"To Create Inns Worldwide Where People and Their Dogs Can Truly Relax": The Dream of Akagisan-Futokoro, a Traditional Kominka Retreat for You and Your Dog

Our company endorses April Dream, a project to make April 1st a day for sharing dreams. This press release is the dream of 'Akagisan-Futokoro-, a traditional kominka retreat where you can stay with your dog'.

We want to deliver
an irreplaceable time where people and dogs can be their natural selves.

Our dream is,

'To create a world-class inn where people and their dogs can truly relax from the bottom of their hearts.'

'Akagisan-Futokoro-', surrounded by the nature of Mt. Akagi, is an inn that makes the most of the charm of a traditional kominka, where you can spend time with your beloved dog.

Cuisine featuring local ingredients, baths with different atmospheres, and relaxation in the lobby with a fireplace.
As a 'kominka retreat' where you can step away from daily life in nature that speaks to the five senses, it is enjoyed by many dog lovers.

Spending time with your dog in the rich nature at the foot of Mt. Akagi gradually eases the tensions of everyday life.

In the morning, take a walk with your dog in the clear air.
In the afternoon, enjoy a peaceful moment in the kominka and dog run, with sunlight filtering through the trees.
At night, immerse yourself in time enveloped by cuisine made with local ingredients, a hot spring, and a star-filled sky.

Inside the inn, you can spend all your time with your dog, whether dining, relaxing, or sleeping.

■ Why do we hold this dream?

This inn brings together a chef who re-evaluated his way of working, a person who has pursued the essence of service, and staff who wish to be close to customers and their dogs.

'We want to become a place that makes people want to come back again.'

That feeling is the foundation of this inn.

When a person relaxes, that atmosphere is transmitted to their dog.
Seeing that, the person is also fulfilled.

We know the value of that irreplaceable time.

That is why we want to deliver the healing power of Japanese 'omotenashi' and 'ryokan culture' from this place to the world.

This time, we will deliver the thoughts and dreams of the staff working at Akagisan-Futokoro-.

■ Manager Ito's Thoughts

I want to make Akagisan-Futokoro- 'a world-class inn where people and their dogs can truly relax'.

So says Manager Ito.

After graduating from university, while searching for his path, he entered the service industry.
A major turning point came when he was working at a bar-restaurant and felt a sense of incongruity seeing colleagues who called themselves 'professionals' but could not serve foreign customers.

'They are professionals, so why can't they handle it?'

From that question, he went abroad to learn about true service.
He was exposed to Swiss hotel management, and after returning to Japan, he gained experience in hotels and restaurants, obtaining a 1st Grade Restaurant Service Technician certification. He also works as an instructor.

Furthermore, he worked as a butler at the Austrian Embassy, mastering the 'kuroko (stagehand) service' of understanding not through words but through gestures.

'Service is about changing your approach to match the other person.'

Mr. Ito, who speaks these words, continued to gain experience in various fields and moved to Gunma six years ago.
And that is where he encountered Akagisan-Futokoro-.

What he aims for at this inn is
connection with the local community, development as a business, and contribution to the culture of living with dogs.
It is about creating 'the meaning of this place's existence' through all of these things.

'I want our customers to leave with a 'post-bath glow' on their faces.'

Like after a good hot bath, you feel somewhat dreamy and a smile just appears.
We want to be an inn that relaxes you from the core, both mind and body.

'We often hear from guests that their dogs, who are usually light sleepers when traveling, slept surprisingly well here.'

The owner's relaxation is directly transmitted to the dog.
Creating that atmosphere is the very value of this inn.

And from this place, to spread the value of service itself.
That is the future Mr. Ito envisions.

And sharing the same aspiration, customer service staff member Ms. Morishita works on the front line with guests.

■ Customer Service Staff Morishita's Thoughts

'My dream is to become someone that people want to come and see again.'

After graduating from an agricultural high school, she aspired to work in customer service and got a job at a hotel in Ikaho. Knowing nothing, she learned the basics of language and service under strict guidance.

Since then, she has experienced various customer service jobs, including at an accessory shop, a theme park, and an animal facility.

Among them, she says her job at a famous dog ranch was a major turning point.

'I was originally a cat person, but dogs just come straight to you... I fell in love with them after experiencing that affection.'

Currently, while living with a dog herself,
she aims for a service style that caters to both the owners and their dogs.

'Each dog has a different personality, so
I want to be able to interact with them in a way that suits each one.'

What she feels is unique to this inn is 'being able to properly face not just the people, but the dogs too'.

She says she feels a sense of reward in this job at moments when she can see that when the owner is relaxed, the dog is also at ease.

In the past, a guest told her, 'I'd like to come again if you're here,' and those words are her driving force now.

Furthermore, she has another dream.

Ms. Morishita was in the art club as a student and loves to draw.
In the future, she wants to draw illustrations of dogs and create 'my-dog goods'. In fact, the dog illustrations displayed in the inn are her work.

'I think it would be nice to give guests goods made with my illustrations as a present for their anniversaries.'

While staying close to people and their dogs, she also wants to give shape to her own passions.

With that thought in her heart, she welcomes guests today.

Now, when we speak of a ryokan, we think of hot springs, relaxing spaces, and of course, the cuisine.

The cuisine at Akagisan-Futokoro- boasts a dinner review score of 4.7 and a breakfast score of 4.9 on Jalan.net (as of March 24, 2026), making it a renowned culinary destination. We spoke with Mr. Tayama, who supports the kitchen.

■ Head Chef Tayama's Thoughts

'My dream is a second branch of Akagisan-Futokoro-!'

After training under his master while traveling to various places, he became independent as a head chef at the age of 28.

After that, Head Chef Tayama gained experience in Osaka and Amagasaki, and for 14 years, he led the kitchen as head chef at a ryokan in Minakami. However, as he became too busy and unable to spend time with his family, he decided to take a step back.

'I wondered if I could just keep going like this,' he said.

The place he found after reflecting was Akagisan-Futokoro-.

Cuisine that utilizes local ingredients, and an environment where he could be involved from the ground up.
It was a place where he felt he could face cooking once more.

The cuisine at Akagisan-Futokoro- is characterized by ideas that are not bound by the framework of Japanese food, such as preparing the river fish Iwana as sashimi without any gaminess, serving a visually stunning hot pot with 10 types of colorful mushrooms, and combining braised pork belly with thin rice cakes.