Favorite Mountain Huts – Part 1: Tsurugi Gozen Hut

As I casually browsed Twitter, I noticed some Yamareco information. Lately, I've been using YAMAP extensively and haven't been using Yamareco much. It occurred to me, "I used to use it in the past, and I might as well install the app on my smartphone." So, I fumbled around, thinking, "What was my password again?" and finally managed to complete the installation.

I'm glad I installed Yamareco. Nostalgic records popped up, including my first Tateyama vertical traverse, which took place in August during the Bon holidays in 2013. It was a memorable hike on a fine day and marked my first ascent of Tateyama. I've been slacking off on documenting my hikes recently, but keeping these records helps bring back the excitement and memories that I had forgotten. It's enjoyable to relive those moments.

Mount Oyama is a mountain that schoolchildren from Toyama apparently climb on school trips. However, when I went there for the first time, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was really possible to ascend such a rocky place as I looked up.

Upon reaching the summit, a priest was present, and we received a ritual blessing. I remember hearing the sound of wings throughout the entire purification ceremony, right by my ear. Standing at the summit of Mt. Oyama, under clear skies and after the blessing, I felt like I had been spiritually and physically purified.

During that hike, we followed a route from Ichinokoshi to Mt. Oyama, then to Mt. Onanji, and finally to Mt. Bessan. However, a few years later, I camped at the Raichosawa Campground and hiked the trail in the opposite direction. Personally, I prefer the route starting from Mt. Oyama.

Tateyama never fails to provide a soothing view no matter how many times I visit, It’s rarer not to encounter ptarmigan. I once saw ptarmigans flying and fluttering their wings in the snowy Jodo-san area, which was like paradise for bird enthusiasts. During the Golden Week holiday in May, while camping at Rraichosawa Campground, I heard them making their distinctive calls right next to my tent.

During this hike, around the area of Mt. Bessan, there were ptarmigans strolling around. It was my first encounter with these birds. I remember jumping up with excitement to take photos of them.

The creatures and flowers you can encounter in the high mountains are charming and serve as a soothing presence for hikers.

The time around Bon (August) is perfect for observing the Perseids meteor shower, and I was looking forward to it.

In the middle of the night, I stepped outside Tsurugi Gozen Hut and lay on a large rock in front of the hut, gazing up at the sky. There, I had the opportunity to witness shooting stars streaking across the horizon with remarkable intensity, a sight that can’t be seen from the ground.

So, if you want to see beautiful shooting stars, Tsurugi Gozen Hut is the perfect location. It’s situated higher than the Raicho-daira, making it ideal for stargazing.

With the majestic presence of Mt. Tsurugi up close and the breathtaking sunrise of the first light, it’s an exceptional experience. I’d love to stay there again.

In the next post, I’ll share more information about mountain huts from my records on Yamareco.