A keen snowboarder who enjoyed the laid back atmosphere of the Lower Village, 30-year old Shingo Sugiyama from Tokyo has been coming to Hirafu for 10 years.
Three years ago he fulfilled his dream of opening up his own Izakaya, a Japanese pub-style eatery. Named after a Shinto god, it offers a genuine Japanese drinking and dining experience.
You can try true Japanese comfort food Oden, a kind of stew dish. Warm up by the simmering Oden pot with a hot sake or Ebisu beer. Shingo also offers a variety of grilled dishes, sautéed chicken and seasonal fish.
He runs the Izakaya on his own, which gives it an intimate feel.