Kurobe Gorge Torokko Train and Keyakidaira Trail

The Kurobe Gorge Torokko Train is a narrow-gauge, open-air sightseeing railway that climbs 20 kilometers from Unazuki Onsen up the Kurobe Gorge in eastern Toyama Prefecture to the mountain terminus at Keyakidaira. Originally built to haul construction materials for hydroelectric dams, the line now carries visitors past tunnels, trestle bridges, and gorge walls that drop steeply to the jade-green Kurobe River. No special fitness or age restrictions apply for the train ride itself; open-air cars are unheated, so temperatures drop noticeably with elevation even in summer, and layers are needed year-round. At Keyakidaira, short trailside walks lead toward Meiken Onsen along uneven, sometimes narrow gorge-side paths with steep drop-offs, so sturdy footwear and basic surefootedness are required for that portion. Standard train fare includes a seat in an enclosed or semi-open standard car; open-air reserved seating, which gives unobstructed gorge views, costs extra per person each way. Riders bring their own warm layers, rain jackets, and walking shoes for the Keyakidaira trail. The Kurobe Gorge Railway (kurotetu.co.jp) is a long-established third-sector operator that has run the line for public sightseeing since the 1970s, with an established safety record and staffed stations along the route; no special certification is needed to ride, and station staff manage evacuation procedures in case of landslide or weather closures, which occasionally suspend service on short notice. Full Unazuki–Keyakidaira service resumes October 1, 2026, following bridge repairs; until then trains run only as far as Nekomata. The best conditions are in late spring (May–June), when the gorge is lush and waterfalls run high, and in autumn (October–November) for foliage; midsummer brings cooler gorge-bottom air that is a welcome escape from Toyama's coastal heat, while winter closes the line entirely due to snow and avalanche risk.