Sounkyo Onsen is a scenic hot spring resort in Kamikawa, Hokkaido, located at the entrance to the spectacular Sounkyo Gorge within Daisetsuzan National Park. Known for its abundant hot spring waters and dramatic columnar-jointed cliffs, the area is also famous for some of the earliest autumn foliage in Japan.
The resort town stretches along the gorge, with hotels and traditional Japanese inns creating a welcoming base for exploring the mountains. The central area has been developed as Canyon Mall, inspired by mountain resorts in Canada, giving the town a distinctive atmosphere that blends Hokkaido’s wilderness with a touch of Western-style resort design.
Sounkyo Onsen offers a particularly appealing combination of hot springs, dramatic mountain scenery, hiking, and seasonal activities. From the town, the Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Kurodake Ropeway climbs toward Mount Kurodake, providing spectacular views over the surrounding mountains.
After reaching the fifth station, visitors can continue by lift toward the seventh station, where alpine plants flourish during the warmer months. The area is also home to wildlife such as Siberian chipmunks and rabbits, making the journey especially enjoyable for nature lovers.
The hot spring resort is surrounded by the striking scenery of Sounkyo Gorge, where enormous cliffs of columnar-jointed volcanic rock rise along the river. The combination of towering rock walls, forests, waterfalls, and the clear mountain air creates one of the most impressive landscapes in the Daisetsuzan area.
Among the best-known sights are Ginga Falls and Ryusei Falls. Ginga Falls plunges approximately 120 meters, while Ryusei Falls drops around 90 meters. Together, the two waterfalls create a spectacular natural panorama that changes with the seasons.
Other scenic areas, including Obako, are also close to the resort. Hiking and cycling routes allow visitors to experience the gorge at a slower pace while taking in its cliffs and forests.
Sounkyo Onsen is blessed with abundant hot spring water. Its waters are described as colorless and transparent, with spring types including sulfate springs and bicarbonate springs. The mineral-rich waters have traditionally been enjoyed for relaxation and recovery from fatigue.
Hotels and Japanese inns throughout the resort offer a variety of bathing facilities, including large communal baths, indoor baths, and open-air baths. After a day of hiking or sightseeing in the mountains, soaking in a hot spring while surrounded by the scenery of Daisetsuzan is one of the area’s great pleasures.
Sounkyo is renowned for its beautiful autumn foliage and is known as one of the places in Japan where the leaves change color particularly early. As summer gives way to autumn, the forests around the gorge gradually turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
The contrast between colorful forests and the rugged cliffs of the gorge creates an especially striking landscape. The changing leaves can be enjoyed from the resort itself, along hiking routes, and from the ropeway as it climbs toward Mount Kurodake.
Winter transforms Sounkyo into a world of snow and ice. Skiing and snowboarding are popular activities in the surrounding mountains, while the resort’s snowy streets and frozen landscapes create a completely different atmosphere from the warmer seasons.
One of the highlights of winter is the annual Sounkyo Onsen Ice Waterfall Festival, when enormous ice structures are illuminated at night. The combination of naturally formed ice, colorful lighting, and the surrounding winter landscape creates a fantastical experience unique to Hokkaido.
During the snow-free seasons, Sounkyo Onsen serves as an excellent base for exploring Daisetsuzan National Park. The surrounding mountains offer opportunities for hiking and trekking at a range of levels, while nearby scenic routes can also be explored by bicycle.
The ropeway provides an easy way to gain elevation and access the higher mountain environment. From the upper stations, visitors can encounter alpine vegetation and enjoy expansive views that are difficult to experience from the valley floor.
Sounkyo Onsen began developing as a tourist destination in the 1950s, after the Second World War, alongside the expansion of tourism in the Daisetsuzan mountain region. Hotels, inns, and other visitor facilities gradually developed around the hot springs, establishing the resort as an important gateway to the national park.
Today, Sounkyo combines the convenience of a well-established hot spring resort with direct access to one of Hokkaido’s most spectacular mountain environments. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing stay while also exploring waterfalls, cliffs, forests, alpine landscapes, and seasonal events.
Sounkyo Onsen is a destination where hot springs and wilderness come together. Spring brings fresh greenery and alpine flowers, summer offers hiking and trekking through the mountains, autumn paints the gorge in brilliant colors, and winter covers the landscape in snow and ice.
For travelers exploring the Daisetsuzan area, Sounkyo Onsen is more than a place to stay overnight. It is a gateway to some of Hokkaido’s most dramatic scenery and an inviting place to experience the mountains, hot springs, local hospitality, and changing beauty of the seasons.
30 minutes by bus from Kamikawa Station