Hirugadake Lodge 1673m, Kanagawa
Hirugadake sansou sits on top of Mt Hiru, the highest point of the Tanzawa mountain range in Kanagawa prefecture, South of Tokyo. It is the hut that has the longest and toughest access, in terms of hiking time and elevation gain.
PROS: Less crowded than other huts, great view of Mt Fuji and night view of Tokyo, summit is just next to the hut
CONS: Early bedtime curfew (around 8pm), not much in terms of New Year celebrations, small snow layer possible
ACCESS: Take the Odakyu line from Shinjuku station to Shibusawa station. There are many buses that can take you to Okura, the trailhead for Mt Tonodake, Mt Tanzawa and Mt Hiru (the first two also have lodges open over the New Year period).
Kumotori lodge around 1950m, Tokyo
Kumotori Lodge is located below the triangular summit of Mt Kumotori 2017m, the highest mountain of Tokyo prefecture. It is the highest and largest of the 3 huts with a capacity of around 200 people.
PROS: “Amazake” (sweet sake) on the evening of the 31st, lively atmosphere and countdown at midnight, relatively comfortable lodge
CONS: Crowded on December 31st, summit is 30 minute from the lodge, some snow possible
ACCESS: If possible try to catch the direct train from Shinjuku station that goes all the way to Okutama station, otherwise you’ll need to transfer once in Ome. From there, it’s a 35 minute bus ride to Torizawa, the start of the trailhead for Mt Kumotori.
Nabewari Lodge 1272m, Kanagawa
Nabewari Lodge is also located in the Tanzawa mountain range, near the top of Mt Nabewari overlooking Sagami Bay. It’s one of the friendliest lodges that I have ever stayed at during my time in Japan. It also has the shortest hiking time of the three.
PROS: “Zouni” (Japanese new year dish) and sake on the morning of the 1st, great view of Mt Fuji, summit is right next to the hut
CONS: The hike down is relatively short, located on a ridge so doesn’t feel like being on the top of a mountain
ACCESS: Same as for Mt Hiru, you’ll need to take the Odakyu line from Shinjuku station to Shibusawa station, and catch the bus for Okura. However, instead of going straight up, take the path that goes left.
Before you go, there are 3 things you should do before.
First get a map of the mountain so that you can plan your hiking route carefully.
Secondly, call the hut to make a reservation and ask about the trail conditions.
Finally, check the weather before your departure. Although the weather is usually stable around this time of the year, bad weather can always happen.
In any case, be sure to bring warm clothes because it will be very cold while waiting for the first sunrise on the 1st of January 2019!
This content was created for the Tadaima Japan web magazine by Hiking around Tokyo, a blog that introduces hikes in the mountains near Tokyo. It was also published on the Hiking around Tokyo blog.
