GOEN offers casual Japanese dining directly opposite Yudanaka Station – the gateway to the Snow Monkey Park and Shiga Kogen. Serving great sushi, sashimi and other Japanese favorites including yakitori, tempura, wagyu and soba noodles, GOEN’s menu is built around taste. Also serving Western cuisine with a wide and varied drink menu and assorted desserts, cakes and coffee, there’s something for everyone at this great little local place, directly opposite the station.

*GOEN is currently closed since the end of the Winter Season. We expect it to be reopened soon, so check back periodically for more information.

GOEN is a perfect place to grab a bite at some point during your trip to see the Snow Monkeys, thanks to its location – and its also a great place for people staying in the Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen areas! While Kaiseki cuisine at a traditional Japanese ryokan is one of the tastiest things Japan has to offer, on a longer stay you may wish to branch out, and GOEN will be there with a casual and friendly atmosphere ready to provide you with fun foods and drinks.

— Where is Japanese Dining GOEN?

— What is on the menu at GOEN?

— Seating Arrangements and Interior Atmosphere

— Tours and Charters to the Snow Monkey Park

Keep reading below to discover if GOEN is what you are looking for!

WHERE IS JAPANESE DINING GOEN?

Japanese Dining GOEN, situated immediately in front of Yudanaka Station, is located around 35KM / 50-minutes to the north-east of central Nagano City. Serving delicious meals and drinks to travelers visiting the the area, GOEN is a great place to stop in for a meal before or after visiting the Snow Monkey Park. When heading to GOEN using public transport, it will be easiest to do so from Nagano Station, from where an express bus runs directly to Yudanaka Station – the nearest train station to the Restaurant and the Monkey Park. Alternatively, you can take the Nagano Dentetsu railway to Yudanaka Station. Both options take around 45-50 minutes in total to get there. The cafe is located in the small hot spring village of Yudanaka, which itself is located in the wider region of Yamanouchi – a region including the park, multiple hot spring villages, Shiga Kogen Ski Resort, the smaller ski resorts of Kita-Shiga Kogen and Joshinetsu Kogen National Park.

WHAT IS ON THE MENU AT GOEN?

With a large variety of offerings, Japanese Dining GOEN has a menu that is sure to please almost anyone. As the name implies, the main focus of the restaurant is of course Japanese cuisine. With options including traditional favorites, experimental new offerings, and everything in between, even those who think they do not like Japanese cuisine may find a new favorite here. GOEN also serves some Western foods which have long been popular in Japan, such as potato fries and fried chicken, as well as grilled chicken made with meat procured from a local farmer. Drinks of various kinds, alcoholic and alcohol free, are also chilled and ready to order.

While Japan is famous for its seafood, in landlocked and mountainous Nagano Prefecture traditionally only the very wealthy could afford fresh fish transported over a long distance from the ocean. Nowadays, with modern transport and refrigeration, you can enjoy fresh seafood even in the heart of Nagano and GOEN has many offerings that take advantage of this. With sushi, sashimi bowls, and more, the bounty if the sea plays a big part in GOEN’s menu.

Nagano is famous for producing a lot of vegetables (and delicious ones at that!), and one of the best ways to enjoy Japanese vegetables is as Tempura. Often used as a side dish along with other meals like Soba, Tempura is also great to enjoy on its own. With the flavor further enhanced by dipping in salt, sauce, or other condiments, this globally famous dish is one you must have in Japan.

GOEN’s most experimental dish is its Soba Ramen, a unique fusion of these two kinds of noodles into one interesting concept. Soba is a very classic Japanese food, and was actually first made into noodles in the Nagano region. Ramen on the other hand originates in China and was brought to Japan only quite recently, and has since evolved into a unique dish quite removed from its earlier form. Combining these two is combining the subtle subdued flavors of Japanese traditional cuisine with the strong and powerful flavor of an international favorite. Using noodles made with a mix of soba (buckwheat) flour and the usual wheat used for Ramen, this dish won’t be found anywhere else!

GOEN of course has many more options than just what have been listed above – please come and see the menu for yourself when you are in Yudanaka!

SEATING ARRANGEMENTS AND INTERIOR ATMOSPHERE

A chic and modern building, GOEN stands out from its surroundings and offers a modern-Japanese style atmosphere. With indoor and outdoor seating, as well as two floors, there are plenty of options for any size group.

On its first floor, GOEN provides a number of tables in the western style for guests to enjoy their meal at. With large windows and light wooden architecture, the ambiance matches the food that you will be served.

GOEN also has ‘Hori-gotatsu’ style seating, wherein a table is placed over a hole in the ground for guests to place their legs in. A take on the traditional Japanese style of sitting on the floor, Hori-gotatsu style tables are easier to sit on for guests who are not quite used to sitting on the ground for long periods of time while still offering the traditional experience of a Japanese restaurant.

In front of the restaurant is an area of covered patio seating, perfect to enjoy the breeze on a nice evening. Even during the cold winters of Nagano, seating outside is possible thanks to heaters prepared by GOEN for diners who prefer a bit of fresh air.

TOURS AND CHARTERS TO THE SNOW MONKEY PARK

At Snow Monkey Resorts, we are proud to offer private charter services, using our fleet of vehicles to bring our customers where they want to go. With well-trained, licensed drivers and comprehensive support, booking a charter with us is the easiest way to get from A to B. For groups with a lot of luggage, charters provide a way to avoid the need to carry heavy suitcases around crowded train stations, and allow for more space than taxis. We can even include a stop at GOEN on the way to the Monkey Park or your accommodation in Yudanaka. Please contact us HERE to check availability and get started on making an itinerary.

1 Day Tour

1-Day Tour: Snow Monkeys, Zenkoji Temple & Sake in Nagano
Period	All Year Round
Time	09:35 – 17:35
Meeting Place	Nagano Station Hakuba (winter only)
Adult Rate	¥17,800
Child Rate	¥11,000

Our award winning and extremely popular day tour of Zenkoji and the Monkey Park is a great way to see the sights of Nagano and also cover transport to Yudanaka. While the tour officially ends back in Nagano city after a day of sightseeing, you can request to instead end the tour at the Monkey Park. From there, it is only a short bus/taxi ride away to Yudanaka Station, and GOEN. For guests staying in the area, this is the best way to enjoy a great guided tour in Nagano while traveling towards your accommodation for the night.