beds inside the restrooms at Unazuki and Keyakidaira. Unazuki station has a lift from platform to ticket gate. There is no toilet on board, so go before you get on; the Nekomata turnaround takes about 120 minutes round trip including the toilet stop at Nekomata. Rain blows into the windowless standard cars, so bring a rain cape or poncho. Nekomata station has no accessible restroom, and the station forecourt is unpaved.
- Ages 2-3With open cars and no windows, the wind is on their face the whole way. On the Nekomata turnaround you can take pictures at the new photo-spot area opened on 8 August 2026, then ride back in the same car you came in. Every passenger has a secured seat.There is no toilet on board, so go before boarding; the Nekomata turnaround is about 120 minutes round trip including the toilet stop at Nekomata. The standard cars have no seat backs, and rain blows in, so a rain cape or poncho is needed. Summer is cool on board; from September some days are cold. The windowed Relax car is a boxed car needing a separate 600-yen car ticket per ride, with no air conditioning but heating in the cold season. During Golden Week, Obon, and the autumn-colour season you may not get the train or car you want, so booking ahead is recommended, from three months before the ride until 15:00 the day before.
- Ages 4-6A family with a third-grader and a six-year-old took the 10:22 to Nekomata and were back in two hours. Because the cars are open and windowless, the gorge and the tunnels come at you with nothing in between. From 1 October to 30 November the full line to Keyakidaira runs, and the autumn colours usually last from mid-October to mid-November, starting around Keyakidaira in mid-October and at their best between Kanetsuri and Unazuki in mid-November.The child fare covers ages 6 up to 12. From 20 April to 30 September the Unazuki-Nekomata round trip is 2,820 yen for adults and 1,420 for children, and until 30 September 2026 the line turns back at Nekomata, so Keyakidaira is not reachable. There is no toilet on board, so go before boarding. Kanetsuri station has stairs through an underpass between platform and gate with no lift, and the ground around Kuronagi and Kanetsuri is steep and stepped, which limits walking there. At Keyakidaira, anything beyond the station forecourt needs assistance. Booking opens three months before the ride and closes at 15:00 the previous day, and a booking cannot be made by elementary-age children alone. Coin lockers at Unazuki and Keyakidaira are 500 yen a use, taking items up to 80 cm high, 35 wide, and 48 deep.
By weatherRain, heat, cold
- Rainy dayThe open-sided "standard car" has no windows, so rain can blow in. Riding the enclosed "relax car" with windows costs an extra 600 yen per trip on top of the fare.
- Hot dayNot checked yet
- Cold dayNot checked yet
Time needed2 h
How was it with your kids?
Not greatGreat
Family checks✓ easy for your family
- ElevatorElevator：with conditionsconditions
- Stroller OKStroller friendly：not checked
- RentalStroller rental：not checked
- NursingNursing space：with conditionsconditions
- ChangingDiaper changing table：with conditionsconditions
- Family WCFamily restroom：with conditionsconditions
- Own foodOutside food allowed：not checked
- EnglishEnglish support：with conditionsconditions
Tap a mark for details
* Other not checked (3)
Diaper disposal bin, Kids' toilet seat & step stool, Child switch (rider swap)
Green = we confirmed it. Gray = not checked yet. Gray with a line through = the place does not have it.
Worth a look before you go
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
Under an hour to Nekomata, then 20 minutes off the train while the loco is swapped. The paw-print stamp is only here.
The Kurobe Gorge trolley train turning back at Nekomata, and the stamp you can only get there
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
A six-month-old in a carrier on the open car: fed under a cover on board, no changing table at the stop.
Riding the Kurobe Gorge trolley train with a six-month-old
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
A six-year-old on the 10:22 to Nekomata and back, two hours. The seafood bento from Unazuki station was the hit.
Day 3 in Hokuriku: the Kurobe Gorge Railway trolley train
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
Mid-May, 20C on the ground, yet the wind and the run of tunnels felt cold in the open car on the 9:00 departure.
The fresh green along the Kurobe Gorge trolley line: viewpoints and a riding guide
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
Unazuki Onsen station and the gorge railway's Unazuki station are 200 m apart; you leave one building and walk over.
The Kurobe Gorge trolley train and a walk around Unazuki Onsen
Kurobe Gorge Railway Torokko Train · Links & reads ▾
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Where it is
11 Kurobekyokokuguchi, Kurobe-shi, Toyama 938-0293source
Before you go
- Through September 30, 2026, the trains turn back at Nekomata and do not run as far as Keyakidaira.source
- From April 20 to September 30 only part of the line runs, Unazuki to Nekomata, and from October 1 to November 30 the whole line runs, Unazuki to Keyakidaira.source
- The regular cars are open-sided with no windows, so rain can blow in when the weather turns.source
- For the regular cars you need rain gear such as a poncho or a rain jacket; the ride is cool in summer, but from September on there are cold days.source
- At busy times such as Golden Week, Obon, and the fall color season you may not get the train or the car you want, so the railway recommends booking ahead.source
More notes (16)
- Every train sells only as many tickets as it has seats, so everyone riding has a seat.source
- A round-trip ticket is valid for two days from the day you ride.source
- There is no restroom on the train, so use one before you board.source
- The torokko train has no restroom on board, and there is no bathroom stop at stations along the way.source
- Pets cannot be brought aboard, not even in a carrier.source
- The Relax car is an enclosed car with windows; there is no air conditioning, but the heat comes on in the cold months.source
- Wheelchair users can ride, but because the regular cars have no seat backs and you have to climb across into them to board, the Relax car is what the railway recommends.source
- You can ride without a reservation, and same-day tickets go on sale at the Unazuki station window from 7:40.source
- Reservations open three months before the day you ride and close at 15:00 the day before, and only individuals in parties of fewer than 15 can book.source
- For the 2026 season, trains to Keyakidaira can only be booked by phone (0765-62-1011) and not online, while trains to Kanetsuri and Kuronagi can be booked either by phone or online.source
- A reservation cannot be made by elementary school children or younger on their own.source
- The customer center (0765-62-1011) takes calls from 9:00 to 16:30.source
- At the ticket window you can pay by credit card, debit card, electronic money, phone payment, or QR code, while online it is credit card only.source
- You may only get on and off at the stations printed on your ticket, and a round-trip ticket does not allow stopovers along the way.source
- Cell phones work on all networks in the Unazuki area, and docomo, SoftBank, and au all work near Kuronagi, Kanetsuri, and Keyakidaira stations, but along the line itself only au has coverage.source
- Kuronagi cannot be booked as a round trip, only one way out; for the return you take whatever seats are free on an arriving train.source
Basics
- Fee：Fares depend on the season because the line does not run its full length all year. From 20 April to 30 September the train turns back at Nekomata: Unazuki to Nekomata and back is ¥2,820 for an adult and ¥1,420 for a child, Unazuki to Kuronagi and back ¥1,660 and ¥840. From 1 October to 30 November it runs the whole way: one way to Kanetsuri is ¥1,780 and ¥890, to Keyakidaira ¥2,480 and ¥1,240. A child fare means age 6 up to 12. The Relax car, the one with windows, needs a separate car ticket of ¥600 each time on top of the fare. Holders of a disability certificate, and one carer, pay half the ordinary fare. Round-trip tickets are valid for two days.source
- Hours：The line runs from 20 April to 30 November. Until 30 September the train turns back at Nekomata and Keyakidaira cannot be reached; from 1 October to 30 November it runs the whole way. The Nekomata round trip takes about 120 minutes including the toilet stop at Nekomata, and you sit in the same car both ways. Between October and November, even turning straight round at Kanetsuri or Keyakidaira takes at least 20 minutes.source
- Time to allow：2 hsource2
- Booking：You can ride without booking — same-day tickets go on sale at the Unazuki station window from 7:40 in the morning. At busy times (Golden Week, Obon, the autumn colors) you may not get the train or the car you want, so booking ahead is advised. Bookings open three months before and close at 15:00 the day before, and are for parties of under fifteen; fifteen or more is a group booking by phone. Children of elementary school age and under cannot make a booking on their own. For 2026, seats to Keyakidaira can only be booked by phone on 0765-62-1011 — the website cannot do it — while Kanetsuri and Kuronagi can be booked either way. At the window you can pay by credit or debit card, electronic money, phone or QR payment; online it is credit card only.source
- Note: no toilet on board and no toilet stop at any station on the way — the Nekomata round trip is about 120 minutessource
Basics in detail (23)
Hours and closures
Fees
- Between April 20 and September 30, the Unazuki to Nekomata round trip is 2,820 yen for adults and 1,420 yen for children.source
- Between April 20 and September 30, the Unazuki to Kuronagi round trip is 1,660 yen for adults and 840 yen for children.source
- Between October 1 and November 30, one way from Unazuki to Keyakidaira is 2,480 yen for adults and 1,240 yen for children.source
- Between October 1 and November 30, one way from Unazuki to Kanetsuri is 1,780 yen for adults and 890 yen for children.source
- The child fare covers ages 6 through 11.source
- Riding the Relax car, the one with windows, takes a separate 600 yen car ticket for each ride on top of your fare.source
- The Relax car requires its own car ticket every time you ride in it.source
- Cards cannot be used at the restaurant, and anything added or changed has to be settled in cash.source
- Showing a physical disability, intellectual disability, or mental health welfare certificate at a station window gets the holder and a caregiver 50% off the regular fare.source
- The MIRAIRO disability certificate app is accepted for the discount as well.source
Time to allow
- The Nekomata turnaround takes about 120 minutes round trip, including the bathroom stop at Nekomata.source
- On the Nekomata round trip you ride in the same car both ways.source
- From October 1 to November 30, even if you mean to turn straight around, you need at least 20 minutes at Kanetsuri or Keyakidaira station.source
Getting there
- At Kanetsuri station the platform connects to the ticket gate by stairs through an underpass, and there is no elevator.source
- Keyakidaira station has an accessible restroom, and there are no steps between the platform and the ticket gate.source
- Nekomata station has no accessible restroom, and the square in front of the station is unpaved.source
- The doorway of the Relax car is 23 inches (59 cm) wide.source
- There are also barrier-free cars with widened doorways, though only certain trains have one attached.source
- Slopes, steps, and the lay of the land limit how far you can walk around Kuronagi and Kanetsuri stations.source
- At Keyakidaira, going anywhere beyond the station square takes assistance.source
- Drivers using a wheelchair should use the accessible parking directly in front of Unazuki station.source
Once you've decided
evidence & sources (9)
A sightseeing railway that climbs from Unazuki station deep into the Kurobe gorge. The ordinary cars have no windows, so rain blows in and the air turns cold after September. The Relax car is boxed in, with heating in the cold months. Every train runs to a fixed capacity, so nobody stands. In 2026 the train turns back at Nekomata until 30 September, and Keyakidaira is reachable from 1 October to 30 November. Autumn color runs from mid-October to mid-November, starting at the far end.
| Nursing space | Yes | One room, on the second floor of Unazuki station — the station you board at. There is nothing on the train, and none of the stops down the line has one. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | kurotetu.co.jp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diaper changing table | Yes | Baby beds are in the toilets at Unazuki station and at Keyakidaira. Until 30 September the train turns back at Nekomata, so Keyakidaira cannot be reached and only the Unazuki one is any use. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | kurotetu.co.jp |
| Family restroom | Yes (2) | Accessible toilets are at Unazuki station and at Keyakidaira only. Kuronagi, Kanetsuri and Nekomata have none — and until 30 September Keyakidaira cannot be reached, which leaves Unazuki. There is no toilet on the train and no toilet stop on the way. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | kurotetu.co.jp |
| Elevator | Yes | Unazuki station has an elevator from the platform to the ticket gate. Kanetsuri has stairs through an underpass between platform and gate and no elevator. Keyakidaira has no step between platform and gate, nor does Nekomata, though the square outside Nekomata is unpaved. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | kurotetu.co.jp |
| Steps & slope caution | Many steps | The ordinary car has bench seats with no backrest and you step across between cars, so the Relax car is the one recommended for a wheelchair; its doorway is 59 cm wide. Train cars with a widened doorway exist but are coupled to only some trains. Slopes and steps limit walking around Kuronagi and Kanetsuri, and at Keyakidaira anything beyond the station square needs help. Tell the gate staff on the day if you use a wheelchair and they can let you board early. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | kurotetu.co.jp |
| Indoor / outdoor | Outdoor | The ordinary car has no windows at all — rain blows in, so bring a poncho — and the ride is out in the gorge the whole way. Only the Relax car is boxed in, with heating in the cold months but no cooling. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | kurotetu.co.jp |
| English support | English menu & signs | The official site has English, Korean, simplified and traditional Chinese and Thai versions, and a page for bookings from overseas. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | kurotetu.co.jp |
| Best-fit ages (guide)Extra info — guide only | Yes | The child fare covers ages 6 up to 12. Children of elementary school age and under cannot make a booking on their own. There is no toilet on the train and no toilet stop, and the Nekomata round trip runs about 120 minutes, so go before boarding. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | kurotetu.co.jp |
| Stroller access notesExtra info — guide only | Yes | There is a paid parking lot in front of Unazuki station with about 350 spaces, ¥1,000 for up to six hours for an ordinary car; wheelchair users should use the accessible spaces in front of the station. Coin lockers at Unazuki and Keyakidaira cost ¥500 a time and take bags up to 80 x 35 x 48 cm; larger luggage is held at Unazuki, Kanetsuri and Keyakidaira for ¥1,000 a piece. Pets cannot come aboard, not even in a carrier, though a trained guide dog with harness may. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on board. You may not get on or off at a station other than the two printed on your ticket. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | kurotetu.co.jp |
| Stroller friendly | Not checked yet | ||||
| Stroller rental | Not checked yet | ||||
| Diaper disposal bin | Not checked yet | ||||
| Kids' toilet seat & step stool | Not checked yet | ||||
| Outside food allowed | Not checked yet | ||||
| Child switch (rider swap) | Not checked yet |
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