Unazuki Onsen

Starting point for the Kurobe Gorge Railway, a scenic 20-kilometer journey through one of Japan's deepest V-shaped valleys, stopping at remote hot springs and hiking trailheads accessible only by train. The town's alkaline hot spring water is exceptionally clear, and several ryokan and public baths offer outdoor pools above the turquoise Kurobe River. A free foot bath near the station lets you sample the water while waiting to board. Autumn foliage from late October through November fills the gorge with red and gold. A fountain near the bridge shows off the water's clarity and mineral quality.