I went on a two-day, one-night trip, hiking round-trip from Happo-one to Mt. Karamatsu and Mt. Goryu. I’ve stayed at various mountain lodges while hiking in the Northern Alps, but the Goryu Mountain Lodge was the nicest, and the staff were incredibly kind. The meals were delicious, and I really appreciated being able to have seconds. After breakfast, I set out lightly equipped to climb Mt. Goryu, and the view from the summit was breathtaking—it was a very satisfying mountain trip.

This was my first time staying here since the renovation. It was also my first stay since the deposit system was introduced. <What I Liked> ・Electronic payments accepted 👍👍👍 It was very convenient and reduced the hassle of carrying cash around. ・Free Wi-Fi available 👍👍👍 Previously, cell service was spotty, making phone calls and internet use quite inconvenient, but it’s now much more comfortable. ・I was surprised to find that the toilets are now flush toilets 👍👍👍 They were very clean and comfortable. I think there was even a Washlet. Summarized in 1,000 characters or less ・Vending machines are available until 8:30 PM 👍 They carry alcohol (350 mL Black Label, 350 mL Peach Shochu Highball) and 350 mL cans of Coke, and you can pay with digital money. ・The breakfast bento was delicious 😋😋 It was a salmon bento with vinegared rice specially prepared to stay fresh, and it was exceptional. ・Charging stations in every room 🪫 They’re only installed on one side of the room, but it’s still a very welcome amenity. ・The drying room is excellent 👍👍👍 It doesn’t just air-dry your gear—it uses a jet heater to warm it, so your gear dries quickly 😊 ・There’s a cooking area It’s by no means spacious, but since the use of portable stoves is permitted inside the lodge, you can use it with peace of mind even on rainy days. <Areas for improvement> ・The 350mL Black Label beer is a bit pricey at 800 yen. As before, Super Dry isn’t available. ・The futon felt a little damp (this might have been due to the typhoon). → I recommend bringing your own fitted sheet. ・Since the charging stations are located on only one side of each room, they can be difficult to use if the person in the nearby bed has their belongings spread out. While opinions on the deposit system may vary, after actually staying there, it was clear to me that they’re investing heavily in facility improvements to cover repair costs. Overall, comfort has improved significantly, and I feel it has become a much more user-friendly mountain lodge than before.

My friend and I stayed here for one night on June 21. We were scheduled to check in at 3:00 PM that day, but we struggled with steep climbs and snowfields and didn’t arrive until 5:00 PM. The staff welcomed us warmly despite the delay. Even though we had reserved a “silkworm shelf” room, they arranged a private room for us, allowing us to have a very comfortable stay. We’ll definitely stay here again. Thank you very much.

This was my first time staying at Goryu Sanso, and the hut was clean and very comfortable. There were power outlets in the rooms, which was very helpful.

The curry for dinner was delicious. It made me want to stay overnight just so I could have it again.

The location is simply fantastic, so I can see why this is such a popular mountain lodge. The interior is clean, too. I think the fact that each room has electrical outlets and USB charging ports shows they’re keeping up with modern needs. The problem is in the sleeping quarters—above all, the futons are far too narrow. They’re barely wide enough for a man’s shoulders; I’ve never seen futons this narrow before. I understand there are business considerations, but I hope they’ll take into account the needs of hikers in the post-COVID era. Other mountain huts have come up with various solutions, such as headboard dividers and curtains.