Visitor Center Report

Seeing from Sounkyo that is bottom of Mt.Kurodake, it seems there is no snow on the trail.
Once I tried to go up, we found there is a lot of snow on the trail.
7th -8th over 90%　 covered with snow
8th-9th 70%～80%　covered with snow
9th-the top 50% covered with snow
When you go down, watch your step not to fall down.
If you are not used to walk on the snow, you had better wear cratmpons.
We recommend you to use 10pins crampons.

The forest road to Kougen onsen opened on June 10th.
I heard the news about Kougen onsen on Facebook that snow is melting quickly.
So I went there how it goes.

Actually snow is melting faster than usual year.
At the first half of the Numameguri course “Lysichiton camtschatcensis Schott ” is blooming.
But there is a lot of snow on hiking course.
Walking on snow takes much longer than walking on the trail.
You need gaiters.
There is signs on each important point.
But someone seems lost.
If you worry about being lost, you had better to wait course opening on June 19th.

Many flowers are blooming one and another around 5th station of Mt.Kurodake ropeway.

Ten days ago “Geum pentapetalum” and “Phyllodoce caerulea” were buds.
But they are blooming, and “Trollius riederianus”, “Weigela middendorffiana” and “Rhododendron albrechtii” are so beautiful.

“Cerasus nipponica var. kurilensis (Miyabe) H.Ohba” in Takamatsudai is still blooming.

Why don’t you come to see the last look “Cherry bloosom”

Ryusei fall and Ginga fall are surrounded by fresh green.
It’s wonderful and glorious view.

These falls are selected as one of 100 beautiful falls in Japan.

Walking 3km from Sounkyo Onsen mall, you will find these falls.
Around falls there is a parking.
You can drive there.
There is an observation deck “Soubakudai”
From Soubakudai you can see Ginga falls and Ryusei falls at once.

When you come to Sounkyo, please go to Ginga falls and Ryuseifalls!

*Soubakudai hiking course
Some.woodden road and handrail might be broken or under construction.
Watch your step!

It was hot in end of may.
But now it’s been cold in Sounkyo.

In Momijidani many flowers are blooming now.

“Anemone flaccida”, “Anemone debilis”, “Tiarella polyphylla”,” Galium odoratum ”
“Oxalis acetosella”, “Pseudostellaria sylvatica (Maxim.) Pax ”, “Viola selkirkii Pursh ex Goldie f. lacinaata”, “Viola kusanoana Makino [1]”, “Menziesia pentandra”, “Ribes sachalinense (F.Schmidt) Nakai ”, “Viburnum furcatum ”, “Euonymus macropterus”, “Clematis alpina ssp. ochotensis”, “Rhododendron albrechtii”

“Aconitum gigas H.Le’v. et Vaniot ” at Kumagera hiroba is about to bloom.

It’s windy at Onsen moll.
But it’s warm, no wind and sunshine in the woods.
Please come and see pretty flowers in Momijidani.