Sounkyo Ice Waterfall Festival 2026: Hokkaido’s Glowing Ice Sculptures
Hokkaido · HokkaidoIllumination
Deep in the Daisetsuzan mountains, a riverside village turns frozen spray into a glittering, seven-colour city of ice each winter night.
Overview
Held at Sounkyo Onsen in the heart of Daisetsuzan National Park, this long-running winter event builds a compound of ice domes, towers and tunnels from water drawn off the Ishikari River. After dark the structures are lit in shifting colours, and the crisp mountain air and surrounding gorge scenery make it one of Hokkaido’s most atmospheric cold-weather outings.
When & Where
The 2026 festival runs from January 24 to March 8 at the dedicated event ground in Sounkyo Onsen, Kamikawa Town. The ice creations are best seen after sunset, when nightly illumination continues until roughly 21:30. Nearest station: JR Kamikawa Station, then a local bus to Sounkyo Onsen.
Getting There
From Asahikawa, the gateway city, take a Dohoku bus toward Sounkyo (around 1 hour 50 minutes), or ride the JR line to Kamikawa Station and transfer to a Sounkyo-bound bus for the final 30-minute leg. Because the site is high in the mountains, dress for temperatures well below freezing and check the last bus times before you set out.
What to Expect
- Around 30 hand-built ice sculptures, some over ten metres tall
- Ice domes and tunnels you can walk inside
- An ice shrine with a bright red torii gate
- Nightly multi-colour illumination of the whole site
- Fireworks on selected evenings
- Warming spots serving hot drinks such as amazake
Tickets & Access
Entry to the grounds is generally free, though a small cooperation fee may be requested to help maintain the site. No advance reservation is needed for general viewing.
Tips for Visitors
Wear proper snow boots and layered clothing, and bring hand warmers. The colours are strongest an hour or two after dark, so plan to stay for the full illumination and, if your date lines up, the fireworks.
Access and Map
| Dates | January 24 to March 8, 2026 (nightly illumination until about 21:30) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Sounkyo Onsen event site, Kamikawa Town, Hokkaido |
| Nearest station | JR Kamikawa Station (then bus) |
| Access | Bus from Asahikawa (~1h50) or JR to Kamikawa + bus (~30 min) |
| Admission | Generally free (small cooperation fee may apply) |
| Official site | HOKKAIDO LOVE! (Hokkaido Official Tourism) |
Source: HOKKAIDO LOVE! (Hokkaido Official Tourism)
Image: Photo: Outside147 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
