Kenzan-so (剣山荘)

090-2372-5799

☎️

090-2372-5799 ☎️

Kenzan-so is the best-known high-mountain base hut for Mt. Tsurugi-dake (剱岳)—positioned to support early summit pushes, route planning, and safe timing on one of Japan’s most serious “rock-and-exposure” mountains. It was rebuilt in 2007, and is known for unusually “comfortable” infrastructure by Japanese hut standards (e.g., modern toilets and shower facilities).

• Hut Overview

  • Location: Tsurugi-dake area (Tateyama Range), Toyama Prefecture, Japan

  • Altitude: 2,475 m

  • Type: Mountain hut (reservation-based during the main season)

  • Capacity: 150 sleeping places

  • Season: typically July 1 to early October (varies slightly year to year)

  • Tenting: No tent site

• Access & Approaches

  Kenzan-so is normally reached from the Murodo side on a long alpine day, then used as the staging point for a pre-dawn summit attempt.

  • Approach character: long alpine trail + increasing exposure as you move into the Tsurugi zone

  • Difficulty: T3–T4 overall (distance + terrain seriousness, especially in bad weather)

• Facilities & Comfort

  Kenzan-so is known for being unusually well-equipped for a high-ridge hut.

  • Modern flush toilets and shower rooms are specifically highlighted by major hut listings.

  • Shared-room sleeping (typical Japanese hut format; generally no private rooms).

  • Managed water logistics (plan conservatively—this is still a high mountain hut).

• Food & Atmosphere

  Expect a summit-focused rhythm: early dinner, early lights-out, and very early departures. The hut also operates with a “basecamp” mindset—route info, risk awareness, and efficient flow management for Tsurugi parties.

• Routes & Alpine Context

  Kenzan-so is primarily used for:

  • Mt. Tsurugi-dake summit attempts, including the famous exposed sections on standard routes.

  • Tateyama–Tsurugi linkups where Kenzan-so functions as the practical “commitment point” before/after the hardest terrain.

• When to Go

  • Best window: July to September for the most stable conditions.

  • Key risks: wind, fog/whiteout, wet rock, and crowd pressure on popular days (timing matters as much as fitness).

• Who Is This Hut For

  • Hikers preparing for Tsurugi-dake with proper alpine competence

  • Groups who want a serious base hut with strong infrastructure

  • Not ideal for: casual hikers seeking a relaxed “scenic overnight” (this is a mission hut)

Why This Hut Is Worth Visiting

At 2,475 m with 150 beds, Kenzan-so is “infrastructure where it matters”—a purpose-built base that makes one of Japan’s most iconic and demanding mountains logistically realistic, especially with early starts and tight weather windows.