Sounkyo Onsen, nestled deep within Daisetsuzan National Park, hosts one of Hokkaido's most celebrated koyo festivals each autumn. Sheer basalt columns rise up to 150 metres on either side of the Ishikari River, their faces draped in crimson and gold foliage. Evening illuminations cast the canyon walls in warm light, creating a magical contrast with the steaming onsen town below. Visitors can combine gorge walks, cable-car rides to higher elevations, and a soak in riverside hot springs for a full seasonal experience.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Autumn Leaves
- Season
- Autumn
- Month
- Late September to Late October
- Region
- Hokkaido
- Prefecture
- Hokkaido
- City
- Kamikawa
Highlights
- ◆Illuminated gorge walls after sunset during the festival period
- ◆Cable car and ropeway access to panoramic alpine koyo views
- ◆Peak colour typically arrives earlier than elsewhere, mid-September at altitude
- ◆Riverside onsen hotels offer foliage views from open-air baths
- ◆Proximity to Ginga and Ryusei waterfalls framed by autumn colour