Yarigatake Sansō

Yarigatake Sansō (槍ヶ岳山荘) is a large, historic mountain hut located just below the summit of Mount Yari (槍ヶ岳, 3,180 m) in the Northern Japan Alps, within Chūbu-Sangaku National Park. It sits on the mountain's southern shoulder at roughly 3,080 m and is operated by Yarigatake Kankō Co., Ltd., the core company of the Yarigatake Sansō Group. The hut was first built in August 1926 (Taishō 15) as "Yarigatake Kata no Koya" by Mitsuo Hokari, and was renamed "Yarigatake Sansō" during a major reconstruction in 1953. It is one of the best-known huts in the Northern Alps and serves as the group's flagship property. The hut offers accommodation for up to 650 overnight guests, making it one of the largest mountain lodges in the southern Northern Alps, along with a designated tent site for about 30 tents. Facilities include large shared rooms and private rooms, a dining hall, a shop selling original branded goods (badges, keychains, bandanas, tenugui towels, T-shirts, mugs, maps, postcards, photo books), the "Kitchen Yari" café and light-meal counter, a drying room, a self-catering hut, and a winter emergency shelter. There is no general bathing facility; water comes from rainwater and snowmelt, and electricity is generated on site. A summer clinic operated by the Jikei University School of Medicine (Tokyo Jikei Medical University Yarigatake Clinic) runs from around July 20 to August 20. NTT Docomo satellite public telephone service and low-speed Wi-Fi are available, though both are suspended when lightning risk is high. A live camera looks toward Mount Yari. The hut is a base for climbers on the popular Kamikochi–Yarisawa route and other approaches, and it is known for its 360-degree panorama, which on clear days includes the Hotaka, Tateyama, Jonen, Kasagatake, Kumonodaira, and Yakushidake peaks of the Northern Alps, as well as the Central and Southern Alps, Mount Asama, the Yatsugatake range, and even Mount Fuji in the distance. The operating season typically runs from late April to early November, with the hut closing as snow returns. The brand also runs events such as a summer flute concert, the annual Yarigatake Batrō Festival on the first Saturday of September, and guided climbing classes. The Yarigatake Sansō Group is a family-rooted enterprise. The founder's grandson, Daisuke Hokari, is the current representative director and president, and the group is operated through four companies: Yarigatake Kankō Co., Ltd. (Yarigatake Sansō and Sesshō Hutte), Yarisawa Goya Co., Ltd. (Yarisawa Lodge and Gakuzawa Hut), Minamidake Goya Co., Ltd. (Minamidake Hut), and Ōtenjō Hutte Co., Ltd. (Ōtenjō Hutte). All are based in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture. The brand combines traditional mountain hospitality with modern services such as online reservations, live cameras, weather observation equipment, and original merchandise.

Yarigatake Sansō was founded in August 1926 (Taishō 15) when Mitsuo Hokari built a hut called "Yarigatake Kata no Koya" (槍ヶ岳肩の小屋) on the shoulder just below the summit of Mount Yari. The hut is located in what is now Chūbu-Sangaku National Park, in the Northern Japan Alps. During World War II and immediately after, the number of climbers dropped sharply, but the hut survived and was significantly rebuilt in 1953 (Shōwa 28), when it was renamed "Yarigatake Sansō." It was renamed once more before taking its current name. During the climbing boom of the Shōwa 30s (1955–1964), the hut added a public telephone, a pump system to draw water from below, and propane gas for fuel. Over the following decades it underwent frequent expansions and renovations, including a new outside dining hall and rebuilt clinic and exterior toilets. In earlier years supplies were carried up by porters (歩荷); today helicopter transport of goods is standard. The hut has appeared in broadcast media: on August 8, 2009, NHK Nagoya's program "Kin toku" featured a stay by mountaineer Junko Tabei and announcer Katsuyasu Uchida; on May 29, 2011, Nagano Asahi Broadcasting's 20th-anniversary special program broadcast live from the hut, showing the hut and surrounding scenery. The Hokari family has operated the hut across generations. Sadao Hokari, the grandfather of current operator Daisuke Hokari, was a noted mountain photographer; he became chairman of the Mountain Hut Friendship Association (山小屋友交会) in 1986 and received an Environment Agency Director-General Award the following year. He died in 2017. As of 2022, Daisuke Hokari manages the hut. The Yarigatake Sansō Group now comprises four companies based in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture: Yarigatake Kankō Co., Ltd. (operating Yarigatake Sansō and Sesshō Hutte), Yarisawa Goya Co., Ltd. (Yarisawa Lodge and Gakuzawa Hut), Minamidake Goya Co., Ltd. (Minamidake Hut), and Ōtenjō Hutte Co., Ltd. (Ōtenjō Hutte). The group's central hut remains Yarigatake Sansō, whose history, location, and scale make it the flagship. In recent years the hut has modernized its services, adding online reservations, a live camera, weather observation equipment, and a staff blog, while maintaining traditional mountain hut hospitality. The operating season runs from late April to early November, and the hut continues to host events such as the annual Yarigatake Batrō Festival on the first Saturday of September and summer flute concerts.

• 2022

  Daisuke Hokari is the operator.

• 2017

  Sadao Hokari died.

• 2011

  Live broadcast from the hut by Nagano Asahi Broadcasting for its 20th anniversary.

• 2009

  Featured on NHK Nagoya's program "Kin toku" with Junko Tabei and Katsuyasu Uchida.

• 1987

  Sadao Hokari received an Environment Agency Director-General Award.

• 1986

  Sadao Hokari became chairman of the Mountain Hut Friendship Association.

• 1955

  During the Shōwa 30s climbing boom, public telephone, water pump, and propane gas facilities were installed.

• 1953

  Major reconstruction; renamed "Yarigatake Sansō."

• 1926

  Built as "Yarigatake Kata no Koya" by Mitsuo Hokari.

A historic, high-capacity mountain hut brand at the summit shoulder of Mount Yari, offering traditional alpine lodging, food, and original goods as the flagship of the Yarigatake Sansō Group.

• Yarigatake Sansō lodging

  Shared and private rooms; capacity 650; open late April to early November.

• Campground

  Designated tent site for about 30 tents.

• Kitchen Yari

  Light meals and café; coffee, tea, curry rice, ramen; fresh-baked bread in summer.

• Original merchandise

  Badges, keychains, bandanas, tenugui, towels, T-shirts, mugs, maps, postcards, photo books.

• Summer clinic

  Jikei University School of Medicine Yarigatake Clinic, July 20–August 20.

1. 1槍ヶ岳山荘 | 山小屋のご案内 | 槍ヶ岳山荘グループyarigatake.co.jp
2. 2運営会社の紹介 | 槍ヶ岳山荘グループyarigatake.co.jp
3. 3槍ヶ岳について | 槍ヶ岳登山情報 | 槍ヶ岳山荘グループyarigatake.co.jp
4. 4槍ヶ岳山荘 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
5. 5Yarigatake Sansō - Wikidatawikidata.org