Kiyoshi Okuma's side's looked set to be consigned to a third defeat in their first three games of the new campaign, but they stunned the home side with two goals in stoppage time.
Kosuke Kikuchi and Akihiro Ienaga struck either side of a Tomoki Imai own-goal to put the visitors 2-1 up at half-time.
Frontale were still licking their wounds following a 2-0 AFC Champions League defeat against Ulsan in midweek and they came storming back in the second half with Renatinho equalising and Yoshito Okubo putting them in front four minutes from time.
Ardija refused to lie down though, and Kikuchi levelled after 90 minutes, then the home side were stunned when Cho Young-Cheol won it three minutes into time added on.
Reigning champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima's winning start to the season was ended by a 2-0 home defeat against Urawa Reds.
Shinzo Koroki silenced the EDION Stadium with an opening goal three minutes before half-time and Genki Haraguchi sealed an impressive win for the Reds in time added on.
Yokohama F Marinos' impressive start to the season continued as they followed up their Champions League draw with holders Guangzhou Evergrande in midweek by coasting to a 3-0 home win against Tokushima Vortis.
Seitaro Tomisawa put Yasuhiro Higuchi's charges in front 14 minutes in, then second-half strikes from Sho Ito and Jungo Fujimoto ensured the home side maintained their 100 per cent league record after three games, while newly promoted Vortis are bottom of the table without a point.
Kashima Antlers are top of the table on goal difference and are still yet to concede a goal after they sauntered to a 3-0 win at Sagan Tosu.
Takeshi Aoki opened the scoring in the first half at the Best Amenity Stadium, then Yasushi Endo took his tally to four goals in the first three games before Yuta Toyokawa made sure with a third goal to end Tosu's winning start.
Cerezo Osaka occupy third spot after beating Shimizu S-Pulse 4-1, while Nagoya Grampus won 1-0 at Kashiwa Reysol and Ventforet Kofu were held to a 1-1 draw by Albirex Niigata.
Vegalta Sendai and Gamba Osaka played out a goalless draw, while Vissel Kobe secured their first win of the season as Tokyo were consigned to a 2-1 defeat.
