Sounkyo Onsen

Autumn Color Blog 2008
by japan-guide.com

This is the official japan-guide.com autumn color blog for 2008 about our reporting trips to various autumn leaf spots across Japan. Check our page on Autumn Leaves for general information.

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2008/09/26 - Sounkyo Onsen

by schauwecker

The most popular and most developed (over-developed in the opinion of some) base for exploring Daisetsuzan National Park is Sounkyo Onsen. The hot spring resort is located in a beautiful valley with waterfalls nearby and a ropeway to Mount Kurodake, the tallest peak in the area.

Trees around the waterfalls near Sounkyo only just started to turn colors

Down in the valley, some trees have started to change colors, however, the peak of the koyo (autumn leaf) season is still more than a week away. Although it was a weekday, one bus after the other delivered tour groups to the waterfalls just outside Sounkyo. Sunshine was mixing with rain drops.

View of Kurodake from the ropeway station's observation deck (Mount Kurodake 5th Station)

In order to catch the trees in full autumn colors, a ropeway ride to the 5th Station of Mount Kurodake was required. Colors are currently best around the 7th Station, which can be reached in an additional chair lift ride. The views, however, were more enjoyable from the ropeway station's observation deck, as the weather suddenly took a turn to the worse.

The chair lift ride was not a complete waste of time, either

I was sitting on the chair lift to the 7th Station when rain and snow started to pour onto myself and other chair lift passengers who falsely hoped for more spectacular views around the 7th Station. Wet and cold, I had to add a visit to Sounkyo's public hot spring bath, Kurodake no Yu, to my trip schedule after descending into the valley.