Sounkyo, Kamikawa
Sounkyo Gorge Beyond the trees, 2 waterfalls descend the cliffs
In autumn Sounkyo, leave the car and enter the woods. Seeing the 2 waterfalls from Sobakudai makes the scale of the cliffs I’d watched from the road feel much more immediate.
An autumn scene in early October. I’d like to take in woodland leaves, rock walls and white waterfalls together.
AutumnEarly October
An autumn morning finding waterfalls beyond the woods
One morning in early October, I left the car and began walking towards Sobakudai. I’d paired a pink fleece with a white scarf, but as I climbed, my body began to warm up.
Stopping in the woods, I saw a white waterfall between the trunks. Shifting my gaze a little farther, I found another beyond. With both hands still on my backpack straps, I looked from one to the other.
This was Sobakudai, where you can see Ryusei Falls and Ginga Falls together. I enjoyed becoming absorbed in one, then finding the other again. Including the nearby trees in my view also let me feel how far away and how large the cliffs with the falls were.
Apparently Sounkyo has sheer cliffs with cracks forming column-like rock shapes. After looking upwards along the waterfalls, I followed the rock’s vertical lines too. With the moving water and the rock formations together, there was more to take in than a single photo could show.
Leaves rustled under my feet, bringing my attention back to the nearby woods. Having walked up the slope, I wanted to take my time here. I loosened my scarf a little and breathed deeply while listening to the falls.
On the way down, I found myself wanting Daisetsu soba from Kamikawa for a meal. Apparently it’s made with local buckwheat flour and natural water from Daisetsuzan. After so many mountain views today, I wanted to enjoy the local aroma before going home too.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Local specialty
Daisetsu soba
Soba made by kneading Kamikawa buckwheat flour with natural water from Daisetsuzan. I’d like to enjoy a meal of this fragrant soba as part of my trip to the gorge.
Highlights
2 waterfalls from Sobakudai
Two waterfalls flow beyond the trees. I enjoyed being absorbed in one, then finding the other again. The water caught my eye, as did the scale of the rock wall beyond.
Cliffs with columnar joints
The gorge runs for about 24 km and includes rock walls around 200 m high. Its vertically arranged rock formations leave a strong impression.
Details for a walk with a view
Sounkyo Gorge — Sobakudai
- Gorge length
- About 24 km
- Walk to Sobakudai
- About 20 minutes from the car park
On a visit to the gorge, walk up the wooded slope to a place where both waterfalls are visible.
About 24 km is the length of the gorge. The official guide estimates about 20 minutes on foot from the waterfalls’ car park to Sobakudai.
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