Kurobe Gorge Railway, Unazuki Station

From Unazuki, the narrow-gauge train leaves the settled valley and enters Kurobe Gorge, where tunnels, bridges and wooded walls make the ride itself the main attraction. In 2026, full-line service to Keyakidaira resumed on October 1 after seasons of shortened operations following damage from the Noto earthquake. The reopening brings passengers by rail to the upper end of the route, but it does not mean every trail or hot spring is accessible.

The railway currently limits visits at Keyakidaira to the permitted station area and the visitor centre, and recommends spending about one hour there. Mountain paths, accommodation and some landmarks remain closed or restricted while recovery work continues. Nekomata is not currently a regular boarding or alighting stop. Read the latest notice before buying tickets, and do not plan hikes based on older maps. Trains have controlled seating, so advance reservations are especially sensible during autumn foliage season.

The one-way ride from Unazuki takes roughly one hour and twenty minutes, with open-air or windowed cars depending on the service. The published October–November schedule and fares vary by station and date; a return ticket does not provide permission to extend the visit beyond the open area. The railway offers a striking landscape and industrial-heritage journey, but the walk at the far end is currently short and regulated. Hikers should wait for an explicit reopening notice for each trail.