Wasabidaira Hut

Wasabidaira Hut (わさび平小屋, Wasabidaira-goya) is a mountain hut located in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, within the Chubu-Sangaku National Park in the southern Northern Japan Alps (Hida Mountains). It sits at an elevation of 1,402 m along a forest road beside the left fork of the Kamata River, a tributary of the Takahara River, about one hour on foot from the Shin-Hotaka Onsen trailhead. The hut is positioned as an affiliated facility of the Kurobegoro-goya group, alongside Sugoroku Hut and Kagamidaira Sanso. The hut was built in 1957 by Yoshikiyo Koike, then operator of Sugoroku Hut, as a relay point for carrying supplies up to Sugoroku Hut. Since 2014 it has been run by the third-generation owner Takehiko Koike, who took over from his father Hisomu Koike, a noted mountain photographer. Takehiko Koike also owns Sugoroku Hut, Kurobegoro-goya, and Kagamidaira Sanso in the same mountain area. A new building (toilet block) was completed in 2018. The surrounding area is a primeval beech forest, and the hut draws spring water from this forest for a bath that is available exclusively to overnight guests. About ten minutes before reaching the hut is the trailhead of the Kasagatake route known as Kasashindo. To reach the main ridge of the Hida Mountains, hikers follow the forest road upstream and take the Koike Shindo toward Sugoroku Hut. In autumn 2005 a new trail was opened from the left fork valley up to Okumaruyama, enabling a route from Wasabidaira Hut via Okumaruyama and the Nakazaki ridge to Yarigatake. The hut operates seasonally, typically from July 10 to October 20 (as in 2017). As of May 9, 2025, it accommodates 65 guests, and there is a designated campsite for 30 tents immediately beside the hut. Because most of the Northern Alps lies within Chubu-Sangaku National Park, camping outside designated sites is prohibited. Main facilities include a shop, dining hall, simple flush toilets, washbasins, a drying room, free water supply, and a public satellite phone. Nearby huts include Kagamidaira Sanso, Sugoroku Hut, Kasagatake Sanso, Hotakadaira Hut, Yaridaira Hut, and Yarigatake Sanso. Surrounding peaks include Sugorokudake, Mitsumata-Renge-dake, Washibadake, Momisawadake, Yarigatake, Yumioridake, Nukedodake, Kasagatake, and Okumaruyama.

Wasabidaira Hut was built in 1957 (Showa 32) by Yoshikiyo Koike, who was then the operator of Sugoroku Hut, as a relay point for carrying supplies up to Sugoroku Hut. The hut sits at 1,402 m in the left fork valley of the Kamata River, a tributary of the Takahara River, along a forest road within Chubu-Sangaku National Park in the southern Northern Japan Alps. It is about one hour on foot from Shin-Hotaka Onsen. Ownership and operation passed within the Koike family. The second-generation operator was Hisomu Koike, who was also a noted mountain photographer. From 2014 the third generation, Takehiko Koike, took over management. In addition to Wasabidaira Hut, Takehiko Koike owns the other huts in the same mountain area: Sugoroku Hut, Kurobegoro-goya, and Kagamidaira Sanso. The hut is positioned as an affiliated facility of the Kurobegoro-goya group, together with Sugoroku Hut and Kagamidaira Sanso. In 2018 a new building (a toilet block) was completed. In autumn 2005 a new trail was opened from the left fork valley up to Okumaruyama, which created a new route using Wasabidaira Hut from Okumaruyama via the Nakazaki ridge to Yarigatake. About ten minutes before the hut is the entrance to the Kasashindo, the climbing route to Kasagatake. To reach the main ridge of the Hida Mountains, hikers go upstream along the forest road and take the Koike Shindo toward Sugoroku Hut. The hut operates seasonally, typically from July 10 to October 20 (as in 2017). As of May 9, 2025, it accommodates 65 people, and there is a designated campsite for 30 tents immediately beside the hut. Because most of the Northern Alps lies within Chubu-Sangaku National Park, camping outside designated sites is prohibited. The surrounding area is a primeval beech forest, and the hut has a bath using spring water from this forest, available only to overnight guests. Main facilities include a shop, dining hall, simple flush toilets, washbasins, a drying room, free water supply, and a public satellite phone. Nearby huts include Kagamidaira Sanso, Sugoroku Hut, Kasagatake Sanso, Hotakadaira Hut, Yaridaira Hut, and Yarigatake Sanso. Surrounding mountains include Sugorokudake, Mitsumata-Renge-dake, Washibadake, Momisawadake, Yarigatake, Yumioridake, Nukedodake, Kasagatake, and Okumaruyama.

• 2018

  New building (toilet block) completed.

• 2014

  Takehiko Koike, third generation, took over management from Hisomu Koike.

• 2005

  New trail from the left fork valley to Okumaruyama opened in autumn, enabling a route to Yarigatake via the Nakazaki ridge.

• 1957

  Wasabidaira Hut built by Yoshikiyo Koike as a supply relay point for Sugoroku Hut.

A traditional, family-run mountain hut and supply relay point in the Northern Japan Alps, valued for its beech forest setting, spring-water bath, and access to routes toward Sugoroku Hut and Yarigatake.

• Overnight lodging (65 capacity as of May 9, 2025)

• Designated campsite for 30 tents

• Guest-only bath using beech forest spring water

• Shop, dining hall, simple flush toilets, washbasins, drying room, free water supply, public satellite phone

1. 1Wasabidaira Hut - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2わさび平小屋 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org
3. 3北アルプス山小屋 双六小屋－わさび平紹介－sugorokugoya.com