Kurobe Gorge Trail

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Kurobe Gorge Trail: Keyakidaira Day Walks Guide

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

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HikeList Score

Kurobe Gorge Trail scored 84/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Great Hike

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 55
Balanced challenge 100
Scenery & wildness 98
Varied terrain 83
Accommodation 75
Food & support 81
Path quality 98
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

Kurobe Gorge Trail is best understood as a set of short out-and-back walks from Keyakidaira Station in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, not a continuous long-distance path. The signature Babadani Onsen walk is 5.2 km return; combining the main Keyakidaira routes can make a 10–12 km day. Difficulty is easy to moderate on riverside paths, tunnels, steps and cliff-cut ledges. It suits walkers who want a scenic gorge day using the Kurobe Gorge Railway from Unazuki Onsen.

Route Overview

Start at Unazuki Onsen, the gateway hot-spring town and lower terminus of the Kurobe Gorge Railway. The train normally covers the 20.1 km to Keyakidaira Station in about 80 minutes; there is no public footpath along this railway corridor. From Keyakidaira, walks radiate out and back to Okukane Bridge, Sarutobikyo, Meiken Onsen and Babadani Onsen. The Babadani route follows the river through three tunnels and the Hitokui Iwa ledge. As of 2026, the railway is operating only as far as Nekomata Station due to earthquake damage, with possible full restoration to Keyakidaira around October 2026. For other Japan hiking plans, compare the Kamikochi to Mount Yari Trail, Kumano Kodo Nakahechi Route and Jomon Sugi Trail.

Railway and Gorge History

The Kurobe Gorge Railway began in 1923 to carry workers and materials for hydroelectric power development in the gorge. The line reached Nekomata in 1926 and Keyakidaira in 1937, and later supported construction work linked to Kurobe Dam, completed in 1963 for Kansai Electric Power. Passenger sightseeing service started in 1953, and Kurobe Gorge Railway was formally established in 1971. The gorge itself was carved by the Kurobe River draining the Northern Japan Alps.

Notable highlights

Kurobe Gorge Railway: A 20.1 km, 762 mm narrow-gauge open-sided torokko train from Unazuki to Keyakidaira, crossing more than 20 bridges and over 40 tunnels in about 80 minutes.
Okukane Bridge: A 34 m-high vermilion pedestrian bridge across the Kurobe River beside Keyakidaira Station, used to reach the Meiken and Babadani routes.
Sarutobikyo: The narrowest point of the Kurobe River’s main stem, reached by a roughly 30-minute riverside walk to an observation deck.
Babadani Onsen trail: The main walking objective: 5.2 km return via three tunnels and the Hitokui Iwa cliff ledge to a remote open-air hot spring.
Hitokui Iwa: A rock-cut ledge on the Babadani route, named the “people-eating rock” because the overhanging cliff appears to swallow walkers.
Autumn foliage: Mid-October to mid-November is the standout season for koyo colours in the deep forested gorge.

Challenges to expect

The walking is short, but not entirely urban: expect gravel and dirt paths, steps, tunnels, narrow cliff-cut ledges and more rugged sections towards Sarutobikyo. Logistics matter more than navigation, because access depends on the Kurobe Gorge Railway timetable and seasonal operation. Winter closure is normal due to heavy snow, and the 2026 earthquake-related railway restriction may prevent access to Keyakidaira.

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Ranked #294 of 974

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