At Sounkyo Choyotei, you can enjoy scenic views from your bath that are unique to Sounkyo Gorge. Soak yourself in hot spring waters and enjoy the magnificent panorama of Daisetsuzan National Park.

Choyozan - Mt. Choyo (photo) - set beneath the vast open skies provides a magnificent backdrop to the view. You can indulge yourself in a luxurious rotenburo (open-air bath) with Mt. Choyo rising in front of you as you soak in hot water.

Experience the unique power and looming intensity of the steep rocks of Sounkyo Gorge. The male and female bathing areas are switched over in the morning and evening so that you can enjoy different views depending on the time of day. If you like hot spring bathing, then there's no more magnificent hospitality that you can experience than this!

There are two spacious baths available for you to try: Kurodake, the giant 40m long public bath, made of glass, where you can enjoy magnificent views of the valley, or the soothing water of Keisatsu, with its relaxed atmosphere and subdued lighting.

If you want to try a few different hot springs, then we suggest you take the hot spring shuttle bus (free), which travels around the affiliated Choyo resort hotels in the area and allows you to bathe at each one.

Something else to enjoy at Choyotei is the cooking, which makes full use of seasonal ingredients. In the buffet menu, you’ll enjoy a sumptuous spread of Japanese, Western and Chinese dishes with beautiful seasonal views of Sounkyo from the large windows in the restaurant. If you want to eat your meal in calmer and more relaxed surroundings, then we recommend Kitabanya. There’s also a private room available where you can sit around an irori (hearth) and relax informally.

Access is very convenient with a free shuttle bus running regularly from Sapporo Station and Asahikawa Station. Bookings close as soon as the bus is full, so we suggest you book early via the reservation form on the website. This is ideal for anyone who wants to spend an entire day at Sounkyo Onsen.

■ Number of rooms: 252 rooms
■ Baths: 3 large public baths (outdoor 1, indoor 2)
■ Check-in from 3:00 PM; check out by 10:00 AM.
■ Languages: English is spoken. English information on the website
■ Access: 25 minutes by car from Kamikawa Sounkyo IC

A striking Sounkyo Onsen hotel, standing at the highest elevation of all of the hotels in the area. Hotel Taisetsu is a popular hot spring inn with three large public baths and two outdoor baths.

You can enjoy the majesty of Daisetsuzan with stunning views from the Taisetsu-no-yu bathhouse (photo: above) on the 7th floor of the West Wing.

On the first floor of the South Wing, you’ll find the impressive European-style giant public bath, Chinita-no-yu (photo: below), with its luxurious and exotic décor. Relax and warm your body here.

On the third floor of the annex, Taisetsusanso, which has the feel of a snowy mountain lodge, is Keikoku Rotenburo Tenka-no-yu (Open-air bath with a view of the valley). Enjoy bracing views of the valley from your outdoor bath. It’s a simple sulfur spring, coming directly from the source, with water added to bring the temperature down – just right for soothing and comforting your tired body.

Between 3:00 and 5:00 PM, Tenka-no-yu, the outdoor bath, can be reserved for private use for periods of 50 minutes (reservation required one day in advance). It costs 3,000 yen for groups of up to 5 people or 5,000 yen for more than five people. You can bathe like royalty in your own private spa with a fantastic view. It’s a romantic experience.

As well as this, the Sounkyo Onsen hotel also offers nine rooms with three different types of private onsen baths. This is recommended for those who want to take a private onsen time with their families.

Between 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM, you can also get a hot spring day pass (800 yen adults, 600 yen children). It’s a perfect place to stop during a drive.

Kaiseki meals are served as well as the buffet to allow you to taste the full range of Hokkaido produce.

The hotel prides itself on the hot spring experience it offers here and its outstanding hospitality.

■ Number of rooms: 215 rooms
■ Baths: 3 large public baths (outdoor 2, indoor 1), 1 private reservation outdoor bath.
■ Check-in from 3:00 PM; check out by 10:00 AM.
■ Languages: English and Chinese spoken. English and Chinese information on the website
■ Access: 25 minutes by car from Kamikawa Sounkyo IC

Sounkyo Kankou Hotel is built on the banks of the Ishikari River. You can almost feel the magnificent nature of Sounkyo Gorge touching you.

The key feature here is Utari, the considerable valley outdoor bath, the largest of its kind in Hokkaido.

The site itself measures around 660 sq. The open-air bath (photo) is made of rocks and stretches over 330 sq. meters, much larger than a standard bath of this type. It’s a dramatic sight. The waterfall comes down from the rocks from a height of around 6m, a thrill that catches you unawares. The Ishikari River flows down along the side. Enjoy the babbling sounds of the water changing according to the season.

Another feature is the mixed onsen bathing with your own unique yukata. The whole family can go in the same open-air bath. There are specially prepared yukata available in the male and female changing rooms, so you’ll be comfortable if you’re not used to taking your clothes off in the spa.

The buffet serves 50 different dishes, making full use of locally harvested seasonal ingredients. It’s a lavish spread, and the snow crab is all-you-can-eat. The chefs prepare the food in front of you. You can taste the different seasons of Hokkaido. Try some teppanyaki or fried tempura dishes made freshly. This hot spring hotel is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy onsen with their families or as part of a group.

■ Number of rooms: 242 rooms
■ Baths: 4 large public baths (outdoor 2, indoors 2)
■ Check-in from 3:00 PM; check out by 10:00 AM.
■ Languages: English, Chinese spoken English information on the website
■ Access: 20 minutes by car from Kamikawa Sounkyo IC

The Kurodake Ropeway (cable car) climbs up from the town (670m elevation) to the 5th station of Mount Kurodake (1300m altitude) in the space of only 7 minutes. It’s a must-visit location in Sounkyo Onsen if you want to enjoy majestic views of Daisetsuzan in all its finery.

The Yumoto Ginsenkaku Hotel is just a minute’s walk away from the Sounkyo Ropeway Station.

The main attraction of this hotel is its 100% natural hot spring that flows straight from the source. It’s a simple hot spring. There’s nothing here that will irritate your skin, and the waters feel soft and gentle.

As well as the large public baths and the outdoor baths, there’s also a family bath available for private use and a footbath in front of the hotel. The footbath can be used free of charge by anyone who wants, so it’s a beautiful place to come when you’re sightseeing round here on the ropeway.

The hotel prides itself on using seasonal ingredients in its cuisine. It serves three kinds of nabe (hot-pot) dishes - yakuzen hinabe (firepot with medicinal herbs), yosenabe (chowder), and mizutaki (simmered in broth with dipping sauce) - as well as buffet meals or set meals featuring luxury ingredients. All meals have a “drink as much you like” option, so you’ll always get a great deal.

Kurodake is an ideal mountain for novice climbers. Take the ropeway and the lift to the 7th Station of the slipe, and you can get from there to the top in about 90 minutes. If you stay at Yumoto Ginzenkaku, you won't have to walk far to revive yourself in the onsen after your hike or enjoy a delicious meal of seasonal ingredients. This is a great place to stay if you're planning on doing activities in Sounkyo.

RV rentals are a great way to see a new side of Japan from the open road! Use LIVE JAPAN's promo code below to get 5% OFF your rental now.
・Promo code: LiveJapan_coupon_02
・On the "Request for a Quote" page, enter the promo code to get your discount.