Alpine huts and trails in Nagano Prefecture

This collection of high-altitude shelters spans the Northern and Central Japanese Alps in Nagano Prefecture. It features historic landmarks like Hakuba Sanso, Japan's oldest non-religious mountain hut established in 1906, and Enzanso, situated on the ridge of Mt. Tsubakuro. These huts provide essential logistics for multi-day treks, offering access to major peaks including Mt. Yarigatake, Mt. Norikura, and the sacred volcanic slopes of Mt. Ontake near the Ninoike crater lake.

Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 4.0

Hakuba Sanso

Established in 1906, this is Japan's oldest non-religious mountain hut. It is located at 2,832 meters, just below the summit of Mt. Hakuba.

Alpsdake / CC BY-SA 4.0

Dakesawa Hut

Situated at 2,170 meters on the climbing route from Kamikochi to Mt. Maehotaka. The current structure was rebuilt in 2010.

燕山荘

Large mountain hut established in 1921 on the ridge of Mt. Tsubakuro. It serves as a primary base for the Omote-Ginza trekking route.

唐松岳頂上山荘

High-altitude hut located on the ridge between Mt. Karamatsu and the Happo-one ridge, serving the Ushiro-Tateyama mountain range.

Houken-Sansou

Located in the Central Alps near the top of the Komagatake Ropeway, providing access to Mt. Kisokomagatake and Mt. Houken.

焼岳小屋

Small mountain lodge located on the saddle between Mt. Yakedake and Mt. Warudani on an active volcanic peak.

Yaridaira Goya

Located at 1,990 meters in the valley below Mt. Yarigatake, serving as a base for the Shinhotaka Onsen ascent route.

越百避難小屋

Emergency shelter located near the summit of Mt. Kosumo in the Central Alps.

Tokusawaen

Former cattle ranch in the Kamikochi valley, now a mountain lodge famously featured in Yasushi Inoue's novel 'The Ice Wall'.

Ichinomata-Koya

Mountain shelter located along the Kiso-side approach trails to the Central Alps.

Teng-Sou

Central Alps mountain lodge situated near the Senjojiki Cirque and the summit of Mt. Kisokomagatake.

Harinoki Goya

Situated at the 2,536-meter Harinoki Pass, one of Japan's three great snowy valleys, connecting Omachi to the Kurobe Dam area.

Osawa Goya

Located on the Harinoki trail from Ogizawa, serving as a lower-elevation rest point before the ascent to Harinoki Pass.

三俣山荘

Remote hut at the junction of the Northern Alps' main ridge and the Ito-shindo trail, near the source of the Kurobe River.

Kuraigaharasanso

Year-round mountain hut located at 2,350 meters on the slopes of Mt. Norikura, accessible via the Norikura Skyline.

Katanokoya

Situated at 2,770 meters near the summit of Mt. Norikura, providing the final accommodation point before the peak.

Ninoike-Shinkan

Modern mountain lodge rebuilt near the Ninoike crater lake on Mt. Ontake following the 2014 eruption.

Ninoike-Honkan

Historic lodge located by Ninoike, the highest mountain lake in Japan, on the volcanic slopes of Mt. Ontake.

王滝頂上山荘

Located at the Otaki summit of Mt. Ontake, serving pilgrims and hikers on this sacred volcanic peak.

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Nagano's Essential Wonders Majestic Mountain Peaks Japan's Natural Wonders Japanese Culture and Heritage