Sounkyo Hyoubaku ice Festival, Mount Kurodake, Ginga and Ryusei no Taki waterfall

It a pleasure driving in Hokkaido, awesome scenery down the street to highway, and no heavy traffic. Everywhere you could snap beautiful photos. The winter season was magnificent especially you were someone who adored clean and neat environment.
Now we were heading to Sounkyo which offers many onsen bath resorts and two beautiful waterfalls nearby. Our itinerary was to catch the last day of the Sounkyo Hyoubaku ice Festival.

Sharing the awesome scenery on our journey to Sounkyo

It took about 1 hour 30 mins to hit our hotspring hotel

Sounkyo was a touristy hot spring resort town in the north of Daisetsuzan National Park. 

It was located in a scenic forested cliffs which flanked by 100 meter high narrow gorge.

After check in hotel, we moved on to visit the famous waterfall - Ginga and Ryusei no Taki 

We drove to point 5 (map) about 5 mins away. It's was huge parking area and we could viewed

from observation deck across the river.

*Alert on point 4 (map) where you needed to turn right as we coming from hotel. 

Watch for oncoming traffic as it's was a two-way traffic.

The clear sky, sound of water streaming down from the gorgeous gorge was therapeutics.

Close your eyes now and feel them.

Ginga no Taki (Milky Way Falls) 

The water turned into ice.

Ryusei no Taki (Shooting Star Falls) 

Experience the strength of Ryu Sei, and contrasting Gin Ga waterfall that flow

like a thin white string. They are known as husband and wife waterfalls. 

But during winter you might not witness them.

It was very cold and windy. *Be well prepared - winter attires.

Map point 2 

Sounkyo visitor centre to find out more about the area.

Wow.... so many places closed.

Mount Kurodake is 1984 meter high peak that towers over Sounkyo Onsen. 

The ropeway was closed due to windy weather. 

You shocked because of the bear or me?!?

If you drive further up, you will get to Hotel Taisetsu, which was one of the 

famous and expensive hotel around Sounkyo.

Last day of Sounkyo Hyoubaku ice Festival. 

The ice sculptures looked like melting, as the shape changed. So i believed early months

would be colder. That would be too cold for me.

Not too expensive

You can check their schedules and make plan.

Can you guess how many times i had to run into the food stand to keep myself warm?

Many hiding here as well.

You won't feel cold inside. Very comfortable.

Getting dark soon and the colorful lights enhanced the mood.

Help! Help! Help!

>>> Hokkaido Winter Free and Easy Self Drive Must Visit itinerary