Taira-no-koya (Hirano-koya)

090-2039-8051

☎️

090-2039-8051 ☎️

Taira-no-koya (also written Hirano-koya / 平乃小屋) is a unique lakeside mountain hut on the west shore of Lake Kurobe, created after the Kurobe Dam was completed in 1963. What makes it special is its role as a logistics hub: the hut is associated with the boat crossing that links the lakeside route with Harinoki Valley—a key connector for long traverses in the Northern Japanese Alps.

• Hut Overview

  • Location: West bank of Lake Kurobe, Northern Japanese Alps, Japan

  • Altitude: ~1,500 m

    • (Note: some hut directories list ~1,461 m, depending on reference point.)

  • Type: Mountain hut (lakeside stage hut)

  • Capacity: 60 people

  • Season (typical): mid-June → late October (confirm yearly)

  • Tenting: Often listed as no tent site (check current local rules/operations)

• Access & Approaches

  Taira-no-koya is reached via the Kurobe Dam / lakeside network and is frequently used as a link in longer itineraries, not as a standalone “quick overnight.”

  • Common approach corridor: Kurobe Dam / Kurobe Lake area → lakeside trail → Taira-no-koya

  • The broader route logic often includes a boat crossing section (the famous lake ferry link used to connect toward Harinoki Valley).

• Facilities & Comfort

  Taira-no-koya is functional and relatively comfortable for a remote lakeside hut.

  • Meals available during staffed season (typical hut service model)

  • Toilets and managed water access are generally listed

  • Some listings indicate bathing facilities (rare for huts)

• Food & Atmosphere

  Expect a “base-camp” feel for lakeside traverses—many guests are either:

  • linking stages around Lake Kurobe, or

  • using the hut as a calmer reset point before committing to longer mountain sections.

• Routes & Alpine Context

  Taira-no-koya is most relevant for:

  • Lake Kurobe lakeside traverses and dam-area multi-day hiking

  • Itineraries that incorporate the lake crossing link and connect toward the Harinoki side

• When to Go

  • Prime window: July to September for stable trails and predictable operations

  • Shoulder season: June / October can be excellent but more weather-dependent; always confirm operating dates.

• Who Is This Hut For

  • Hikers planning multi-day lake-and-ridge itineraries

  • People who want a logistically strategic overnight near Kurobe Dam routes

  • Those who value a “connector hut” more than a summit base

Why This Hut Is Worth Visiting

With 60 beds at ~1,500 m, Taira-no-koya is less about altitude and more about position: it sits on a remarkable corridor where a lake, a dam, and mountain traverses intersect—supporting routes that would otherwise be awkward to link in a single push.