A new private villa, COCO VILLA Minakami (COCO VILLA みなかみ), held its grand opening on Monday, October 26, 2026 in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture. It joins COCO VILLA (ココヴィラ), a nationwide brand of whole-house rental private villas.
The 3LDK villa looks out toward Mt. Tanigawa (谷川岳), one of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains (日本百名山). Its spacious courtyard has a sauna, cold plunge, open-air bath and bonfire, and the villa accommodates up to 10 guests (6 recommended).
A Spacious Courtyard With Mt. Tanigawa and a Sky Full of Stars
Step out into the courtyard and Mt. Tanigawa stretches out right in front of you.
The mountain shows a different face with each visit: fresh greenery in spring, deep green in summer, autumn leaves in fall and a coat of snow in winter.
At night, the whole garden is covered by a sky full of stars.
Time on the Deck With a Sauna and Open-Air Bath Facing the Mountains
Out on the deck, there is an open-air bath where guests can soak while looking at the mountain scenery.
Sinking into the slightly hot water helps ease the fatigue of the trip.
The deck also has a private sauna that fits 2 to 3 people. The stove is an electric model from HARVIA (ハルビア) and supports self-löyly (セルフロウリュ).
After the sauna, guests can head straight to the cold plunge on the deck. The plunge is for one person, and there is also seating for relaxing after the sauna. Guests can cool down outdoors in the clear air of Minakami.
The sauna and open-air bath let guests spend relaxed time in whatever way they like.
A Night Around the Bonfire and BBQ Without Worrying About Onlookers
The courtyard has a bonfire space and a BBQ grill.
The property sits one step higher than the road, so guests can spend their time without worrying about the eyes of passersby.
After a bath, guests can warm up while listening to the crackle of burning firewood and keep chatting until dusk.
A Big-Screen Theater in the Hideout-Like Second Floor
The roughly 6-tatami-mat attic room on the second floor is equipped with a large screen and a projector.
In a calm space surrounded by wooden pillars and black walls, guests can relax on a sofa and watch their favorite movies on the big screen.
It suits nights when everyone is tired from playing outside, as well as rainy days. Gathering around a single screen together makes the evening of the trip even more fun.
A Roomy Interior for Up to 10 Guests, With a Wood-Burning Stove
A wood-burning stove stands beside the dining table, which has the warmth of wood.
Watching the flickering flames, time with loved ones passes calmly.
Centered on a comfortable living room, the villa accommodates up to 10 guests. It is a fully renovated modern space that suits family trips and group trips.
About 140 Minutes From Central Tokyo, Reachable by Car or Train
The outdoor service One Drop is a 30-second walk from the villa. In summer, river activities such as canoeing are close by.
In winter, Norn Minakami Ski Resort (ノルンみなかみスキー場) is about 12 minutes away by car. After skiing, the day-use hot spring Suzumori no Yu (鈴森の湯) is about 11 minutes away by car.
Doai Station (土合駅), known as "Japan's No. 1 mole station" (日本一のモグラ駅), and farms where guests can pick fruit are about 20 minutes away by car.
A convenience store is about 3 minutes away by car and a supermarket about 8 minutes, so shopping for supplies is easy.
Guests can head to the river or the slopes during the day and return to the courtyard under the stars at night. At COCO VILLA Minakami, with Mt. Tanigawa in view, guests can enjoy Minakami's activities right through to the end of the day.
Facility Information
- Name: COCO VILLA Minakami (COCO VILLA みなかみ)
- Address: 2216-5 Kamimoku, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma 379-1303
- Parking: Up to 2 cars (on site)
- Layout: 3LDK
- Capacity: 10 guests
- Facilities: Sauna (electric sauna stove), cold plunge, open-air bath, wood-burning stove, bonfire, BBQ grill, projector
- Check-in / Check-out: From 3:00 PM / by 11:00 AM the next day
- Details: https://coco-villa.jp/villa/minakami/
Access
- By car: About 6 minutes from Minakami IC (水上IC) on the Kan-Etsu Expressway (関越自動車道)
- By train: About 10 minutes by taxi from Jomo-Kogen Station (上毛高原駅) on the JR Joetsu Shinkansen
- By train: About 13 minutes on foot (about 3 minutes by taxi) from Kamimoku Station (上牧駅) on the JR Joetsu Line
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rbcrVCLD698vh52R8
