Akakura Onsen · Myoko Kogen · Niigata
One small place in Akakura where you can eat well, pick up a car that handles the snow, and drop the bags you've been dragging around. Run by a local family. Everything in English.
The Myoko problem
Akakura is a wonderful place to ski and a hard place to be a visitor. Taxis rarely come. There's almost nowhere to rent a car. Your ski bag has to go somewhere while you ride, and somewhere else again before you fly home. And when you finally sit down to eat, the menu is in a language you can't read.
NINJA exists because our own guests kept asking. First it was dinner. Then "how do we get around?" Then "can you hold our bags?" So we said yes, three times.
Three things, one door
You don't have to book three different companies, in three different places, in a language you don't speak. It all happens at one counter.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available. Please ask our staff.
See the menuDelica D:5 · Reference image
Four Mitsubishi models, all 4WD on snow tires. From the Delica D:5 to a compact eK X Space, with pickup and return right here.
See vehicles & inquireStore your gear for a few hours or a few days — or send it straight to Narita, Haneda or Kansai so you can see Tokyo with empty hands before you fly.
See how it works
You'll be fine here
Need a little help in Myoko? We can't help with everything, but we'll always do what we reasonably can. If you have a question or need some local advice while you're here, feel free to ask us. If we can help, we will.
Who this is for
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Children are welcome. Let us know their ages and whether you need child seats for your rental car.
Coming with a group? Contact us in advance and we'll see what we can arrange. We do not offer private hire.
This is where most visitors to Japan struggle. Give us notice and we'll put together a proper meal, not a side salad.
You don't need to know how anything works. Ask us. That's genuinely what we're here for.
Nozawa, Lotte Arai, Nagano's temples and the snow monkeys are all a drive away. That's what the cars are for.
Ship the ski bag to the airport, keep the day pack, and enjoy the last few days without wrestling luggage onto trains.
What people say
4.5 out of 5 across 23 Google reviews — from Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Cairns and beyond.
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The sake is where this place shines — if you are not sure, speak to the guy behind the bar. He was spot on with the recommendations. We came back.
I'm gluten and dairy free and have eaten here twice without worrying. The food was delicious and the staff were kind about it.
Friendly, helpful staff who thankfully fit us in for dinner when most other places were full. Great range of craft beers and sake, and very reasonable prices.
An amazing selection of craft beer and sake, set in a funky bar with a great vibe — loved the walls you can decorate with markers. Above all, the service was unforgettable.
Scroll or swipe to explore
Beyond the slopes
Snow monkeys bathing in a hot spring. A 55-meter waterfall frozen mid-air. A 400-year-old sake brewery. A cedar avenue leading to a shrine under two meters of snow. Most of it is under an hour away — and almost all of it is easier with a car.
See our Myoko guide
Who we are
For many years, my parents ran a small souvenir shop here in Akakura. Before that, they ran a lodge, where they also cooked for their guests. Welcoming people and meeting visitors from all over the world had always been part of their everyday life.
Read our storyA message is enough. Table, car, bags, or just a question about Myoko — we'll take it from there.
