Sounkyo to Kushiro

Sounkyo to Kushiro

Sounkyo in the morning. Rather like Kamikochi, with hotels lined up. Last night I soothed my tiredness in a hotel's free foot bath.

At Sounkyo both sides of the valley are sheer cliffs.

Ryusei Falls at Sounkyo. They say Ginga Falls is further upstream, but I didn't go there. These falls seem to be quite famous, but I didn't find them very appealing. Maybe Ginga Falls is the impressive one.

Past Sounkyo to Lake Taisetsu. Of all things, it started to rain.

Looking down on the sea of forest from Mikuni Pass. The road went on as if a brown bear could come out from anywhere. The rain only got heavier, and it was extremely cold.

The road to Nukabira. A straight road typical of Hokkaido. The road surface was drenched. I wanted to take shelter somewhere quickly, but there were no towns. On Honshu you sometimes see a dead cat at the side of the road, but on this road it was a dead deer.

Arrived at Nukabira. I was soaked by the rain, so I dashed into a hot-spring inn. The open-air bath there was really good. It felt like a bath handmade in the middle of nature, and the owner seemed proud of it.

I sheltered from the rain for a while in Ashoro too, then set off again. On the way to Kushiro, the sky began to clear. Looking up, there was a rainbow. My hopes rose.

The town of Shiranuka, where I finally came out of the interior onto the Pacific side. The road was still wet, but the sun was breaking through here and there.

A favourite shot I took on the coast. I was really, really envious.

Sunset with the Kushiro Marsh behind. Please let it be sunny tomorrow.

The Kushiro Marsh as far as the eye can see. Magnificent.

I decided to sleep by the Shin-Kushiro River. It was scary.