By KAZUHIRO TAKEDA/ Staff Writer
April 17, 2023 at 08:00 JST
The route offers passengers lush green views of the Kurobe Gorge in spring. (Provided by Kurobe Gorge Railway Co.)
KUROBE, Toyama Prefecture--Kurobe Gorge Railway Co. said it will partially operate its mountain sightseeing trolley train along the Kurobegawa river from April 20.
The scenic service spans Unazuki and Sasadaira stations.
Officials said the train will operate between Unazuki and Kanetsuri stations from April 29 and between Unazuki and Keyakidaira stations--the full stretch of the line--from May 6.
The ride offers passengers scenic views of lush green scenery in spring and the changing autumn foliage in the Kurobe Gorge until the end of November.
According to the railway company, which is based in Kurobe, the section between Unazuki and Kanetsuri stations will open two days earlier than scheduled because there was less snowfall this winter. The section between Unazuki and Keyakidaira stations will open four days earlier.
“We appreciate the fact that we can start operations, even if it is only a day sooner,” said a company official.
This year marks the centenary of the opening of the Unazuki Onsen hot spring resort.
Next year, a work route called the Kurobe-Unazuki Canyon Route that connects the Kurobe Dam and Keyakidaira Station will open to the public. The project was implemented by Kansai Electric Power Co., along with other entities, to construct the Kurobe River No. 4 Power Plant and work on related facilities.
At the same time, the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line’s extended section between Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture and Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture is set to open next spring.
“Many big things that are happening (in the region) will help bolster the tourism industry,” the official added.
A one-way fare on or after April 29 will start at 660 yen ($5) for adults and 330 yen for children between Unazuki and Kuronagi stations. One-way tickets for the full stretch between Unazuki and Keyakidaira stations cost 1,980 yen for adults and 990 yen for children.
Until April 28, only round-trip tickets are available for the section between Unazuki and Sasadaira stations. The fee for adults is 1,320 yen and 660 yen for children.
For more details, visit the official website at (https://www.kurotetu.co.jp/en/timetable/).
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