Kuranosuke-sanso (内蔵助山荘)

090-5686-1250

☎️

090-5686-1250 ☎️

Kuranosuke-sanso (内蔵助山荘) is a small, traditional high-ridge mountain hut positioned just below Mt. Masago-dake in the Tateyama–Tsurugi area of the Northern Japanese Alps. It’s best used as a serious stage hut—a place to sleep, reset, and time weather windows—rather than a comfort lodge. Its big value is panoramic ridge positioning and access to committing Tateyama ridgeline itineraries.

• Hut Overview

  • Location: Below Masago-dake (真砂岳), Tateyama range, Toyama Prefecture, Japan

  • Altitude: 2,790 m (hut operator listing)

  • Type: Mountain hut (classic “old-style” ridge hut)

  • Capacity: commonly listed 40–60 (depends on source/operation year)

  • Tenting: No tent site (commonly listed)

  • Season: summer season; exact opening dates vary by year (operator posts yearly dates)

• Access & Approaches

  Access is fully alpine and typically done as part of a longer ridge plan (not a “quick overnight” from a terminal).

  • Common timings: around 3.5–4 hours from Murodo via main Tateyama ridge variants (operator estimates)

  • Terrain: high ridges, exposure in places, weather-driven navigation

  • Difficulty: T3–T4 (varies strongly with wind/fog and early-season snow)

• Facilities & Comfort

  Traditional, functional infrastructure.

  • Dormitory-style sleeping; “classic hut” layout

  • Drying space is commonly listed

  • Water: listed as available by some hut directories, but always plan conservatively in the Tateyama ridge zone

• Food & Atmosphere

  Expect a quiet, traverse-oriented rhythm:

  • Early dinner, early sleep, early starts

  • Guests are mostly ridge hikers and multi-day traverse parties

• Routes & Alpine Context

  Kuranosuke-sanso is typically used for:

  • Ridge traverses in the Tateyama–Tsurugi area

  • Timing weather windows for long, committing stages (where retreat options are limited)

• When to Go

  • Best window: July to September (most reliable ridge conditions)

  • Main risks: wind, fog/whiteout, sudden storms, and early-season snow patches on the ridge

• Who Is This Hut For

  • Experienced alpine hikers doing multi-day ridge itineraries

  • Parties comfortable with exposed terrain and strict timing

  • Not ideal for beginners or comfort-first trips

Why This Hut Is Worth Visiting

At ~2,790 m, Kuranosuke-sanso is less about amenities and more about position: a classic ridge shelter placed exactly where it matters for committing Tateyama traverses—panoramic, high, and operationally focused.