Nishiho Sansō

Nishiho Sansō (西穂山荘) is a mountain lodge — a yamagoya — located at an elevation of 2,367 metres on the southern end of the Hotaka range in the Northern Alps of Japan. It sits just south of Nishi-Hotaka-dake (2,909 m), inside Chūbu-Sangaku National Park, and is known as the only lodge in the southern Northern Alps that operates year-round. Because it stays open through all four seasons, it is able to publish information about the mountains in every season, including views of the Hotaka range in deep winter that are otherwise seen only by climbers with winter mountaineering skills. The lodge is reached by two main routes: one from Kamikōchi, and one using the Shinhotaka Ropeway from Shinhotaka Onsen in Gifu Prefecture. From the lodge, climbers can ascend to Nishi-Hotaka-dokuhyō, continue to Nishi-Hotaka-dake on an advanced route, or traverse via Yakedake Lodge toward Yakedake. The lodge has a capacity of 300 guests, a campsite with space for 25 tents, a separate shop annex, and no bathing facilities; water is pumped up from a stream. It also hosts a Nishiho photo exhibition and, in summer, a free medical clinic staffed by Tōhō University's School of Medicine. Nishiho Sansō was built in 1941 by the mountain guide Murakami Mamoru. A summer clinic by Tōhō University opened in 1949, and the main building was rebuilt in 1962. The opening of the Shinhotaka Ropeway in 1970 greatly shortened the approach to the lodge. On 26 October 1990 the lodge burned down; the main building was rebuilt and full operations resumed in 1992. As of September 2025 the lodge is operated by Murakami Fumitoshi. Its office is in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, while the lodge itself stands on the ridge in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. The lodge runs a programme of seasonal events, including weather classes, lectures, Christmas and New Year events, Setsubun and Hinamatsuri, and it has launched an Instagram account and a beta mountain weather forecast service for the Yari-Hotaka range.

Nishiho Sansō was built in 1941 by the mountain guide Murakami Mamoru on the southern end of the Hotaka range, just south of Nishi-Hotaka-dake, in what is now Chūbu-Sangaku National Park. In 1949 Tōhō University's School of Medicine opened a summer mountain clinic at the lodge, a free service that continues as a volunteer activity, typically from around 20 July to 20 August each year. The main building was newly constructed in 1962. A major turning point came in 1970 with the opening of the Shinhotaka Ropeway, which greatly shortened the time needed to reach the lodge from the Shinhotaka Onsen side. On 26 October 1990 the lodge was destroyed by fire. The main building was rebuilt and full-scale operations resumed in 1992. The lodge is known as the only year-round mountain hut in the southern Northern Alps, which allows it to provide information about the mountains across all four seasons, including the deep-winter Hotaka range. As of September 2025 the lodge is operated by Murakami Fumitoshi. Its administrative office is in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, while the lodge itself stands on the ridge in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. The lodge runs a year-round programme of events: in summer, weather classes by the lodge manager and lectures by Tōhō University medical faculty; in winter, Christmas, New Year and Setsubun events, as well as Hinamatsuri in March. It also hosts a Nishiho photo exhibition inside the hut and maintains a separate shop annex. In recent years the lodge has expanded its digital presence, launching an official Instagram account and, in August 2026, a beta mountain weather forecast service called 'Itsunoboru?' for the Yari-Hotaka range, which includes a four-level lightning risk index. The lodge also notes that from this year summer-autumn reservations open two months in advance, the same as the winter-spring period.

• 2026

  Beta launch of 'Itsunoboru?' mountain weather forecast service.

• 1992

  Main building rebuilt and full operations resume.

• 1990

  Lodge destroyed by fire on 26 October.

• 1970

  Shinhotaka Ropeway opens, greatly shortening the approach.

• 1962

  Main building newly constructed.

• 1949

  Tōhō University School of Medicine opens a summer mountain clinic.

• 1941

  Built by mountain guide Murakami Mamoru.

A high-altitude, year-round mountain lodge and climbing base in the Northern Alps, combining accommodation, safety information and nature education.

• Lodge accommodation

  Capacity 300; rates include 1 night with 2 meals, dinner-only, or room-only; winter surcharge applies.

• Campsite

  25 tent spaces; first-come, first-served registration at the shop.

• Shop/restaurant annex

  Separate annex building for shopping and dining.

• Summer medical clinic

  Free clinic by Tōhō University School of Medicine, typically 20 July–20 August.

• Mountain weather forecast service 'Itsunoboru?'

  Beta service for the Yari-Hotaka range with lightning risk levels 1–4.

1. 1西穂山荘～長野県松本市～Nishiho Sansounishiho.com
2. 2西穂山荘について｜西穂山荘～長野県松本市～Nishiho Sansounishiho.com
3. 3Nishiho Sansō - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4西穂山荘 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org