Hokkaido Official Tourism Site HOKKAIDO LOVE!

Experience the primeval beauty of a 24km canyon where 200m cliffs and cascading waterfalls create a breathtaking natural masterpiece.

Stretching for about 24km along the upper Ishikari River at the northern foot of the Daisetsuzan Mountains, Sounkyo Gorge is a grand landscape defined by dramatic columnar jointing. This area, known to the Ainu people as "Kamuy-mintar" or the "Playground of the Gods," has preserved its ancient, untouched appearance since time immemorial. Originally called "Sounbetsu"—meaning "river with many waterfalls" in the Ainu language—the gorge was given its current name by the literary figure Omachi Keigetsu in 1921. Here, vertical rock walls reach heights of about 200m, with numerous waterfalls tracing white ribbons of spray as they plunge down the rugged stone faces.

From the vast virgin forests surrounding the valley, the fragrance of the changing seasons drifts through the air, while the roar of the falls and the songs of wild birds echo through the canyon. Deep within this natural wonder, high-quality hot springs bubble up, offering a gentle healing embrace for the body and soul. In winter, the Sounkyo Hyobaku Festival transforms the area into a mystical realm of illuminated ice sculptures. For a panoramic view of Kamuy-mintar’s splendor, take the Kurodake Ropeway and chairlift to the 7th station of Mt. Kurodake, standing 1,984m above sea level.