- The 2020 Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival which was scheduled to take place Thu. Jan 23 - Sun, March 15 has been cut short until Fri. Feb 28 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
To understand the soul of Hokkaido, leave civilization behind for Daisetsuzan: a national park known to the Ainu as “Kamuimintara”, the playground of the gods.
Daisetsuzan National Park is the largest park in the country, with a total area of 2,267 km sq. – that’s bigger than Tokyo and Kagawa. Its most outstanding feature is the massive mountain range that gives Daisetsuzan the nickname the “roof of Hokkaido”.
Forget the city’s flashy towers; these solemn alpine giants truly deserve the title of skyscraper.
There are plenty of trails to delight any level of hiker. Experienced trekkers can cross the length of the park, from Asahi-dake in the north to Tokachi-dake in the south. This path, known as the Daisetsuzan Grand Traverse, takes 5-7 days to complete, with rest huts and campsites stationed along the way.
Asahi-dake, Hokkaido’s tallest peak, can be summited by day-trippers in 2 to 3 hours (one way) thanks to a head start from the gondola. Starting out near smoking volcanic craters, the ascent feels like climbing into heaven.
However you choose to explore this primeval kingdom, expect to see some of the most spectacular natural scenery Japan has to offer. Rugged mountain peaks crown wide sloping valleys, burbling rivers, and pristine mirror-like ponds. Wildflowers liven up the dales during the summer months, and Daisetsuzan is the first place in Japan where autumn leaves display their rich multicolored hues each year.
You’re sure to spot some locals too: birds and butterflies, squirrels and foxes, and if you’re lucky, limited edition Hokkaido critters like the pika or Ezo deer. Be careful to follow the park’s safety precautions, or you risk running into the brown bears that also call Daisetsuzan home.
If you dig nature but prefer comfort over slogging up mountains, the park also happens to be a hot springs paradise, with multiple rustic resorts scattered around the foot of the mountains, not to mention natural pools hidden deep in the hills. Onsen towns like Sounkyo and Asahidake have information centers for the area, so they’re a good place to base yourself for either a day trip or a longer stay.
From January to March the town of Sounkyo hosts the incredible Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival, featuring an intricate complex of caverns made from ice. The festival venue is actually the scenic riverbed of Ishikari River nearby the popular Sounkyo Onsen Resort. This area is a great winter destination and also has restaurants, cafes and convenience stores along with other natural phenomena.