Sugorokugoya

Sugorokugoya is a mountain hut located on the saddle between Mount Sugoroku and Mount Momisawa in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It sits within Chubu-Sangaku National Park on the main ridge of the Hida Mountains (North Alps), at the junction of the Koike New Trail from the Shin-Hotaka Onsen area and the ridge route from Mount Kasagatake. Because of its position at this crossroads, it is a heavily used hut. The hut was opened in 1935 as a village-run facility by Kamitakara Village (now part of Takayama). After being abandoned and falling into disrepair around World War II, it was taken over in 1950 by Koike Yoshikiyo, a village council member. The Koike family has operated it since, and in 1955 they established the Koike New Trail connecting Shin-Hotaka Onsen via Wasabi-daira and Onoma Pass to the hut. In 1957 a relay hut was built at Wasabi-daira (now Wasabi-daira Hut). The second-generation manager, Koike Hisomu, a noted mountain photographer, joined the business in 1962 after graduating from university. Since 2014, the third-generation manager, Koike Takehiko, has run the hut. The Koike family also operates Wasabi-daira Hut, Kagamidaira Sanso, and Kurobegoro-goya; Sugorokugoya, Wasabi-daira Hut, and Kagamidaira Sanso are positioned as related huts of Kurobegoro-goya. The hut stands at an elevation of 2,550 m in a dwarf pine zone with many alpine plants, and ptarmigan inhabit the surrounding scrub. To the north there is a good view, with Mount Washiba close by; to the south is a wide flat area with Sugoroku Pond, and the north side of the pond is a designated campsite. The hut accommodates 150 people and has a designated campsite for 60 tents. Facilities include general guest rooms, private rooms, a front desk, a shop, a lounge, a dining hall, simple flush toilets, washbasins, a drying room, and a self-cooking area. There is no bathing facility for general users. A public satellite phone is available, and NTT Docomo mobile phone trials (2016) and mountain Wi-Fi trials (2017) have been conducted in the lounge. A summer clinic from the University of Toyama is adjacent, open from around July 25 to around August 20. There is a free water supply facility that non-guests may also use. The operating season is June 10 to October 20 (as of fiscal 2017). Outside the season, a winter emergency hut is available; users are asked to mail payment later. In 1988, the "Sugoroku Sanraku Kyowakoku" (Sugoroku Mountain Recreation Republic) was founded as a flower mountain trip project, with a common passport for Wasabi-daira Hut, Kagamidaira Sanso, Sugorokugoya, and Kurobegoro-goya. The first president was Tanaka Sumie, who provided the calligraphy for the hut's signboard. The national bird is the ptarmigan, the national tree the beech, the national animal the ermine, and the national flower the black lily. In 2008, Golden Week operations were discontinued following the death in a mountaineering accident of a veteran manager with over 25 years of experience during the previous April's hut-opening ascent. In 2016, the hut ranked second in the "Mountain huts you were glad you stayed at" feature in the January 2016 issue of Monthly Yama to Keikoku.

Sugorokugoya was opened in 1935 (Showa 10) as a village-run hut by Kamitakara Village, Yoshiki District, Gifu Prefecture (now part of Takayama). It was a two-story building of 20 tsubo. Around World War II it was left unmanned and fell into disrepair. In 1950 (Showa 25), Koike Yoshikiyo, a village council member, took over its management from the village. In 1955 (Showa 30), Koike Yoshikiyo and others established the Koike New Trail, which runs from Shin-Hotaka Onsen via Wasabi-daira and Onoma Pass to the hut. In 1957 (Showa 32), a relay hut was built at Wasabi-daira (now Wasabi-daira Hut). In 1962 (Showa 37), the second-generation manager Koike Hisomu joined the hut business after graduating from university. In 1965 (Showa 40), coffee-grinding equipment was prepared and coffee was offered to climbers. In 1980 (Showa 55), a building was added on the east side. In 1988 (Showa 63), the "Sugoroku Sanraku Kyowakoku" (Sugoroku Mountain Recreation Republic) was founded as a flower mountain trip project, with a common passport for Wasabi-daira Hut, Kagamidaira Sanso, Sugorokugoya, and Kurobegoro-goya. The first president was Tanaka Sumie, who provided the calligraphy for the hut's signboard. The national bird was chosen as the ptarmigan, the national tree the beech, the national animal the ermine, and the national flower the black lily. In 2008 (Heisei 20), Golden Week operations were discontinued following the death in a mountaineering accident of a veteran manager with over 25 years of experience during the previous April's hut-opening ascent. In 2016 (Heisei 28), the hut ranked second in the "Mountain huts you were glad you stayed at" feature in the January 2016 issue of Monthly Yama to Keikoku. Since 2014 (Heisei 26), the third-generation manager Koike Takehiko, who is also a noted mountain photographer, has run the hut, taking over from the second-generation manager Koike Hisomu. The Koike family also operates Wasabi-daira Hut, Kagamidaira Sanso, and Kurobegoro-goya; Sugorokugoya, Wasabi-daira Hut, and Kagamidaira Sanso are positioned as related huts of Kurobegoro-goya.

• 2016

  Ranked second in Monthly Yama to Keikoku's 'Mountain huts you were glad you stayed at'.

• 2014

  Third-generation manager Koike Takehiko took over.

• 2008

  Golden Week operations discontinued after manager's fatal accident.

• 1988

  Sugoroku Sanraku Kyowakoku founded with common passport for four huts.

• 1980

  A building was added on the east side.

• 1965

  Coffee-grinding equipment prepared and coffee offered to climbers.

• 1962

  Second-generation manager Koike Hisomu joined the hut business.

• 1957

  Relay hut built at Wasabi-daira (now Wasabi-daira Hut).

• 1955

  Koike New Trail established from Shin-Hotaka Onsen via Wasabi-daira and Onoma Pass.

• 1950

  Koike Yoshikiyo took over management from the village.

• 1935

  Opened as a village-run hut by Kamitakara Village (two-story, 20 tsubo).

A heavily used, historic mountain hut at a key trail junction in the North Alps, known for its long family operation and alpine setting.

• Overnight lodging (capacity 150)

• Campsite (60 tents)

• Meals and dining hall

• Shop

• Free water supply

• Winter emergency hut

1. 1Sugorokugoya - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2双六小屋 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org
3. 3Official websitesugorokugoya.com