Sounkyo Onsen
- Published on : 26/04/2018
- by : I.D.O.
- Youtube
Sounkyo in winter
© Dominic Kurniawan Suryaputra, Unsplash
The canyon of the clouds
Sounkyo Onsen is a spa town nestled in a gorge (nicknamed "Cloud Gorge") in the north of Hokkaido's Daisetsuzan National Park.
Soun Gorge, flanked by 100-metre-high wooded cliffs, runs for 24 km along the Ishikari River and attracts crowds for its lava formations, waterfalls and autumn landscapes.
Sounkyo Onsen, the spa town, is highly developed and home to numerous hotels and ryokan. Sounkyo Onsen is a good starting and finishing point for hikers in Daisetsuzan National Park. In addition to its hot springs, Sounkyo Onsen is also famous for its two waterfalls, which can be reached on foot or by car, as the area is very poorly served by public transport. In the town, deer stroll quietly along the traffic circles, grazing on the grass and forming part of the surrounding landscape.
Heavenly waterfalls
About three kilometers east of the village are the two famous waterfalls. Ginga no Taki ("Milky Way Waterfall"), is made up of small, silvery streams tumbling down the mountain. Ryusei no Taki ("Fall of the Shooting Stars"), on the other hand, is much more powerful and seems to spring from the mountain. Those in a hurry can admire both sites from a parking lot on the other side of a river, while the more adventurous can take the hiking trail (closed in winter) from the parking lot, which climbs the mountain and provides access (in 15-20 minutes) to an observation platform.
Five kilometers further up the valley, along the main road, the Obako ("big box") and Kobako ("little box") rock formations are also must-sees.
These sites are very busy with tourist groups, so don't expect much serenity, especially in autumn (mid-September to mid-October, depending on location) when the wooded cliffs turn yellow and red! The area is known as one of the earliest places to admire autumn foliage.
Ginga waterfall in Sounkyo
© RJD, wikimedias
Welcome baths
The village is best appreciated for its many hot springs. Those who don't stay at a hotel can still take advantage of the baths that some hotels and ryokan make available to all (entrance fee applies), or the Kurodake no Yu public bath in the town center. There are indoor and outdoor baths (not for men and women). You'll find indoor and outdoor baths, surrounded by nature.
Sounkaku hotel in Sounkyo Onsen
© Soica2001, wikimedias
Ever higher
Sounkyo Onsen also offers the opportunity to hike in Daisetsuzan National Park and to climb Mount Kurodake. The Kurodake Ropeway is located right next to the Sounkyo Visitor Center, behind the town center. From here, a chairlift takes you to the top of Mount Kurodake in an hour. If you wish to continue hiking, you can take a tour of the Daisetsuzan crater.
In winter, there's a ski resort called Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Kurodake, where you can ski down the slopes using the cable car and chairlift.
Sounkyo festivals
From the end of January to the end of March, the Sounkyo Onsen Hyobaku Matsuri (Ice Waterfall Festival) takes place, where numerous works of snow and ice are exhibited. In summer, Ainu culture takes center stage with an evening show in the village square, including a fireworks display at the end!
Tips:
- Sounkyo is part of rural Japan, so most restaurants and stores (including konbinis) close very early ! So try to plan your days accordingly.
- If you'd like to go hiking, follow the advice you'll find locally, especially at the Sounkyo Visitor Center. You can get information on how to hike in Daisetsuzan National Park, maps, recommended routes and information on the flora and fauna present in the park, specifically the bears!
How do I get to Sounkyo Onsen?
By public transport
Sounkyo Onsen can only be reached by Hokkaido JR Bus 81 (81 Sounkyo 層雲峡). You can take it directly from Asahikawa (2 h) or from Kamikawa.
From Sapporo: In addition to the bus mentioned above, you'll need to reach Asahikawa or Kamikawa with the Okhotsk express train (2 hrs. 20 min.) for a price of 7,130 yen. With the JR Pass and the Hokkaido Pass, this trip is free!
By car
Please note that most of the sites around Sounkyo Onsen, such as the waterfalls, are not accessible by public transport. That's why renting a car can be extremely useful! Don't forget to have your driver's license translated if it was issued in France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan.
Travel easily with the JR Pass!
Address, timetable & access
Address
Timetable
Direct bus from Asahikawa station (2 hours) or train to JR Kamikawa station (40 - 70 minutes depending on train) then bus (30 minutes).Website
http://www.sounkyo.net/english/
