Yakushi-sawa-goya (薬師沢小屋)

080-1951-3030

☎️

080-1951-3030 ☎️

Yakushi-sawa-goya is a classic deep-valley stage hut in the Northern Japanese Alps, set at the dramatic confluence of the Kurobe headwaters and Yakushi-sawa. It’s best understood as strategic infrastructure: a key overnight node linking major interior hubs such as Taro-daira-goya and Kumono-daira-sanso, used by traverse parties moving through one of Japan’s most committing backcountry corridors.

• Hut Overview

  • Location: Kurobe headwaters / Yakushi-sawa confluence, Northern Japanese Alps, Japan

  • Altitude: 1,920 m

  • Type: Mountain hut (ridge/valley traverse stage hut)

  • Capacity: 60 sleeping places

  • Season: Typically summer to early autumn (varies by year; check current opening dates)

  • Reservations: Commonly operated as reservation-based in peak season

• Access & Approaches

  Yakushi-sawa-goya is rarely a “single-day destination.” It’s usually reached as part of longer traverses through the Kurobe interior.

  • Typical traverse context: between Taro-daira-goya and Kumono-daira-sanso (and onward toward Mitsumata / Suisho networks)

  • Terrain character: valley travel, river crossings/bridges, and long stages between shelters (commitment increases quickly once you’re inside the headwaters)

  • Difficulty: T3 (primarily due to remoteness, timing, and weather, rather than technical climbing)

• Facilities & Comfort

  Functional, practical, and built for people moving through.

  • Dormitory-style accommodation + dining/common room

  • Typical “hub” essentials: basic shop items and managed services (season-dependent)

  • Communication: many listings describe limited/none mobile signal in this interior zone (plan as if offline)

• Food & Atmosphere

  Expect an operational traverse atmosphere: early dinners, early sleep, and mornings built around weather windows and long stages. The river setting adds a uniquely “deep Alps” feel—less panoramic drama, more raw headwaters energy.

• Routes & Alpine Context

  Yakushi-sawa-goya is especially relevant for:

  • Kurobe headwaters traverses (linking major interior huts)

  • Parties moving between the Yakushi-dake region and the deeper Kumonodaira / Kurobe interior networks

  • A “reset point” before committing to longer, more isolated stages

• When to Go

  • Best season: July to September (most reliable operations and conditions)

  • Main risks: swollen rivers after heavy rain, rapid weather changes, and the simple fact that retreat options are limited once you’re deep in the network.

• Who Is This Hut For

  • Experienced hikers doing multi-day Northern Alps traverses

  • Parties comfortable with remote logistics and long stage planning

  • Trekkers who value strategic positioning over summit comfort

Why This Hut Is Worth Visiting

At 1,920 m with 60 beds, Yakushi-sawa-goya is one of the most important “connector huts” in the Kurobe interior: it turns brutally long headwaters itineraries into manageable stages, while placing you in a rare environment—Japan’s river-source wilderness rather than a tourist ridge line.