Yoko-o-sanso (横尾山荘)

0263-95-2421

☎️

0263-95-2421 ☎️

Yoko-o-sanso (横尾山荘) is the classic trail-lodge hub at Yokoo, the main “branching point” in Kamikochi for routes toward the Yari–Hotaka region (Yarisawa, Karasawa) and for the traverse toward Chōgatake / Tokugō Pass. It’s not a ridge hut—it’s a strategic base camp: comfortable enough to reset, but positioned for serious multi-day itineraries.

• Hut Overview

  • Location: Yokoo area, Kamikochi (Chubu Sangaku National Park), Nagano Prefecture, Japan

  • Altitude: 1,620 m

  • Type: Mountain lodge + large campsite

  • Capacity: 150 sleeping places (reservation strongly recommended/required in operation periods)

  • Camping: ~150 tents (Tokusawa-style scale; fees and rules apply)

  • Typical pricing reference: ¥14,000 (1 night / 2 meals) on official Kamikochi listing

• Access & Approaches

  Yokoo is a walk-in base from the Kamikochi transport hub.

  • From Kamikochi Bus Terminal: about ~3 hours on foot (flat-to-gentle valley walking)

  • Terrain: maintained valley trail, bridges, forest corridor

  • Difficulty: T1–T2 to reach Yokoo (the serious mountain terrain starts after Yokoo, depending on your chosen branch)

• Facilities & Comfort

  For a “deep-valley” lodge, Yokoo Sanso is unusually well equipped.

  • Shared rooms (often described as dorm-style rooms; reservations required for operating days)

  • Cafeteria / meals / shop (daytime services typically operate in season)

  • Campsite infrastructure managed by the same operation (water and toilet usage included in campsite fee per Kamikochi listing)

  • Bathing: the lodge is known for having a dedicated bath facility (often referenced as Yūyū-kan), but day-use bathing is not offered per the Kamikochi official facility notes—plan as “overnight guest comfort,” not a public onsen stop

• Food & Atmosphere

  Yokoo feels like a base-camp junction:

  • Early arrivals staging for Karasawa/Yarisawa

  • Campers setting up for multi-day routes

  • A practical, organised rhythm (meals at fixed times, early starts, weather planning)

• Routes & Alpine Context

  Yokoo Sanso is important because it sits exactly where major routes split:

  • Yarisawa → Mt. Yari (Yarigatake) direction

  • Karasawa direction (Hotaka access and classic alpine basin itineraries)

  • Chōgatake / Tokugō Pass direction (ridge/side traverse routes)
    It’s one of the most logical “last comfortable staging points” before committing deeper.

• When to Go

  • Best hiking window: July–September (most predictable)

  • Shoulder seasons: possible depending on Kamikochi access window and snow conditions (operations/booking rules can change year to year)

• Who Is This For

  • Multi-day trekkers heading into Yari–Hotaka

  • Hikers who want a staging night to start early

  • Campers who want a managed, high-capacity valley base

  • Anyone prioritising logistics + comfort over ridge exposure

Why This Lodge Is Worth Visiting

At 1,620 m with 150 beds plus a very large tent area, Yoko-o-sanso is “soft infrastructure” that makes big Northern Alps itineraries more realistic: you can split approaches, manage weather windows, and enter the Yari–Hotaka zone with better timing and less stress.