Hot springs in Sounkyo

Sounkyo Onsen sits at the bottom of one of Hokkaido's most striking gorges, hemmed in by columnar basalt walls that climb up to 150 meters above the Ishikari River. Daisetsuzan National Park wraps around the town on every side. A walking path through the gorge ranks among the best hikes on the island. Each February, ice sculptures cover the valley floor for a seasonal festival. Come autumn, the cliff faces shift to deep golds and reds.