Hotel Sounkyo Choyo-Tei in Daisetsuzan National Park

Sounkyo Onsen (hot spring) has been known as a Hokkaido onsen area since the Edo period (1600-1867). With their long history, the steep, rising cliffs of the gorge provide a backdrop for the green of spring and summer, the colors of autumn and the snows capes of winter, and have attracted the attention of guests from both Japan and abroad.

Located on a small rise in the Sounkyo hot springs resort area, Hotel Choyo-Tei  features grand baths looking out on the steep, green cliff walls of the ravine in order to provide guests a relaxed atmosphere with the feeling of being surrounded by nature. Dining options for guests include a buffet, in-room meals and a restaurant, favorable for its fireside cuisine.

On the way to my room, I enjoyed the Japanese atmosphere!

To be honest, the single room here is no big enough, but the attraction in this hotel is onsen!

Before taking onsen, I enjoyed a buffet dinner. This restaurant doesn't have a lot of fanfare such as crabs or sushi, but they serve something local that you cannot eat in other places. For example... 

Freshly cooked tempura of local mushrooms and wild vegetables

■Sashimi (Salmon & Scallop)

■Locacl vegetables such as potatoes and pumpkins

■Shika deer dishes!!!!!!!!!

■Shika deer stew

■Shika deer pizza

■Shika deer meat ball

■Mushroom & taro soup

After eating dinner, I enjoyed onsen.

There are three kinds of onsen areas in this hotel. Each onsen for women and men is changed depending  on the time so that all guest can enjoy all of the onsen here.

On the second floor, there are two types of indoor onsen.

We can enjoy Japanese stone garden from this area.

■Onsen information■
Spring Quality: Sulfurous spring (neutral, high temperature spring)
Health Benefits: Good for those with high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, etc.
Source Temperature: 68°C
PH: 7.5


Keep you body warm and then go to the different indoor onsen. Walk along this onsen path, then you will find another huge onsen.

I enjoyed this huge onesn alone! How lucky I was!

Then I went to the 7th floor to enjoy open-air onsen. This onsen fed by a 74°C hot spring known as "Sasa no Yu" nearly a kilometer away in the mountains. Soaking in the natural stone enclosure, we can enjoy comfortable sunlight in summer or the gentle dance of falling snow in winter.

There are nothing noisy around here. I enjoyed listening to the sound of a stream just next to this hotel and seeing beautiful stars over us!

Next morning, I got up very early to take another onsen!

This panoramic grand onsen on the 7th floor prides itself on the exquisite views afforded by these baths, where we can seemingly reach out and touch the vivid and grand beauty of the gorge through a 40m wide glass panel while soaking away the cares of the day.

Look at the early-morning mist over the mountains!

The sunrise is very beautiful!

The powerful river is just next to this hotel!

When I looked at the other side, see! The mountains are still covered with snow!

After taking onsen, I jogged around here. This is "Giaga-no-Taki or Galaxy Waterfall".

This is "Ryusei-no-Taki or Shooting Star Waterfall".

If you are interested in the twin waterfalls, plz read my previous blog!→click!


■Where is Sounkyo Choyo-Tei?

View Larger Map

■Tour guide information■

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