Sarutobi Canyon

Sarutobi Canyon cuts through the upper reaches of the Kurobe River in Toyama, named for a legend that monkeys once leapt across its narrowest point. The gorge walls are granite, the pools below are deep green, and the surrounding forest is old growth. You reach it via the Kurobe Gorge Railway from Unazuki Onsen, a narrow-gauge scenic train that runs deep into the mountains. At Sarutobi, short walking trails along the river bring you close to the rock formations and rapids. In autumn, the canyon walls turn red and orange from top to bottom. The area sits inside Chubu-Sangaku National Park, and the combination of the train ride and the walk alongside the rushing water makes it one of the more satisfying half-days in the region.