Komagane Youth Hostel(駒ヶ根ユースホステル)

Friendly staff and a nice place. It can be a bit tricky to find, so use Google Maps ;-)

The owners were warm and friendly, and the shared room was spacious and handy, with a microwave, toaster, dishes, and hot water. I loved relaxing on the tatami mats between the dorms. The bath isn’t a hot spring, but the water felt so smooth and soothing that I could have stayed in it forever. The building is older, though it has the feel of a mountain lodge, and I’d happily stay again. I was here the night before visiting Senjojiki Cirque to see the autumn leaves.

We were able to book several nights at short notice, which was lucky. The owners were really friendly, the room was clean, and we had a great time on our motorcycle trip. It was August, but so cool that we didn’t even need a fan, maybe because of the rain. Rain also stopped us from climbing Mt. Kiso Komagatake as planned, so we weren’t sure where to go. The owners suggested options including the Yomeishu factory, and we got to visit. It became a nice memory. There’s a bath with a whiteboard for signing up in order. Women get 30 minutes per slot, and a hair dryer is provided.

Five of us shared an eight-person room, and everyone seemed to be a hiker. They were all up at 4 AM. I stayed here on October 11, 2025, the night before heading for Senjojiki Cirque, with Mount Kiso-Komagatake as a possibility depending on the weather. The building is old but clean and well maintained. The toilets have been updated from traditional Japanese style to bidet toilets, and they’re a little roomier now. The kitchen has dishes, a microwave, kettle, and gas range, so you can heat lunch or cook. My pillow was quite flat, so if you’re hiking or camping, you might want to bring your own. There’s a day-trip hot spring and bus center nearby. I had a bath there, bought a can of beer at reception, ate rice balls I’d bought, and went to sleep around 8 PM. The road to the bus stop is very dark around 4:30 AM, so bring a bright headlamp. I got to Suganodai Bus Center before 5 AM but waited around two hours for the bus, then queued another 30 minutes for the ropeway. For hiking, staying overnight somewhere like Hoken Sanso seems like the better option.