層雲峡温泉 ホテル雲井

Sounkyo – A Hidden Sanctuary in the Mountains

Clouds hang over sheer cliffs. Mist thickens in the air. Spray rises from waterfalls, and steam curls up from the earth.

This is a sanctuary where nature and mystery intertwine
— once called Kamuy Mintara, “the garden where the gods play,” by the Indigenous Ainu people.

人若し余に北海道の山水を問えば、第一に大雪山を挙ぐべし。次に層雲峡を挙ぐべし。大雪山は頂上広くして、お花畑の多き点に於いて、層雲峡は両崖の高く且つ奇なる点に於いて、いづれも天下無双

A century ago, the Meiji-era poet Keigetsu Ōmachi gave this place its name: Sounkyo.
Nestled at the foot of Mount Daisetsu, it is said to have been inspired by the Ainu word “Sounbetsu,” meaning “river with many waterfalls,” in reference to the countless cascades that plunge from its towering cliffs.

The sound of rushing water. The song of birds. The texture of bark beneath your fingers. The heavy presence of mist draped over the mountains.

Embraced by untouched nature, you begin to feel the seasons shifting around you.
In this time and space — where you sense everything with your hands, your ears, your eyes, and your skin — your heart is quietly cleansed, and you are held, gently, just as you are.

Rising behind Hotel Kumoi are the grand peaks of the Daisetsuzan Mountain Range — including Mount Asahidake, and further beyond, a chain of 2,000-meter-class summits. This vast expanse is recognized as one of Japan’s largest national parks.

Sheer cliffs etched with columnar joints. Clouds descending from the heights of Mount Daisetsu.

Hotel Kumoi seeks to weave this ethereal, solemn landscape — and the very air of a town that still holds the primordial spirit of Hokkaido — into every corner of its being, so that each guest may truly feel the unique character of Sounkyo.

A Steam Cloaked Healing Retreat

Hotel Kumoi is a small, intimate inn, born from the renovation of a traditional hot spring ryokan that has long stood in Sounkyo.
As a result, the building retains touches of its original charm throughout, creating a space where guests can feel both the warmth of nostalgia and the freshness of modern comfort.

We may not offer the elaborate hospitality, open-air baths, or lavish meals of a grand ryokan.

But rather than offering just a typical taste of Hokkaido, we aim to focus on the unique atmosphere of Sounkyo itself, providing a stay that can only be experienced in this very place.

With offerings such as restorative herbal tea served as a welcome drink, and house-made fruit liqueurs available in the lounge, we provide a stay designed to help you reconnect with your mind and body amidst the primordial forest.