金峰山荘

Lodge at Mawarimedaira in Kawakami village, Nagano, on the northern foot of Kimpusan (2,595m), regarded as the chief peak of the Okuchichibu range. Set among the strange rock formations and forest of the Kimpu gorge, it is both a trailhead for Kimpusan and the base for Ogawayama, one of Japan's foremost climbing areas. The Mawarimedaira campground — free sites and bungalows — shares the grounds, and Fureai-no-mori with its cabins, drive-in campsites and barbecue area is a little further on; all are run by the Kawakami Village Development Corporation. The lodge has fifteen tatami rooms across its old and new wings plus an eight-bed room, together with a large communal bath, a 60-mat hall, a dining room and a terrace. Guests choose between two meals or room-only, and those taking meals borrow a bouldering mat free, normally 2,000 yen. The terrace serves draught beer, snacks and soft-serve ice cream, and the lodge also offers day-use bathing, hall rental and training-camp stays. Note that another Kinpu Sanso of the same name exists in Yamanashi City — take care when booking.