Sounkyo Onsen
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.
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.
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.
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.
Next week, we plan a koyo reporting trip to the Kurobe-Tateyama Alpen Route.
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List of Posts:
2008/12/03 - Kamakura Report 2008/11/26 - Tokyo Report 2008/11/21 - Kyoto Report (4/4) 2008/11/20 - Kyoto Report (3/4) 2008/11/20 - Miyajima 2008/11/19 - Kyoto Report (2/4) 2008/11/18 - Kyoto Report (1/4) 2008/11/18 - Mino Park 2008/11/12 - Fuji Five Lakes 2008/11/05 - Nikko (2) 2008/10/29 - Lake Towada 2008/10/28 - Shirakami Sanchi (2) 2008/10/27 - Shirakami Sanchi 2008/10/21 - Nishizawa Valley 2008/10/16 - Nikko 2008/10/10 - Akagiyama 2008/10/08 - Shiretoko Peninsula 2008/10/07 - Lake Mashu and Kussharo 2008/10/06 - Lake Akan 2008/10/03 - Tateyama Alpen Route 2008/09/26 - Sounkyo Onsen 2008/09/25 - Daisetsu Kogen Onsen 2008/09/24 - Mount Asahidake |
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