Hakuba Sansō

Hakuba Sansō is a mountain hut situated at an elevation of 2,832 meters just below the summit of Mount Shirouma (白馬岳) in the Hida Mountains (Northern Alps) of Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It was first opened in 1906 (Meiji 39) and is recognized as the oldest mountain hut in Japan that does not have religious origins. The hut is operated by Hakuba-kan Co., Ltd. (株式会社白馬館), a company based in Hakuba Village. As of 2023, it accommodates 800 guests, making it the largest mountain hut in Japan; at one time it could hold 1,200 people. The facility consists of three lodging buildings—the First New Wing, Second New Wing, and Third New Wing—along with a building called "Sky Plaza Hakuba" that houses a full-service restaurant and shop. The First New Wing has shared rooms on the first and second floors and private two-person rooms on the third floor. The Second New Wing offers larger private rooms on the first and second floors and shared rooms on the third floor. The Third New Wing features a dining hall on the first floor and hotel-quality private rooms and authentic Japanese-style rooms on the second floor. During the off-season, the First New Wing is closed. The east end of the First New Wing faces the cliff of Mount Shirouma's characteristic asymmetric ridge, allowing easy viewing of the sunrise. A summer clinic operated by Showa University School of Medicine is attached to the hut. There is no designated campsite; the nearest campsite is at the Hakuba-dake Summit Lodge, which is about a 15-minute descent and is the third-largest mountain hut in Japan. The hut benefits from large-scale helicopter transport of supplies and a high-capacity private generator that pumps drinking water, so despite its location just below the summit, it does not lack supplies or water. The prefectural border between Nagano and Toyama prefectures in this area is undetermined, but for local tax purposes, the climbing trail to the summit that passes between the First and Second New Wings serves as a provisional border. Thus, the First New Wing side is located in Hakuba Village's Hakuba National Forest, while the Second and Third New Wings side is in Asahi Town, Shimoniikawa District, Toyama Prefecture, within the Kurobe Okusan National Forest.

The history of Hakuba Sansō begins with the predecessor of Hakuba-kan, Yamaki Ryokan, which opened in 1890 (Meiji 23) near present-day Hakuba Station in the Shinshu-Yotsuya settlement. In 1905 (Meiji 38), Teiitsu Matsuzawa of Yamaki Ryokan obtained the right to use a rock shelter (iwamuro) near the summit of Mount Shirouma that had been used by the military survey department. In 1906 (Meiji 39), this rock shelter was converted into a mountain hut and opened as "Chōjō Koya" (Summit Hut), the predecessor of Hakuba Sansō. In 1915 (Taishō 4), the hut was expanded and renamed "Hakuba Chōjō Koya" (Hakuba Summit Hut). In the same year, Yamaki Ryokan was renamed "Hakuba-kan" and became a full-fledged lodging base for climbers. In 1931 (Shōwa 6), a dining hall was added to Hakuba Summit Hut, allowing two-meal stays. From that year, Shōwa Medical College (now Shōwa University) opened a summer clinic. In 1932 (Shōwa 7), the railway was extended to Shinano-Moriue Station, and Shinano-Yotsuya Station (now Hakuba Station) opened, leading to an increase in climbers. In 1934 (Shōwa 9), a new wing equipped with Western-style rooms, a reading room, a drying room, and a medical office opened. Hakuba Summit Hut was renamed "Hakuba Sansō". In 1959 (Shōwa 34), a fire destroyed all but one building. In 1961 (Shōwa 36), the building under reconstruction collapsed due to Typhoon No. 2 (Second Muroto Typhoon). In 1962 (Shōwa 37), the current First New Wing was completed. In 1963 (Shōwa 38), the Second New Wing was completed. In 1979 (Shōwa 54), the Third New Wing, featuring twin rooms and authentic Japanese-style rooms, was completed. In 1990 (Heisei 2), the restaurant building "Sky Plaza Hakuba" was completed in front of the First New Wing.

• 1990

  The restaurant building "Sky Plaza Hakuba" is completed in front of the First New Wing.

• 1979

  The Third New Wing, featuring twin rooms and authentic Japanese-style rooms, is completed.

• 1963

  The Second New Wing is completed.

• 1962

  The current First New Wing is completed.

• 1961

  The building under reconstruction collapses due to Typhoon No. 2 (Second Muroto Typhoon).

• 1959

  A fire destroys all but one building.

• 1934

  A new wing with Western-style rooms, reading room, drying room, and medical office opens; the hut is renamed "Hakuba Sansō".

• 1932

  Railway extends to Shinano-Moriue Station, and Shinano-Yotsuya Station (now Hakuba Station) opens.

• 1931

  A dining hall is added, allowing two-meal stays; Shōwa Medical College opens a summer clinic.

• 1915

  The hut is expanded and renamed "Hakuba Chōjō Koya"; Yamaki Ryokan is renamed "Hakuba-kan".

• 1906

  The rock shelter is converted into a mountain hut and opens as "Chōjō Koya", the predecessor of Hakuba Sansō.

• 1905

  Teiitsu Matsuzawa obtains rights to use a military survey rock shelter near the summit of Mount Shirouma.

• 1890

  Yamaki Ryokan, predecessor of Hakuba-kan, opens near present-day Hakuba Station.

Japan's oldest and largest mountain hut, offering relatively comfortable facilities and services at a high altitude in the Northern Alps.

• Mountain hut lodging (shared rooms, private rooms, Japanese-style rooms)

• Meals (dinner and breakfast)

• Restaurant and shop at Sky Plaza Hakuba

• Summer medical clinic (operated by Showa University)

1. 1Hakuba Sansō - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hakuba Sansō - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Official websitehakuba-sanso.co.jp