Raichoso

A special, unusual place to spend the night, with great food and a lovely onsen. The location is amazing, but I barely slept because the futon was so thin, even with two laid on top of each other. You’re paying for where it is, which is fair enough, though the bedding needs improvement.

I first stayed here in early June. The entrance, hallways, cafe, dining room, bath, and restrooms were all clean and well looked after. Even though it was early summer, they had a stove warming the drying room. The meals were large and surprisingly tasty for a mountain lodge, and the staff made everything pleasant. Check-in and check-out were smooth, accurate, and polite. I went outside late at night and saw the moon and plenty of stars through gaps in the clouds. In the morning, I even spotted a rock ptarmigan nearby.

The Alpine Route was a one-of-a-kind experience, and I’d highly recommend it. Getting to the lodge from the Murodo drop-off after starting on the Nagano side takes a short hike along an uneven stone path, so leave the luggage behind and expect some ups and downs. The effort is worth it for this beautiful mountain setting. There are several lodges and a campsite at the top, with plenty of choices for exploring the nearby peaks. Our stay included dinner and breakfast. The dining hall team were especially welcoming, and all the lodge staff were incredibly friendly. Dinner was delicious, with a generous, nourishing selection of traditional Japanese dishes. The clean tatami rooms worked well for our family of four, and the onsen was one of the best I’ve tried.

We had a very disappointing experience with Lodge Raichoso. In mid-November 2025, the weather became severe on the day we were due to leave Murodo Terminal. Strong winds and snow made the hike unsafe, and terminal staff advised against trying because whiteout conditions could make it hard to see and easy to lose the way. We explained the safety situation to Lodge Raichoso and asked for a full refund. Their reply felt inflexible and showed no sympathy. We understand the weather is outside anyone’s control, but had hoped for more compassion given that we were staying put purely for safety. The way it was handled left a very poor impression. The walk from Murodo Terminal takes about 30 minutes to an hour, and bad weather can make it dangerous or impossible. Future visitors may want to consider Hotel Tateyama, which is directly connected to the terminal.