Sounkyo Gorge Autumn Leaves (Daisetsuzan) 2026 Confirmed

層雲峡(大雪山)の紅葉 — Kamikawa, Hokkaido (Hokkaido)

Sounkyo Gorge cuts through the Daisetsuzan mountains beneath towering columnar cliffs, and it hosts the earliest autumn colors in all of Japan — the summit of Mount Kurodake starts turning in early September, with the show descending to the gorge floor through mid-October. Peak viewing runs mid-September to mid-October. The Kurodake Ropeway lifts you straight into the alpine color zone, and at night the 'Kiseki no Illuminate' event lights up the foliage valley from roughly mid-September to mid-October.

Background

The gorge sits inside Daisetsuzan National Park, Japan's largest national park, sacred to the Ainu who called these mountains Kamuy Mintar — the playground of the gods. The poetic name Sounkyo, 'gorge of layered clouds,' was coined in the early 20th century, and a hot-spring resort grew up at its base.

Getting there

Take the JR limited express from Sapporo or Asahikawa to Kamikawa Station, then the Dohoku bus about 30 minutes to Sounkyo Onsen. The Kurodake Ropeway departs from the village. Check the ropeway's operating status before you go — high winds and early snow can suspend service in fall.

Tips

• Ride the ropeway before 9am on weekends — lines build fast at peak color and waits can stretch past an hour.
• Pack real layers: the Kurodake summit area can see snow as early as September even when the village below is mild.
• Don't skip the twin waterfalls Ginga-no-taki and Ryusei-no-taki, a short bus or bike ride down the gorge from the onsen town.
• Stay overnight to catch the Kiseki no Illuminate foliage light-up — day-trippers on the last bus back to Kamikawa miss it.