In Kamikawa, you can plan a trip to higher elevations and a waterfall walk as separate excursion options. Around Sōunkyō Onsen, the Kurodake Ropeway and the connecting double chairlift reach the seventh station; the Momijidani hiking trail leads to Momijidaki Waterfall. The distinction is useful when planning your day: Kurodake centers on elevated stations and the ropeway, while the hiking trail is a walk with a waterfall as its destination.

Ropeway, lift, and views at Kurodake

The Kurodake Ropeway connects the station in Sōunkyō Onsen, at an elevation of 670 meters, with Kurodake Station at the fifth station, at an elevation of 1,300 meters, in about seven minutes. From there, the Kurodake double chairlift continues to the seventh station at an elevation of 1,984 meters. The ropeway therefore ends at the fifth station, and the lift continues the journey to the seventh. When planning your time, note that the approximately seven minutes applies only to the ropeway ride between the stations, not to the subsequent lift ride.

A natural terrace with a 360-degree panorama is located on the roof of Kurodake Station at the fifth station. Access may vary depending on ropeway operations; keep this in mind if the terrace view is an important part of your plans. During the gondola ride, you can also look out over the Ishikari River flowing through the forest and an expansive gorge. The ride itself therefore offers views of the landscape, while the terrace adds a panorama from the fifth station.

The Kurodake ski area can be reached by ropeway from Sōunkyō Onsen. The ski season and operating conditions may vary. If you plan to visit the ski area during your stay, take these seasonal conditions into account.

Walk to Momijidaki Waterfall

The Momijidani hiking trail leads from the parking lot east of Sōunkyō Onsen to Momijidaki Waterfall. It takes about 30 minutes to walk one way. When planning your time, this refers to the one-way walk, not a 30-minute round trip. Along the way, you can see columnar joints up close; the waterfall lies at the end of the trail. The trail thus combines a geological feature with a clearly defined destination and offers a different kind of excursion from a ride to Kurodake’s elevated stations.

The two time estimates refer to different sections: about seven minutes for the ropeway ride to the fifth station, and around 30 minutes to walk one way on the hiking trail. They should not be taken as the total duration of two excursions. Comparing them helps you distinguish between the respective time estimates when planning your day.

More waterfalls in Sōunkyō Onsen

Ryūsei Waterfall and Ginga Waterfall are among the representative scenic attractions of Sōunkyō Onsen and are included in Japan’s “100 Famous Waterfalls.” The walk to Momijidaki Waterfall is part of the excursion: it lies at the end of the Momijidani hiking trail. By contrast, Ryūsei and Ginga are known as attractions in Sōunkyō Onsen. This distinction gives you a concrete point of reference if waterfalls are a factor in choosing your activities.

Find a hotel in Kamikawa

When choosing a hotel, you can first consider which of these activities you want to shape your stay: the ropeway and lift ride up Kurodake, the ski area, or the walk to Momijidaki. This lets you start your search for hotels in Kamikawa with your own travel plans, without combining the different excursions into a single day’s itinerary. If the natural terrace or ski area is important to you, also bear in mind that access to the terrace may vary with ropeway operations and conditions at the ski area are seasonal.

Discover more destinations

Rishirifuji, Higashikagura, Koshimizu, Ashoro District, Bibai, Minamifurano, Chitose, Shinhidaka

For the main travel overview: Hokkaido.