Gonoike-goya (五の池小屋)

090-7612-2458

☎️

090-7612-2458 ☎️

Gonoike-goya is one of the most distinctive mountain huts on Mt. Ontake—set just below Hida-chojo (Hida Summit) beside the Gono-ike crater-lake area. It’s famous for combining serious volcano-zone logistics with an unusually “comfortable” hut vibe (including its well-known café).

• Hut Overview

  • Location: Mt. Ontake (Ontake-san), just below Hida-chojo, beside Gono-ike

  • Altitude: 2,798 m

  • Type: Mountain hut (lodging)

  • Capacity: 100 people

  • Tenting: None (camping is not provided here)

  • Official site: gonoike.jp

• Access & Approaches

  Gonoike-goya is usually reached as part of an Ontake traverse or summit-zone itinerary rather than a quick overnight.

  • It sits on the north (Hida) side summit-zone network, commonly approached via long hiking routes from the Gifu side (e.g., the Nigori-gawa Onsen approach is often referenced in route descriptions).

  • Because the hut is in the upper volcanic zone, route access and restrictions can change depending on conditions—plan with up-to-date local guidance.

• Facilities & Comfort

  This hut is known for being more than “just a bed,” but it still runs under high-mountain constraints.

  • The hut’s official site highlights the attached café concept (a signature part of the experience).

  • Water note: there is no natural water point at the hut in the typical “fill bottles freely” sense; water is managed (snowmelt/rainwater and pumped supply are referenced in hut data sources). Plan conservatively.

• Food & Atmosphere

  Gonoike-goya has a reputation for a strong “hut culture” atmosphere—social, warm, and surprisingly comfortable for nearly 2,800 m—while still maintaining the early schedules and logistics discipline of a summit-area hut.

• Routes & Alpine Context

  Gonoike-goya is especially useful for:

  • Crater-lake circuits (Gono-ike and nearby ponds/lakes in the Ontake summit zone)

  • Staging longer itineraries that link the Ontake summit-area huts and ridgelines

  • A safer, more controlled plan vs. doing all upper Ontake terrain in one push.

• When to Go

  • Typical operation is summer to early autumn, with some years also offering limited early-season openings (check the hut’s current season info before publishing).

  • Even in summer, expect cold, wind, and sudden fog/whiteouts at this altitude.

• Who Is This Hut For

  • Hikers who want a summit-zone overnight near Ontake’s crater lakes

  • Trekker-photographers chasing sunrise/sunset and high-volcano landscapes

  • Anyone who prefers structured staging and recovery over a single massive summit day

Why This Hut Is Worth Visiting

With 100 beds at 2,798 m, Gonoike-goya is “infrastructure where it matters” on Mt. Ontake: a summit-zone base that makes volcanic high-mountain itineraries more controllable—while delivering one of the most distinctive hut experiences in the region.