Wasabi-daira-koya (わさび平小屋)

0577-34-6268

☎️

0577-34-6268 ☎️

Wasabi-daira-koya is a classic low-to-mid altitude staging hut in the Northern Japanese Alps, set in beech forest beside clear streams. It’s best known as the comfortable first-night base for hikers heading into the high mountains via Koike Shindō toward huts like Kagami-daira-sanso and beyond—perfect for splitting logistics before the big elevation days.

• Hut Overview

  • Location: Shin-Hotaka Onsen / Kamata River valley area, Northern Japanese Alps (Koike Shindō trailhead zone)

  • Altitude: ~1,400 m (often listed around 1,402 m)

  • Type: Mountain hut + tent site

  • Capacity: 65 sleeping places

  • Tenting: commonly listed ~30 tents

  • Season: varies by year; some directories list roughly mid-July to mid/late-October

• Access & Approaches

  This is one of the most accessible huts that still feels “deep Alps.”

  • Typical approach: from Shin-Hotaka Onsen, generally ~80 minutes on a forest road/trail

  • Terrain: easy valley walking, forest track, river sounds, minimal exposure

  • Difficulty: T1–T2 to reach the hut (serious terrain starts after, when you climb toward Kagamidaira / the ridge)

• Facilities & Comfort

  Wasabi-daira is unusually well-equipped for its position and popularity.

  • Sleeping: mixed rooms (including smaller/private-style options depending on season/layout)

  • Toilets: modernized facilities (toilet building upgrades are noted by the hut)

  • Drying room: available (useful for wet forest approaches and shoulder-season hikes)

  • Bath: bath available for overnight guests (timed hours set by the hut)

  • Shop: snacks / essentials (typical hut model; details vary by season)

  • Connectivity: hut notes Starlink-based Wi-Fi during generator hours, plus limited carrier voice coverage (operator-dependent)

• Food & Atmosphere

  Expect a friendly “base-camp” rhythm: people arrive from Shin-Hotaka, eat, dry gear, and sleep early to start climbing before dawn. Because it’s a gateway hut, it often feels more social than exposed ridge huts—without losing the mountain-hut discipline (set meal times, early starts).

• Routes & Alpine Context

  Wasabi-daira-koya is a key node for:

  • Koike Shindō approach toward Kagami-daira-sanso and deeper Northern Alps itineraries

  • Multi-day routes toward major peaks and hut networks in the Northern Alps (it’s the “easy logistics night” before committing higher)

• When to Go

  • Best window: mid-summer to early autumn for stable trails and predictable hut operations

  • Shoulder season: possible, but colder nights and wet conditions make the drying room/bath especially valuable (operations can change season to season).

• Who Is This Hut For

  • Hikers building a multi-day Northern Alps itinerary from Shin-Hotaka

  • People who want to break the approach and start the big climb fresh

  • Trekking groups who prefer a reliable hut + tent flexibility (when tenting is open)

Why This Hut Is Worth Visiting

With 65 beds at ~1,400 m and a large tent area, Wasabi-daira-koya is less about altitude and more about smart mountain logistics: it turns a long approach into a relaxed first stage, so you can hit Kagamidaira and the high ridges with better timing—and better legs.