Kurobe Gorge Railway Full Line Reopens October 1: How to Book

The Kurobe Gorge Railway in Toyama, Japan, will run its full line from Unazuki to Keyakidaira again from Thursday, October 1, 2026, for the first time since the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. The operator’s reopening notice says full service resumes with the first morning train from Unazuki bound for Keyakidaira, and the 2026 season runs until November 30.

If you are planning an autumn trip to the Japan Alps, the reopening brings the gorge’s upper terminus back within reach, but with limits: seats to Keyakidaira are restricted and can only be booked by phone. It also comes a day before the new Kurobe Unazuki Canyon Route begins, which we covered in our report on the underground route from Keyakidaira.

Full Line to Keyakidaira Returns October 1

Service between Nekomata and Keyakidaira had been suspended after rockfall damage on Mount Higashi-Kanetsuri caused by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, Traicy reported in August. Trains have been running only on the lower part of the line since then.

From October 1, the railway says trains will stop at Unazuki, Kuronagi, Kanetsuri and Keyakidaira. Nekomata Station will no longer take passengers. October 1, 2026 falls on a Thursday, and the first train of the day from Unazuki to Keyakidaira is the first to run the full route.

Booking Seats by Phone

The number of passengers on trains to Keyakidaira will be limited, according to Traicy. The operator says reservations for trips between Unazuki and Keyakidaira from October 1 are taken by phone only, while trips between Unazuki and Kuronagi or Kanetsuri can be booked online or by phone. Reservations open three months before the travel date, and the booking line listed in the notice is 0765-62-1011.

Reservations for the autumn season opened on July 8 at 9 a.m., covering travel from September 1 to November 30, according to the operator’s notice and Traicy. Because bookings run three months ahead, every date through the end of the 2026 season is already open for reservations, so there is no reason to wait for a later release of seats. If your dates are flexible, a weekday is worth trying first.

For international visitors, the phone only rule is the biggest hurdle. If you do not speak Japanese, ask your hotel or a travel agent in Japan to call for you, and book as early as you can, since the seat limit means popular autumn dates may fill.

What Is Open at Keyakidaira

Reaching Keyakidaira does not mean the whole area is open. The operator says the Keyakidaira sightseeing area remains partly closed for repair work, and visitors can use only the station building and the visitor center. Traicy also reported that restricted areas stay in place because of construction.

The two intermediate stations stay open for passengers. Kuronagi and Kanetsuri can be booked online as well as by phone, which makes a shorter trip up the lower gorge the easiest option for visitors who cannot arrange a phone booking to Keyakidaira.

That makes the ride itself the main event for most travelers this autumn. Plan a round trip rather than a day of hiking at the top, and check the operator’s site again before you go, since access around Keyakidaira may change as repairs continue.

Timing an Autumn Visit

The season closes on November 30, so the reopening gives travelers about two months to ride the full line in 2026. Travelers taking the new canyon route from Keyakidaira toward Kurobe Dam will want the reopened railway for the Unazuki end of the trip, so check how your package handles the train leg before you book the rest of your itinerary.