[1] However, the pronunciation of the name has variations, including じんずうがわ (Jinzū-gawa) and じんつうがわ (Jintsū-gawa).

[2][3] The Jinzū River flows from a source at 1,626 metres (5,335 ft) on the slopes of Mount Kaore in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture and meets the Takahara River at the border between Gifu and Toyama Prefectures.

[4] From the border it flows generally north and empties into Toyama Bay on the Sea of Japan.

Toyama City Hall and other governments are located on the reclaimed land of the old river.

The river was polluted with cadmium due to mining and caused the itai-itai disease in the downstream towns around World War II.