Sounkyo Gorge Autumn Leaves (Daisetsuzan) 2026 Confirmed
層雲峡(大雪山)の紅葉 — Kamikawa, Hokkaido (Hokkaido)
✓ No booking needed
- Typical peak
- Tue, Sep 15 – Thu, Oct 15, 2026
- Venue
- Sounkyo Gorge, Daisetsuzan National Park
- Illumination
- “Miracle Illuminate” light-up in Momiji Valley, typically mid-September to mid-October.
- Tickets
- The gorge itself is free. Kurodake Ropeway from Sounkyo up to the 5th station: adult ¥3,000 return / ¥1,800 one way, elementary school ¥1,500 / ¥900; the ride takes 7 minutes and runs every 20 minutes. The chairlift on to the 7th station is a separate ¥1,200 return / ¥800 one way for adults. Ropeway hours shift with the season — 6:00am–6:00pm until Sep 30, then 7:00am–5:00pm Oct 1–15 and 8:00am–4:00pm from Oct 16. The last ride up is 40 minutes before closing.
- Official site
- sounkyo.net
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.
Tickets & tours for this event
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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.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to see Sounkyo Gorge Autumn Leaves (Daisetsuzan)?
- Autumn color here usually peaks Sep 15 – Oct 15. Color depends on how cold the nights have been, and peak can land a week either side of the usual window, so check a foliage forecast about a week out.
Maintained by Tetsu Yamamoto · Last verified against the official source: Sat, September 12, 2026
More to see while you’re there
- Autumn Leaves across Japan in October 2026 (21 events)