The Kurobe Unazuki Canyon Route was opened to the press ahead of its general opening on 2 October. The new sightseeing route connects Keyakidaira Station and Kurobe Dam, offering views of mountainous scenery across an elevation difference of approximately 870 m over about 3 hours using 5 types of transport.
The Kurobe Unazuki Canyon Route, connecting Keyakidaira Station in Kurobe and Kurobe Dam in Tateyama, was opened to the press as a new sightseeing route. While access had previously often been limited to organized tours, an overview of its operation was presented ahead of the general opening.
The route was developed in connection with the construction of Kansai Electric Power's Kurobe River No. 3 and No. 4 power stations. It covers approximately 18 km, using 5 forms of transport in sequence: a trolley train, a vertical-shaft elevator, a battery-powered locomotive, an incline railway and a dedicated bus. The journey takes about 3 hours, with an elevation difference of approximately 870 m.
The facilities are still used for maintaining power-generation facilities and transporting construction materials. Under an agreement between the prefecture and Kansai Electric Power, the route will be sold as a travel product, and reports said demand exceeded capacity. The impact of the Noto Peninsula Earthquake was cited as a reason for the postponement.
4 one-night, two-day courses are already on sale, priced at approximately ¥120,000 to ¥180,000. Operations are scheduled to continue until late November this fiscal year, and guides have described the route as an opportunity to experience the history of electricity that contributed to the economic growth of the Showa era.