2026.02.20
Report | and wander HIKING CLUB
and Takamiishi Goyaand wander journal #94
森の中に佇む、通い続けたくなる山小屋
山や自然を楽しむきっかけづくりを行っているアンドワンダー・ハイキングクラブ。これまで国内外さまざまな地域で活動してきましたが、東京から車で約2時間とアクセスがよく、四季折々の自然を堪能できる北八ヶ岳は、気軽に何度でも通いたくなる山のひとつです。
今回はそんな北八ヶ岳の表情豊かな魅力や、標高2,300mの森に佇む高見石小屋とその管理人・木村託さんとの交流にまつわるエピソードをご紹介。“星とランプの宿”として知られる高見石小屋は、2011年のアンドワンダー創設以来、ハイキングクラブへのサポートをはじめ、ビジュアル撮影や山小屋支援プロジェクトへの協力など、さまざまな形でお世話になってきました。
Nestled in the forest: a woodland mountain hut that keeps calling us back
The and wander Hiking Club is all about creating opportunities for people to connect with nature and enjoy spending time in the mountains. Over the years, our Hiking Club has organized various events all around Japan and internationally. Of the many destinations we have explored, Kita-Yatsugatake stands out as somewhere that we’ve wanted to visit again and again. It’s easily accessible, located just two hours from Tokyo by car, and is a great place to experience Japan’s four seasons.
In this article, we will talk about the many different appeals of Kita-Yatsugatake. We will also share some stories about our visits to Takamiishi Goya, nestled in the forest at an altitude of 2,300m, and our time spent with its manager, Taku Kimura. Takamiishi Goya, also known as the “mountain hut of stars and lamps”, has been an important partner since the founding of and wander in 2011. Not only has it provided ongoing support to our hiking club, but it has also been the location for photo shoots and a collaborator for the “Mountain Hut Support Project”.
雨：濡れそぼつ苔の森と、流される土
2024年6月。高見石小屋に宿泊した時のハイキングクラブでは、たっぷり水を蓄え、緑を増した美しい苔と、雨水の影響による登山道の荒廃という、雨がもたらす２つの顔に驚かされました。
お仕事の合間に特別に周辺を案内してくださった小屋の管理人の木村託さんは、針葉樹は秋になっても葉を落とさないことや、他の植物が根を張れないくらい表土が薄い北八ヶ岳特有の環境が、苔の光合成に適していること、また、豪雨を一因として荒廃が進む登山道の整備の必要性などを教えてくれました。
Rain: A forest of drenched moss and rivers of soil
June 2024. During our hiking club excursion, which included a stay at Takamiishi Goya, we were surprised to learn about the two contrasting effects of rain on the mountain landscape. On the one hand, we saw beautiful carpets of mountain moss, lush and green from the plentiful rain, while on the other, we learnt about how the rain can also cause damage to mountain trails.
Takamiishi Goya’s manager, Taku Kimura, kindly took time during his work to show us around the area surrounding his hut. From him, we learnt how coniferous forests do not lose their leaves in Autumn, how the topsoil in Kita-Yatsugatake is so thin that no other plants are able to take root, and how this environment is ideal for moss to photosynthesise. He also told us how heavy rainfall is one cause of mountain path deterioration, and emphasized the need for proper maintenance.
雪：静寂の山を歩く
翌2025年3月。北八ヶ岳はこの時期、一年でもっとも降雪量が多くなります。この日はこれまでハイキングクラブを通じて積み立ててきた支援金を、山小屋の活動に役立ててもらおうと相談をかねての再訪でした。白銀に包まれた雪山を歩くのは本当に神秘的な体験で、雪化粧をした山肌や樹木の美しさもさることながら、周囲の音が雪に吸収され、自分たちの息づかいや足音だけが聞こえてきます。肝心の支援金も無事に受け取っていただけることになりました。
Snow: trekking through silence
One year later, March 2025. During the time of the year when Kita-Yatsugatake experiences its heaviest snowfall, we returned to Takamiishi Goya to deliver donations collected through our hiking club, and to discuss how the money could be put to the best use. Walking through the snow-covered mountains was a truly mystical experience. All we could hear was our own breath and footsteps, as all other sounds were absorbed by the snow, and we were blown away by the beauty of the snow-dusted mountainside and treetops. Most importantly, we also successfully delivered our donation.
ひと：初夏の森で登山道整備を見学
同6月。初夏の青空のもと、高見石小屋のスタッフのみなさんが不定期にボランティアで行っているという登山道整備を見学させてもらうため再訪。作業の合間にお話を聞くと、整備と言っても地域や場所によって国や県や自治体など管理者が異なり、整備計画の申請手段、作業方法や予算の規模など、実態はさまざまなのだと知りました。
この北八ヶ岳の高見石小屋周辺をめぐる状況においてはまだ調整が必要なところが多く、木村さんは本格的な整備に向けて、関係者や識者に相談しながら計画的な枠組み作りに取り組んでいるのだといいます。
People: Into the early summer forest for a trail maintenance field trip
June of the same year. Under the blue skies of early summer, we returned to observe and learn about the mountain trail maintenance that Takamiishi Goya staff conduct, as volunteers on an ad hoc basis. As they worked, we learnt that what maintenance actually entails can differ greatly depending on the region or location of the trail. The authority in charge, be it the national government, prefecture, or local authority, varies from location to location, and each has different procedures for submitting maintenance plan proposals, different maintenance techniques, and budgets of different sizes.
Mr. Kimura tells us that there are still many things that need coordinating regarding the area around Takamiishi Goya. He is currently working in consultation with various stakeholders and experts, to come up with a systematic framework for trail maintenance.
氷：意外な荒廃の原因
また、お話の中で意外だったのは「霜柱」による影響でした。その現象は「凍結融解（とうけつゆうかい）」といい、土壌は気温が氷点下になると水分が凍って表面の土が持ち上がり、気温が上がると溶けて崩れる。それが繰り返されることで表層が耕され、雨が降ると簡単に流されてしまうのだそうです。
そのようにしてさまざまな現象が関係し合って進んでしまう荒廃をくい止めるために、山が持つ本来の安定した土壌や植生を回復させるような、長期的な整備が求められていました。
Ice: An unexpected culprit
Another thing that surprised us was the effect of frost columns. The phenomenon, known as “freeze-thaw cycles”, occurs when temperatures drop below 0 degrees, causing water in the soil to freeze, which pushes the surface soil up. This ice then melts when the temperature rises again and the soil that had been lifted up collapses. As this cycle repeats itself, the top layers of soil become more vulnerable to erosion, meaning that when it rains this soil is easily washed away.
In order to stop trail deterioration, which is caused by a combination of factors, long-term maintenance that can help the alpine habitat regain its original, stable soil structure, and native vegetation, is crucial.
道：自分たちにできること
10月。紅葉シーズンに入った北八ヶ岳を再訪。白駒池のほとりに立つと、ポツポツとカラフルな頭を覗かせた、この時季ならではの山容が楽しめました。山を登って高見石小屋へ伺い、木村さんと談笑していると、前回の登山道整備の話に触れて「たくさんの方に、あの登山道の現状を知ってほしいんです」と言っていたのが印象的でした。
The Path: What we can do
October. We revisited Kita-Yatsugatake in the autumn. As we stood next to Shirakoma Pond, we spotted patches of red and orange breaking through the canopy as we enjoyed the autumnal alpine scenery. We hiked up to Takamiishi Goya to see Mr. Kimura. As we chatted, he told us that he “wants lots of people to know about what is happening to the mountain trails”, referring to the trail maintenance we joined during our last visit. This is a message that really hit home for us.
いつも楽しませてもらっている山に対して自分たちにできること。木村さんが教えてくれたのは、歩いているその道にちゃんと意識を持つという、単純だけど、とても大切なことでした。
思えば街に暮らす私たちにとっても、登山道がなければ、四季折々の山を歩いたり、あたたかく迎えてくれる山小屋に行くことはできません。たくさんのワクワクにつながる道が、これ以上廃れてしまわないように、ハイキングクラブの活動を通じて、山を楽しみながら、恩返しもしていけたらと思います。
What can we do for the mountains that always provide us with so much pleasure? Mr. Kimura taught us something very simple but also very important; he taught us to be aware of the paths we walk on.
If I think about it, without hiking trails, us city dwellers would not be able to walk in the mountains and enjoy the alpine seasons, and we would not be able to access the mountain huts that always give us such a warm welcome. Going forward, I hope that we can give something back to these hiking trails that have given us so much, and that we can find a way for our hiking club activities to contribute to mountain trail maintenance and prevent further damage.
Translation Yuko Caroline Omura