Last updated Mar 17, 2020
The Aizanso Hut is located about 7km up the Shiretoko Pass road (Route 334) at around 510m altitude (here), in far eastern Hokkaido. It is on the climber’s right hand side of the road, about 150m into the forest, just after the 20.5km sign on the Shiretoko Pass road.
Aizanso Hut (愛山荘) is a two-story hut, belonging to the Abashiri Alpine Club (網走山岳会). The name of the hut literally translates as “Love for the Mountains Hut”. It was built and is maintained as a winter base for exploring the mountains in the immediate vicinity, such as Rausu-dake, Chinishibetsu-dake, and it would also support skiers attempting full winter traverses of the Shiretoko mountain range (such as a 14-day solo unsupported traverse by a Abashiri Apline Club member – Day 1 here).
The hut is fully funded and maintained by the club. Therefore, the hut maintenance depends heavily on hut fee donations by users. For the services provided (effective wood stove with plenty of wood, plus an outside toilet), the alpine club requests a donation of at least 1,000yen per person per night.
- Winter entry to the hut
The main entrance to the hut is on the ground floor. This entrance will be blocked by snow during winter, so either dig the snow away from the entrance, or enter via the second floor. There was a sign in the hut advising people not to force the ground floor door open. If it is difficult to open, use the second floor entrance. When we were there in March 2019, the second floor was being used more as a storage space than a living space. There is a flight of stairs down to the first floor. - “Close the doors”
When we were there in March 2019, there were multiple notices reminding users to close the entrances (both ground and second floor) securely when leaving. There have been instances of doors being left open, leading to most of the hut filling with wind-drifted snow. - Parking
Access to the hut in winter is usually from the Utoro side of the Shiretoko Pass. Skiers will park up at the Shiretoko Nature Center (here), and go from there. A representative from the Abashiri Alpine Club requested that visitors to the hut mention to nature center staff that they’ll be leaving their car parked overnight or longer. If a car is left overnight or longer, sometimes the nature center staff get concerned that the owners might be lost in the mountains.
TEL: 0152-24-2202 | NOTE: All inquires should be in Japanese, and please mention that you do intend to make a donation of 1000yen per person per night – there have been recent cases of people using the hut without contributing.
URL: https://abashirialpine.club/
There is no need to book. The hut is unlocked and available for use year round. All users must sign the guest book.
All users are requested to contribute 1000yen per person per night. There is a donation box inside the hut. Your donation helps to cover fuel (wood plus labor) costs, as well as general upkeep of the hut. All users must sign the guest book.
Heating: The hut is heated via a wood stove, with wood provided. When it is loaded up with plenty of wood, the stove will melt a large pot of snow and, if transferred to a kettle, will bring the melted snow to a boil in around 45 minutes. There is plenty of tinder for lighting the stove, and there are axes for cutting kindling.
Water: There is no running water supply at the hut in winter.
Kitchen/cooking: There is a selection of pots, frypans, some cutlery, knives and grilling meshes at the hut. There are a couple of ‘cassette gas burners’ at the hut, so bring your own compatible non-threaded gas canister (like this, available in supermarkets for around 150yen per canister) to use them. Club members will have priority on all equipment in the hut, so we recommend bringing your own cooking equipment as a backup.
Bedding: No bedding is supplied.
Elecricity: No.
Toilets: There is a large portable toilet outside, about 20m from the hut. In winter, you’ll need to dig a space for the door to be opened. Make sure to close the door securely with the supplied cable. Don’t force the door open – take the time to clear enough snow from around the door.
Cell reception: No.
No.
Related Maps
NOTE: For number references to official printed topographical maps, check the main route report ( Rausu-dake Southwest Couloir Ski Tour ).
The vast majority of huts in Hokkaido are 100% maintained through passionate volunteer time and effort, and the Aizanso Hut is no exception. If you make a visit, please give the place a clean, post your 1000yen donation per person in the box provided, and make sure to sign the guest book. Always leave a hut cleaner than you found it.
Aizanso Hut Trip reports
Aizanso Hut Photo Gallery
As with each ski touring, cycle touring, and hiking route guide published on hokkaidowilds.org, should you choose to follow the information on this page, do so at your own risk. Prior to setting out check current local weather, conditions, and land/road/track closures. While traveling, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course, follow leave-no-trace procedures. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. In spite of the fact that this information, associated GPS track (GPX, KML and maps), and all information was prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. hokkaidowilds.org, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individuals following the information contained in this post.
hokkaidowilds.orgに掲載されるすべてのスキールート、自転車ツーリングルート、ハイキングルートと同様に、本ページに掲載される情報を利用し行動する場合、必ず自己責任で利用することを条件とします。出発する前に現地の天候や状況、通行止め情報などを確認しましょう。行動中は、公有地／私有地に関係なく必ず現地の利用条件を守るようにし、適切な安全装置や、コンパスや地図などのナビゲーション道具を身に着けてください。いうまでもありませんが、自然に与える人間の影響を少なくし、ゴミの持ち帰りをはじめ環境を傷をつけない（Leave No Trace）ようなアウトドア行動にしましょう。本サイトに掲載される情報はあくまで計画を立てるための一つの情報源に過ぎなく、行為者の先んじて払ってしかるべき正当な注意義務及び努力と合わせて利用することを条件とします。本ページのGPSトラック（GPXとKMLと地図）を含む情報は提供者のできる限り正確な調べにより提供しているものの、その情報の正確性や、提供者の行動判断は、hokkaidowilds.orgは一切の責任を負いかねなく保証できません。また、本ページに掲載される情報を利用することによるいかなる怪我、器物損壊等、その他事件 ・事故等においてhokkaidowilds.orgや本サイトの関係者は一切の責任を負いかねます。
Comments | Queries | Reports
Have you visited the Aizanso Hut? Thinking of visiting? Please post any feedback or queries here. Thanks!
2 thoughts on “Aizanso Hut”
Hi, we have a group of five gaijin that we’re hoping to stay at the hut. We called to see if it was open and trial conditions. They said we could not stay; only friends of the club can visit. Is this accurate?
Hi Tim, I just called the Abashiri Alpine Club phone number listed above, and the representative on the other end said that it’s OK to stay. He did mention that someone had called earlier, but it seems it was a bit of a miscommunication – you’re welcome to stay on the condition that A) each person contributes a donation of 1000yen per person per night (i.e., 5000yen per night for five people), B) you make sure all doors and windows are closed after leaving and C) that you put your name(s) in the logbook. It seems they still get some users who use the hut without making a contribution and/or leave windows/doors open. He stressed that it’s a big cost to the club transporting wood to the hut each season. He also said that when parking at the nature center, it would be best to mention to the staff there what your plans are. It’s no problem to park there, but apparently the club sometimes gets concerned inquiries from the nature center about cars left for a couple of days in the parking lot. Enjoy, and I hope you get some good weather for your trip!