Hotakadake Sansō

Hotakadake Sansō (穂高岳山荘) is a Japanese mountain-hut brand and the operating name of Yūgen-gaisha Hotakadake Sansō, a private limited company based in Hida, Gifu Prefecture. Its lodge stands at the Shirakoshi Col (2,996 m) on the main ridgeline of the Hotaka massif in the Northern Alps, between Oku-Hotaka-dake — Japan's third-highest peak at 3,190 m — and Karasawa-dake, the eighth-highest at 3,110 m. The col straddles the Gifu–Nagano prefectural border, with the Karasawa approach on the Nagano side and the Shirakoshi side in Gifu. The hut is a landmark of the Chūbu-Sangaku National Park and one of the best-known high-mountain lodges in Japan. The brand began in 1924 (Taishō 13) when mountain guide Jūtarō Imada built a small shelter called Hotaka-goya, with room for about 20 people, after being caught in a storm on the ridge and recognizing the need for a hut. It was renamed Hotakadake Sansō in 1958 and has since grown into a lodge with a capacity of roughly 250 (about 210 by reservation in recent seasons), open from late April to early November. Facilities include guest rooms, private rooms, a dining hall, toilets, a drying room, a library, a winter emergency hut, a summer mountain clinic staffed by Gifu University's medical faculty, and a live camera. Non-guests can buy coffee and light meals in the café area. The company is family-run: Jūtarō Imada founded it, his son Hideo Imada joined the management in 1965 and introduced innovations such as solar and wind power generation alongside engine power, and the operating company was incorporated in 1967. The hut marked its 100th anniversary in 2024, publishing a commemorative book on Hideo Imada's management philosophy and running an essay contest. The brand also extends into publishing and media — photo books, anniversary magazines, and mountain films through Hachi Production — and sells goods through an official online shop. Its website provides trail conditions, route guides, a live camera, and safety guidance for 3,000 m-class climbing, including warnings about freezing temperatures and hypothermia in late September.

The history of Hotakadake Sansō begins in the Taishō era, when mountaineering was gradually becoming a popular pastime in Japan. Jūtarō Imada worked as a mountain guide. One day, while walking in the Hotaka area, his party was caught in a storm and forced to bivouac. Convinced of the need for a shelter, Imada decided to build a hut at the Shirakoshi Col. The result was Hotaka-goya, the predecessor of Hotakadake Sansō, built in 1924 (Taishō 13) with a capacity of about 20 people. The Wikipedia article gives the founding year as 1924, while the official site describes it as 'Taishō 14' (1925); the 100th anniversary was celebrated in 2024, consistent with a 1924 founding. In August 1927, Prince Chichibu and his party stayed at the hut during a traverse of the Yari-Hotaka range. In 1929 the Hida-side wing was added, and in 1930 the Shinshū-side wing was added; a small shrine was also enshrined on the summit of Oku-Hotaka-dake. In 1951 the 'Jūtarō Shindō' trail from Kamikōchi to Hotaka-dake was completed, and 'Kimiko-daira' — named after Imada's daughter — was established at the approach to Mae-Hotaka-dake. In 1957, responding to increasing numbers of climbers, the hut underwent a major reconstruction with a capacity of 100. In 1958 it was renamed Hotakadake Sansō. In 1961, water was channeled from a source at the Karasawa-dake snow gully to the hut and named 'Tenmei-sui'. In 1964 helicopter transport of supplies was introduced. In 1965 Jūtarō's son Hideo joined the management, and in 1967 the operating company Yūgen-gaisha Hotakadake Sansō was established. Hideo introduced innovations such as solar and wind power generation in addition to engine power, using natural energy rather than burning oil. In 1986 an audio space (music-listening room) was rebuilt. In August 1993, founder Jūtarō Imada died. In 2008 the hut marked its 85th anniversary since Hotaka-goya, publishing the photo book 'Tenkū no Kagayaki' by mountain photographer Osamu Uchida. In 2018, then-manager Hachirō Miyata died in a kayaking accident in South Izu. The hut celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024 with a commemorative book on Hideo Imada's management philosophy, a 100th-anniversary pin badge, and an essay contest. The brand continues to operate the lodge, publish materials, and provide trail and safety information through its website.

• 2024

  100th anniversary; commemorative book on Hideo Imada's management philosophy published.

• 2018

  Manager Hachirō Miyata dies in kayaking accident in South Izu.

• 2008

  85th anniversary; photo book 'Tenkū no Kagayaki' by Osamu Uchida published.

• 1993

  Founder Jūtarō Imada dies (August).

• 1986

  Audio space (music-listening room) rebuilt.

• 1967

  Yūgen-gaisha Hotakadake Sansō established.

• 1965

  Hideo Imada, son of Jūtarō, joins management.

• 1964

  Helicopter transport of supplies introduced.

• 1961

  Water channeled from Karasawa-dake snow gully, named 'Tenmei-sui'.

• 1958

  Renamed Hotakadake Sansō.

• 1957

  Major reconstruction (capacity 100) to accommodate growing climber numbers.

• 1951

  Jūtarō Shindō trail from Kamikōchi completed; Kimiko-daira named after Imada's daughter.

• 1930

  Shinshū-side wing added; small shrine enshrined on Oku-Hotaka-dake summit.

• 1929

  Hida-side wing added.

• 1927

  Prince Chichibu's party stays during a Yari-Hotaka traverse.

• 1924

  Jūtarō Imada builds Hotaka-goya (capacity 20), predecessor of Hotakadake Sansō, at Shirakoshi Col.

A historic, family-run high-mountain lodge brand in Japan's Northern Alps, known for its extreme altitude location, long operating history, and sustainable energy use.

• Hotakadake Sansō lodge lodging

  Mountain hut accommodation at 2,996 m, capacity about 250 (about 210 by reservation in recent seasons), open late April to early November.

• Café and light meals

  Coffee and light meals available in the dining hall and earthen-floor area for non-guests.

• Summer mountain clinic

  Gifu University Medical Faculty Oku-Hotaka summer clinic, July 20–August 20.

• Photo book 'Tenkū no Kagayaki'

  85th-anniversary photo book by Osamu Uchida.

• 100th-anniversary book

  'Play in Hotaka: The Management Philosophy of Hideo Imada' by Hironori Taniyama, published by Yama-kei Publishers.

• Official online shop goods

  Merchandise and publications sold through the official online shop.

• 100th-anniversary essay contest 'Watashi to Hotakadake Sansō'
• 100th-anniversary pin badge

1. 1穂高岳山荘 公式サイトhotakadakesanso.com
2. 2穂高岳山荘についてhotakadakesanso.com
3. 3山荘関連情報hotakadakesanso.com
4. 4Wikidata: Hotakadake Sansōwikidata.org
5. 5Wikipedia: 穂高岳山荘ja.wikipedia.org