Four Itchy Feet

September 11, 2025. Sounkyo, Japan.

Any exploration of the Sounkyo area should begin at the Daisetsuzan National Park Visitor Center, located in the center of town. The center has a wealth of resources for park visitors and a well-curated exhibition with many interpretive displays.

If you only have one day and the weather is good, we suggest crossing the street to the Mount Kurodake Cable Car and going to the top. From there, you can board ski chairs and go even further up the mountain, where you can find great views and several trails. Mount Kurodake is one of the highest peaks in the Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group, and its summit offers panoramic views of the Daisetsuzan National Park, the largest national park in Japan.

With limited time, we decided to concentrate on the beautiful Sounkyo Gorge and its many waterfalls. Our first stop was O Bako, which translates loosely to “Big Box.” It gets its name from the narrowest part of the canyon, with beautiful rock formations framing the canyon walls.

Our next stop was to visit Ginga Falls, a breathtaking 394 feet tall. From there, we went to the nearby Ryusei Falls, which, at 300 feet, is smaller and less imposing than Ginga, but still a beauty. From ground level, you cannot see both falls at once, but after crossing the parking lot, we ascended the northwest wall of the gorge via a steep trail. Reaching the top, we could see both falls in all their glory. These falls are referred to as the “Female and Male falls.” Ginga, the female, gets her name from the delicate water flow that cascades down in multiple layers like thin, delicate white threads. Ryusei is referred to as the male because of its powerful and thick water flow.

A couple of pictures from the trail. These two are plentiful in the area and you can not help but stop and take a picture.

Our last waterfall of the day was Kinshino Falls. This waterfall is very accessible via a short 700-meter trail that runs parallel to the waterfall as you climb. By the time we reached the top, a thunderstorm had built up over the canyon, and we were soon running down to seek shelter in the car.

Our stay in Sounkyo was short, as it seems to be everywhere we go in Japan. We think the area deserves at least three days to fully explore, but it is certainly a place not to miss when visiting Hokkaido.