basic information

Sounkyo is a touristy hot spring resort in a narrow valley of Daisetsuzan National Park with a pleasant village center, nice baths and beautiful waterfalls. It is also a good base for walks and hiking tours into the national park.

The Sounkyo Ropeway (round trip: 1750 Yen) departs from next to the Sounkyo Visitor Center in the recently redeveloped village center. It is followed by a chair lift (round trip: 600 Yen), which brings you to within a 1-2 hour hike of the summit of Mount Kurodake (1984 meters).

The classic 1-2 day tour for advanced hikers continues from the summit of Kurodake to the summit of Asahidake, from where one can descend to Asahidake Onsen.

Down in the gorge near Sounkyo, there are two beautiful waterfalls, which can be enjoyed from a large parking lot or from a small observation deck reached via a steep walking trail in about 15-20 minutes from the parking lot.

A popular cycling road through the gorge had to be closed completely recently, due to the road's bad condition. It is not clear whether it will ever be re-opened.

Village Center

Waterfalls

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how to get there

There are seven buses per day from Asahikawa Station (80 minutes, 4170 Yen by limited express train from Sapporo) to Sounkyo, taking about 50 minutes and costing 1900 Yen.

Alternatively, you can ride the train as far as Kamikawa Station (140 minutes, 5670 Yen by direct limited express train from Sapporo), and take a bus from there (30 minutes, 770 Yen, 11 buses/day).

How to get to and around Daisetsuzan National Park

travel community

Users who have been to Daisetsuzan: 52
Users who have been to Sounkyo Onsen: 28

1st of 3 most visited sights in Daisetsuzan.
310th of 509 most visited sights nationwide.

Rating by users:		recommended (85/100, 11 votes)
Rating by staff:		recommended
Overall Rating:		outstanding

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