Sounkyo, Canyon in Kamikawa, Hokkaido, Japan.

Sounkyo is a gorge with 100-meter-high cliffs that stretch along the Ishikari River within Daisetsuzan National Park. The valley cuts through mountainous terrain with steep rock walls on both sides of the river.

The canyon formed around 30,000 years ago from volcanic activity in the Daisetsuzan mountain group. Water and weather then carved away the rock over millennia to shape the steep cliffs visible today.

The name comes from the Ainu language, meaning "river with many waterfalls." You can see how water flows through the valley today, shaping the landscape that the local people have known for generations.

Direct buses run from Asahikawa Station to the canyon, with the journey taking around two hours through mountain terrain. The best time to visit is spring through fall, when the paths are accessible and weather is more stable.

Ryusei Falls drops 90 metres in a single straight plunge and is called the male fall; Ginga Falls branches into several threads over 104 metres and is the female fall. Together they are known as the husband-and-wife falls, and a 20-minute climb from the car park reaches the Sobakudai platform where both can be seen at once.