Three local young people are currently running the hut ``Yukiguni'' in Aomori's Owani Onsen Ski Resort in place of the owner.

The store operates a restaurant and guesthouse facility for skiers. It opened in 1977 (Showa 52). In 2020, the store closed due to a decrease in customer numbers due to the coronavirus pandemic and the owner, Ryoko Miura, who was elderly and in poor health. Currently, the property is for sale and we are looking for a buyer.

The three young people are Yojiro Sakamoto, Haruya Yamamoto, and Shota Shimazu. The three of them made a U-turn and started running the cafe bar "From O" in front of Owani Station. Last year, they started a local Neputa organization and held events involving the shopping district.

Mr. Sakamoto said, ``I was a classmate of the owner, Mr. Miura, and learned about the current situation in Snow Country, so I decided to open a restaurant in the hope that I could help in some small way.By showing people how we operate, I hope I can reach people who are interested and who can come up with ways to use it." The business is scheduled to run until March 10, when the ski resort opens.

The building has three floors, with a restaurant on the third floor, a lobby and entrance where four guest rooms and rental skis can be rented out on the second floor, and a guest room with a loft, management office, bathroom, and storage room on the first floor, with a capacity of 32 people. can accommodate. The total area is 345 square meters. The adjacent residential building is also transferable, and consultations are available on the Yukiguni Instagram page.

The restaurant will remain open while the ski resort is open this season. This year, with more light snow than usual, the ski resort's opening was delayed by about a month to January 17th, and the restaurant opened on the 20th. The three of us come up with the menu, and we prepare dishes such as loco moco bowl and gapao rice that are different from other restaurants.

``I want non-skiers to visit the restaurant,'' says Sakamoto. ``There are huts and pensions around the ski resort that are looking for new owners.I hope this will give people an opportunity to visit and learn more about Owani.''

Restaurant business hours are 11:00 to 15:00.