Explore Unazuki Onsen: Ride a famous trolley train and bask in the warmth of Japan's famous hot springs! (Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture)

Upon arrival at Toyama Chiho Railway's Unazuki Onsen Station, you will be greeted by a hot spring fountain emanating natural steam. Touch the warm water, feel the pure white steam on your skin and get ready for the ultimate hot spring vacation!
Unazuki Onsen celebrated its 100th anniversary of opening in 2023. This historic hot spring town has been in business since 1923, and still boasts a whimsical, slow atmosphere to this day. Stroll around and let your body and mind relax!
 

A ‘Toyama Pattern Train’ was introduced in 2022, bringing a vibrant burst of color and cheer to Unazuki Onsen Station.

Be sure to make use of the ‘Unazuki / Kurobe Tabearuki Coupon’ when visiting various stores in Unazuki Onsen town. These convenient coupons are available at the Unazuki Onsen Tourist Information Center on the first floor of the ‘Yumedokoro Unazuki’ public bath. Users can receive special services from their choice of 3 stores for the bargain price of 600 yen. Have fun choosing your favorite stores and enjoy this exclusive bargain!

*Price is as of 2024.

While you’re on the grounds of this famous public bath, why not try the footbath? Feel the power of Japan’s hot springs as your whole body gets warmed just by soaking your feet. This footbath is particularly renowned for its beautifying properties, and is guaranteed to leave your feet feeling silky smooth. Other footbaths in the area include ‘Station Footbath Kuronagi’ on the platform of Unazuki Onsen Station, ‘Omokage’ in Unazuki Park, and ‘Cafe Bonfino Footbath’.

We visited Cafe Mozart, a 3-minute walk from Unazuki Onsen Station. As the name suggests, Mozart music is always playing in the store. When we handed over our coupon, the owner, Minoru Nose, brought us a beautiful sorbet decorated with fresh cream and nuts. The elegant looking desserts and subtle, refreshing flavors perfectly encapsulated the classic atmosphere of our surroundings.

The next stop was Tsuboya, located right next door. Here, visitors can exchange their coupon for a handmade ‘manju’ bun or three Yamabiko rice crackers. We were told we could choose between a brown sugar dough ‘manju’ bun filled with smooth red bean paste, or a soy sauce moromi dough ‘manju’ bun filled with smooth white bean paste. I chose the latter, and tucked it away in my bag to enjoy later at the inn.

We exchanged our last coupon for ‘Una no Tsuki’ from Nakajima Kanko Department Store. ♪ This custard-filled mooncake is exclusively sold in Unazuki Onsen Town and at Kurobe Unazuki Onsen Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line.

There are still many other participating stores to choose from, so have fun selecting your own top 3 from the list♪
 

Right in front of the Kurobe Gorge Railway trolley train starting point of Unazuki Station lies the ‘Kurobe Hydropower Museum’, which features fascinating exhibits related to the water and communities of the Kurobe River. Here, visitors can learn about the construction of ‘Kuroyon (Kurobe Dam - Kurobegawa No.4 Hydro Power Plant)’ which is still talked about as one of the great construction projects of the century, as well as experience a simulated trolley car trip while watching an exciting live video.

The old Nichiden footpath at Shimonorouka on the Kurobe River was excavated for a power source development survey of the river, and is reproduced in full scale here. The experience of walking along the treacherous footpath with jagged cliffs plunging down just a few steps away is a true adrenaline rush, as you can really imagine the rapid flow of the Kurobe River directly below. The excavation of the Omachi Tunnel, which was one of the most difficult parts of the ‘Kuroyon’ construction, is also shown in realistic demolition footage.

The theater screen stands behind a water basin filled with Kurobe's famously clear water. The 3.3m Pelton Water Wheel from the ‘Kuroyon’ is projected on the screen while fine bubbles are generated in the pool below, creating a dynamic display that will thrill both children and adults alike.
In addition, a diorama and panoramic photographs denoting the topography of the Kurobe Gorge and the Northern Alps help visitors easily gauge the locations of Unazuki Onsen, the Kurobe Dam, Tateyama, and Tsurugidake.
The museum's exhibits are interactive and easy-to-understand, so you don't need to be particularly familiar with the Kurobe River or dams to be able to spend an enjoyable time here.
 

Holo-ya is a cozy workshop located in the hot spring resort area, where visitors can try their hand at using a burner to melt and sculpt glass into accessories. The owner, Ryota Horiike, is a talented glass artist on hand to help you create a timeless souvenir of your trip.
We got to choose from a selection of colors and designs, referring to samples created by Horiike himself. Even if you have never tried glass making before, Horiike will carefully instruct you on a one-to-one basis to create something amazing.
At first, I was surprised by the force of the burner, but as I got used to it, I worked out how to control the delicate position of the flame, resulting in a truly rewarding experience.

The completed glass takes 30 minutes to cool down, so we recommend using a coupon to further explore the hot spring resort area during that time.
 

After 30 minutes had passed, we went back to Holo-ya to pick up the finished glass. I finally got to observe the delicately marbled pattern, which had been hard to see during the production process. The necklace strings are available in any color, so I chose brown. “Next time, you could also try your hand at creating a hair band or drinking glass”, Horiike interjected, inspiring me to try something else in future. Holo-ya also sells beautiful glass works created by Horiike.

In the store corner, there are original pouches boasting adorable designs of trolley trains and firefly squids, which are popular souvenirs. There is also a cafe on the second floor that serves tasty meals and desserts.

During the winter months when the trolley train route is closed, the Kurobe Gorge Railway offers the once-in-a-lifetime experience of actually driving one of the famous trolley trains. Before the experience, a real driver shows you how the driver's seat works on a monitor. A breathalyzer test is carried out to measure the level of alcohol on the participant’s breath, then it’s go time!

It was our first time to enter the station premises outside of opening hours, as well as to go down to the tracks. The scenery was all so new and curious, but we barely had time to take it all in as it was time to board the diesel locomotive.
 

The train we boarded was a DD25 diesel locomotive, usually reserved for maintenance and servicing. Settling into the driver's seat, I could see the two rails stretching out in front of the train in a seemingly endless line. Sitting high above ground and gazing upon the tracks and the surrounding scenery from this new perspective was a truly unforgettable experience. The interior is designed to be more compact than I had imagined, and I found that I could easily reach out and operate all the handles and buttons. The driver hopped in next to me and double checked the controls before we finally set off.

We made two round trips on the 150-meter track inside the station. The speed was set slow (8 km/h), but as you will find out if you try this experience, it feels much faster. After the ride, we returned to the reception area to receive a certificate of participation and an exclusive dead stock ‘Kurotetsu’ ticket. Dead stock tickets are hard tickets that are no longer in use and are popular with train enthusiasts.

No matter what season you visit, the warmth of hot springs and magnificent nature will welcome you to Unazuki. Please also check out our special article on trolley trains!