Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Experience a dynamic summer festival at the foot of the Japan Heritage-listed Daisetsuzan Mountains. In Sounkyo Onsen, ancient Ainu rituals and spectacular fireworks illuminate the dramatic canyon walls.

At the base of the Daisetsuzan Mountains—known as Kamui Mintara or "The Garden where the Gods Play"—a mystical summer night unfolds in Sounkyo Onsen, a village embraced by towering cliffs. This region is recognized as a Japan Heritage site, where the Kamikawa Ainu traditional dances have been preserved for generations. The rhythmic chanting and the distinct rustle of traditional costumes transport visitors back to the ancient roots of Hokkaido. As flickering torchlight bathes the canyon in a deep crimson glow, the energetic beats of Fire Festival drums and captivating fire performers fill the air with an intensity that electrifies the entire venue.

The festival reaches its crescendo with massive fireworks that blanket the canyon’s night sky. Each brilliant burst of light vividly illuminates the sheer, columnar jointed rock faces of the surrounding cliffs. The roar of the explosions reflects off the four walls of the precipice, creating a deep, resonant bass that vibrates through your entire body, transforming the quiet hot spring town into a theater of sound and light. Feel the radiant heat of the dancing sparks and the faint scent of gunpowder carried on the night breeze as you immerse yourself in the powerful, raw energy of Hokkaido’s north woods.