Kanetsuri
Hot Spring Overview
Kanetsuri Riverbed Hot Spring is a rustic hot spring located in the Kurobe Gorge in Unazuki Town, Kurobe City, Toyama Prefecture. Hot spring water naturally wells up from the riverbed of the Kurobe River, offering a very rare style of bathing where visitors can dig into the riverbed themselves, surround the area with stones, and create their own personal open-air bath. The spring was discovered in 1819 (Bunsei 2) when a villager noticed monkeys bathing in the water, making it the oldest hot spring in the Kurobe Gorge. Currently, it is under the management of the Kanetsuri Onsen Ryokan and is open free of charge to general tourists (not just overnight guests) from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. This hot spring provides an extremely valuable natural experience, allowing visitors to bathe while surrounded by the magnificent nature of the Kurobe Gorge, with views of the flowing Kurobe River and the surrounding cliffs and giant rocks.
Hot Spring Details
Practical Info
Visit Log
Bath Types
Facilities
Access Information
To access the Kanetsuri Riverbed Hot Spring, visitors must use the Kurobe Gorge Railway's Torokko (trolley) train. From JR Hokuriku Line's Uozu Station, transfer to the Toyama Chiho Railway, then transfer again to the Kurobe Gorge Railway's Torokko train at Unazuki Station, and get off at Kanetsuri Station. From Kanetsuri Station, walk along the path beside the Kurobe River for about 2-3 minutes, then descend 141 steep steps to reach the riverbed where the hot spring is located. Access is only possible by public transportation, and private vehicles cannot reach the area directly. The Torokko train operates only from May to early November, and the area is closed during winter. The total walking time from Kanetsuri Station to the riverbed is about 10-15 minutes, and the return journey up the stairs requires considerable physical exertion due to the steep incline. Additionally, access may be restricted when the water level of the Kurobe River rises, so it is recommended to check with the station staff at Kanetsuri Station before visiting.
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About Secluded Rating
Access (Difficulty to Reach)
Within 1 hour
Access by private car is completely impossible, with public transportation being the only means of reaching the site. Moreover, since the Kurobe Gorge Railway's Torokko train operates only from May to early November, the area is completely inaccessible during winter.
The bathing style epitomizes the essence of a "wild bath," where visitors dig into the riverbed to create their own personal hot spring bath surrounded by stones.
However, since one does not walk along a mountain trail from the Torokko station, I have evaluated it as Level 4.