Sounkyo Onsen
Located in the middle of Taisetsuzan National Park,
Sounkyo welcomes many as the eminent spot from which
to explore the surrounding area. Hot spring hotels where
guests can relax both the mind and body line the length
of the gorge and attract a number of visitors from both
the rest of Japan and abroad.
Hotels
Choyo Tei
Located on the highest point in Sounkyo Onsen, the hotel's rooftop grand bath is notable for the year round commanding view of the valley it affords to guests. Visitors can also enjoy the sumptuousness of the Japanese north at the Kita Banya restaurant, a leader in offering impressive gourmet cuisine always using seasonal ingredients.
Choyo Resort Hotel
Enjoy 5 different baths, 2 varieties of hot springs and a buffet with seasonal ingredients for a casual stay with either family or friends.
Sightseeing Information
Ginganotaki Falls & Ryuseinotaki Falls
Against the backdrop of a parking lot viewing area only 5 minutes by car from the hot spring resort area lie the Ginganotaki and Ryuseinotaki waterfalls. To the left, the Ginganotaki Falls flow down like threads of white from several streaks of water off of a 120m high cliff. To the right are the Ryuseinotaki Falls where a single wide stream flows down from a cliff 90m above. With the Ryuseinotaki Falls considered to be male and the Ginganotaki Falls female, the combined falls are known as the "Married Couple" falls and are one of the top 100 waterfalls in Japan.
Access: Roughly 3km from the Sounkyo hot spring resort area
Map
Asahiyama Zoo
Currently the hottest zoo in Japan, the secret to Asahiyama Zoo's popularity lies in its how its unique facilities have been constructed tailoring to the needs of the wildlife of the park. Domed observation ports allow for the up close inspection of polar bears, seals swim gracefully by in a cylindrical water tank and penguins seemingly fly overhead in an aquarium tunnel, allowing visitors to see these energetic animals in both summer and winter.
Address: Kuranuma, Higashi Asahikawa-cho, Asahikawa-shi
Map
Access
From Asahikawa Station (Asahi Bldg.), 40 min. by Asahikawa Denkikidou Bus #41 or #47 to the Asahiyama Zoo and a final 1 min on foot
Park Hours
Summer Season (end of Apr. - end of Oct.): 9:30 – 17:15
Winter Season (beginning of Nov. - beginning of Apr.)
Tel: 0166-34-1104
Admission: Adults 580 yen, middle school age and under free
Website: http://www5.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp/asahiyamazoo/
