Kamikawa: Discover Kurodake and Waterfalls

Kamikawa combines a mountain ride up Kurodake with the Momijidani Trail to Momijidaki Waterfall. From Sōunkyō Onsen, the ropeway takes you up the mountain; the trail starts at a parking lot east of the town. This gives you two different ways to enjoy nature: a ride to high-altitude stations and a hike to a waterfall. If you’re looking for a vacation rental in Kamikawa, these highlights can help you plan your day trips and choose where to stay during your trip.

Take the Ropeway and Lift up Kurodake

The Kurodake Ropeway connects Sōunkyō Station, at an elevation of 670 meters, to Kurodake Station at the fifth station, at an elevation of 1,300 meters, in about seven minutes. From there, the Kurodake double chairlift goes up to the seventh station at 1,984 meters. A nature terrace with a 360-degree panorama is located on the roof of Kurodake Station at the fifth station. So a visit can focus not only on the ride up, but also on spending time on the terrace.

During the gondola ride, you can look out over the Ishikari River as it flows through the forest, as well as an expansive gorge in Kamikawa. The view from the gondola and the panorama from the terrace offer two different perspectives along the way up the mountain. If you want to experience the scenery, you can choose between the views during the ride and a stop at the nature terrace.

The Kurodake ski area can be reached by ropeway from Sōunkyō Onsen. If skiing is part of your travel plans, keep in mind that the ski season and operating conditions may vary. Access to the nature terrace may also depend on ropeway operations, so check the latest operating information before your visit. This helps you consider the mountain ride, the panorama, and the ski area as different reasons to visit Kurodake.

Hike to Momijidaki Waterfall

The Momijidani Trail leads from a parking lot east of Sōunkyō Onsen to Momijidaki Waterfall. It takes about 30 minutes to walk each way. Treat this as the one-way time and allow additional time for the return trip. Along the way, you’ll see columnar joints up close; the waterfall is at the end of the trail. The trail offers a different kind of nature experience from the mountain ride: it takes you on foot through the landscape and ends at a specific destination.

Waterfalls as Part of the Landscape

Ryūsei Waterfall and Ginga Waterfall are also among the representative scenic attractions of Sōunkyō Onsen. Both are included in Japan’s “100 Famous Waterfalls.” Along with Momijidaki Waterfall, they bring several named waterfalls into view, though they play different roles in your plans: Momijidaki is at the end of the Momijidani Trail, while Ryūsei and Ginga are considered attractions of Sōunkyō Onsen. If you’re especially interested in waterfalls, this distinction can help you choose your day-trip destinations.

Plan Your Day Trips and Where to Stay

When choosing a vacation rental in Kamikawa, it’s worth first organizing your planned outings: are the ropeway and views, the ski area, or the trail to the waterfall your main focus? The approximately seven-minute ropeway ride refers to the journey to the fifth station; the roughly 30 minutes for the Momijidani Trail applies to each one-way walk. These times describe different legs of your trip and help you distinguish between travel by ropeway and on foot when planning your day.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Nanporo, Kameda District, Hidaka, Saroma, Akkeshi, Tokachi District, Ashibetsu, Koshimizu.

See the main travel guide: Hokkaido.