Kamikōchi Nishi-itoya Sansō

Top choice in Matsumoto & the Northern Japan Alps


This friendly lodge, west of Kappa-bashi, dates from the early 20th century. The main-building rooms are a mix of Japanese and Western styles. The dorm rooms in the annexe building are the best deal in Kamikōchi if you're on a budget and don't want to go camping. The shared bath faces the Hotaka peaks. There's a cosy lounge.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Matsumoto & the Northern Japan Alps attractions

1. Hirayu Folk Museum

5.97 MILES

Admission to Hirayu Onsen's only attraction, a quaint museum of folk memorabilia, includes entrance to a rather lovely and lesser-known little rotemburo …

2. Rokuzan Bijutsukan

15.22 MILES

Ten minutes' walk north from JR Hotaka Station, Rokuzan Bijutsukan showcases the work of Meiji-era sculptor Rokuzan Ogiwara (1879–1910; aka the 'Rodin of…

3. Chihiro Art Museum Azumino

16.35 MILES

This popular art museum showcases the work of Chihiro Iwasaki (1918–74), who became world-renowned while specialising in children's-book illustrations…

4. Dai-ō Wasabi-Nōjo

16.49 MILES

Fancy some wasabi wine or ice cream? This farm, a 15-minute bike ride from JR Hotaka Station, is a must for wasabi-lovers. An English map guides you among…

5. Matsumoto Open-Air Architectural Museum

16.7 MILES

Adjacent to the better-known Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, amid fields and rice paddies beneath the gaze of the Alps, stand these five examples of striking late…

6. Japan Ukiyo-e Museum

16.74 MILES

Housing more than 100,000 woodblock prints, paintings, screens and old books, this renowned museum exhibits but a fraction of its collection. The museum…

7. Kaichi School Museum

18.57 MILES

A few blocks north of the castle, the former Kaichi School is both an Important Cultural Property and the oldest elementary school in Japan, founded in…

8. Matsumoto Timepiece Museum

18.62 MILES

Home to Japan's largest pendulum clock (on the building's exterior) and over 300 other timepieces, including fascinating medieval Japanese creations, this…