Contributed by long time Japanese backountry telemark skier, SC:

Sugoroku Hut is a key hut when traveling from Kurobe to Shin-Hodaka-Onesen or Kamnikochi. Also a rout from Arimine Lake to Hodaka area is popular. Yahoo! Map (Sugoroku Hut): http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?lat=36%2F21%2F57.913&lon=137%2F36%2F15.823&lay... The hut owner decided that they won't open the hut during Golden Week (late April thru begin May) this season. They lost an important staff member at a snow accident last season. This hut is open from June 6 in Summer, and HAD been open in Golden week for snow moutains climbers and backcountry snowers. There is a tent site (Sugoroku lake) backside on Sugoroku hut, but no commercial service in 2008 GW.

I am very very sorry that Sugoroku hut is not open for 2008 GW. I'd been at the hut several times in past GW. I enjoyed day-excursion tours based on the hut...that were SUPER!. It takes seven hours from Shin-Hodaka-Onsen(or Wasabi hut) to Sugoroku hut via Yumiori-dake (or Ohnoma Nokkosshi). Look at this map again: http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?lat=36%2F21%2F58.898&lon=137%2F36%2F16.003&lay... The center is Sugoroku Hut which links Kurobe via Noguchi-Goro-dake in north, links Kamioka via Kurobe-Goro-dake in west, links Kamikochi via Yari-ga-take in east, and links Shin-Hodaka-Onsen via Yumiori-dake in south. It's really the center. If you wana enjoy tours around Sugoroku hut in 2008 GW, you must carry a tent. The best period would be from mid-April thru end-April. There may remain small snow in June begin, but skiing/snowboading would be in very limitted areas. Ref: Sugoroku Goya (Hut): http://www.sugorokugoya.com/sugoroku/shokai/sugoroku_shokai.html