Kurobe Gorge & Unazuki Onsen: Trolley Train Day Trip from Kanazawa

The Trolley Train Across Japan's Deepest Gorge

You travel by private bus from Kanazawa to Unazuki Onsen, walk the old hiking route and explore the onsen town, then board the trolley train for a ride across the Kurobe Gorge to Nekomata Station. You'll see the monkey bridge, a protective Buddha statue, and the healing footbath before returning to Kanazawa in the late afternoon. Your English-speaking guide handles all transport and train tickets, so you just show up.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Kurobe Gorge and Unazuki Onsen

• Travel by bus from Kanazawa to Unazuki Onsen
• Walk old hiking route to Kurobe Dam
• Enjoy free time and early lunch in town
• Meet at Unazuki Onsen Station for trolley train
• Ride trolley train to Nekomata Station
• See Kurobe Dam, monkey bridge, and Buddha statue
• Shop and visit Healing Buddha in Unazuki
• Relax in footbath with onsen water
• Return by bus to Kanazawa and conclude tour

The experience

The trolley train doesn't look like much when you first see it waiting at Unazuki Onsen Station: small, open-sided, the kind of thing you'd expect to find in a heritage park, not suspended above one of the steepest V-shaped gorges in the country. But the moment it starts moving, the scale hits you. The Kurobe Gorge drops away on both sides, the river far below, and you're riding a narrow-gauge line that clings to the rock face like it was drawn there by hand. Your guide points out the monkey bridge (an actual crossing the local macaques use), and a stone Buddha carved into the cliff to protect travelers. The trolley runs about 60% of its full route right now (the 2024 earthquake damaged the rest, with full service returning in 2026), but what's open still takes you to Nekomata Station, and honestly, most of the main sights are visible from the sections that run.

Before the trolley ride, you spend the morning in Unazuki Onsen itself, a small onsen town that's kept its early 1900s feel: wooden buildings, narrow streets, the kind of place that doesn't try to be anything other than what it is. Your guide walks you through the old hiking route toward the Kurobe Dam, which gives you a preview of the gorge scenery without committing to the full train ride yet. There's free time after that, and your guide will point you toward lunch spots in town. The footbath near the station uses the same hot spring water that feeds the resort's baths, so you can soak your feet while you wait to board. It's the kind of small detail that makes the day feel less like a checklist and more like you're actually spending time somewhere.

The day trip from Kanazawa runs about eight to nine hours total, with pickup from your hotel and a private bus for the drive north. There are no shops or restaurants once you're on the trolley train, so bring snacks and water if you want them. The ride itself is the point, not the stops. On the way back to Kanazawa, the bus ride gives you time to ask your guide questions about the next part of your trip, or just rest. It's the kind of tour that doesn't rush you through a list of photo spots. It lets you sit with the landscape and actually notice it.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Kanazawa, private bus transport to and from Unazuki Onsen, an English-speaking guide for the full day, trolley train tickets to Nekomata Station, and free time to explore the onsen town, visit the healing Buddha, and soak in the footbath. Lunch is on your own in Unazuki, with guide recommendations provided.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00Last departure this season: 30 Nov

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)

Is this one for you?This tour works well if you want to see the Kurobe Gorge without arranging your own transport or train tickets. The guide handles logistics so you can focus on the landscape and the small-town feel of Unazuki Onsen. The trolley train is currently running a shortened route due to earthquake repairs, but the main sights are still visible and the day is built around what's open now.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.

Is the trolley train running the full route right now?

No. The January 2024 earthquake damaged the line, and repairs are expected to finish in October 2026. The tour currently covers about 60% of the route, ending at Nekomata Station. The main sights are still visible, and the tour adds a stop at Shomyo Falls (Japan's highest waterfall) to compensate.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kanazawa, private bus transport, English-speaking guide, and trolley train tickets to and from Unazuki Onsen and Nekomata stations.

Can I bring food and drinks on the trolley train?

Yes. There are no shops or restaurants once you board, so you're welcome to bring snacks and drinks with you.

Is there time to eat lunch in Unazuki Onsen?

Yes. After the morning walk, you have free time in town before the trolley train ride. Your guide will recommend restaurants.

Can I use the footbath in Unazuki?

Yes. The footbath uses the same hot spring water as the town's onsen resorts, and you can use it during your free time before or after the trolley train ride.