Milky Way Waterfall
A beautiful waterfall of silky smooth streams from 120m high. I love it when it is surrounded by the trees changing color in Autumn! This waterfall is called Milky Way Waterfall (銀河の滝 / Ginga no Taki). It is in Sounkyo, a range of gorges located in Kamikawa Town. Sounkyo is a popular hot spring resort, so you might want to take a dip or stay there if visiting this waterfall.
This waterfall is selected as one of Japan's best 100 waterfalls. There will be public transportation run by Doto Bus（道東バス） between Sounkyo and a bus stop near the waterfall, once a day from July to October.
There is another waterfall as beautiful as this waterfall just on the other side of the rock, called Meteor Waterfall (流星の滝 / Ryusei no Taki). If you would like to see both waterfalls at the same time, take a 20 min hike starting from a souvenir shop opposite to the waterfalls. It’s a rather steep path, but the view from the top is worth the hike!
Milky Way Waterfall (銀河の滝 / Ginga no Taki)
Hours: Anytime
Seasons: All Year Around
Admission Fee: Free
Access: 30min from Kamikawa, one hour from Asahikawa,1.5 hour from Kitami by car. Public bus run by Doto Bus（道東バス） is available from Sounkyo from June to October (Only one bus per day. Check the timetable locally).