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Cavi Chan lets you in on her favorite secret spots for good food in Niseko.
Opposites attract in Japan—ancient traditions fuse with advanced technology while minimalism meets kitsch
Itadakimasu, Niseko!
Niseko
Tokyo may have the glory of being named the most Michelin-starred city in the world; but that doesn’t mean that the regions outside the capital should be overlooked when it comes to food. In Hokkaido, Niseko spoils nature-lovers with menus that tickle the tongue, fill the stomach, and warm the heart. Here’s my list of the town’s best Japanese joints—itadakimasu (頂きます, a Japanese phrase commonly said before eating)!
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Savor delicious bowls of ramen at Niseko Ramen Kazahana! This restaurant is famous for its signature dish: the Niseko Ramen, a rich ramen with a layer of potato foam that adds a wonderful texture and flavor. Sample the Habanero Ramen if you crave more heat; it’s a spicy ramen made with one of the hottest varieties of chili peppers known to man! End your meal on a sweet note with some ice cream, or try a Japanese twist on the classic dessert with an order of their Tempura Ice Cream.
- +81 136 23 3444
179-36 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, Japan
倶知安町字山田179-36- http://www7.plala.or.jp/nisekoramenmount
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Soupcurry & Japanese Dining Tsubaratsubara
ープカレー＆和Dining つばらつばら
Niseko, Japan • Recommendation •
Chow down hearty bowls of soup curry! Stewed for two full days, this Sapporo original is unique from other Japanese curry. It boasts a broth-like consistency, highlighting the flavor of its ingredients. Start by choosing from their three curry bases—Chicken and Vegetables Curry, Tsumire (Japanese style meat ball) Curry, and Vegetable Curry, all of which can be served with coconut milk. Customize your curry with toppings like lotus root, boiled eggs, cheese, and bacon—a crowd-pleaser for its tenderness and succulent flavor.
- +81 136 23 1116
132-14 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, Japan
倶知安町字山田132-14- https://www.facebook.com/tsubara2/
Treat yourself to delicious hot pots perfect for the winter season! Located in Annupuri’s Saison Club, M’s Cafe features premium Hokkaido beef for your dinner feast. The restaurant offers Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu courses, both highlighting full of fresh local ingredients. Note that the restaurant only offers its dinner service during the winter season and require a reservation (with a minimum of two people). Call the restaurant before 5:00PM the day after you book to confirm your reservation. Call to arrange for them to pick you up from your hotel as their location is inaccessible by mass transport.
- +81 136 55 6096
Saison Club, 355-2 Aza Soga, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
ニセコ町字曽我355-2- https://www.mscafe-niseko.com/
With 29 ramen choices, Yamaokaya has a noodle dish for every preference! A typical iekei (house- style) restaurant, they serve three ramen types-- shoyu, miso, and salt-based, topped with seaweed, spinach, and onions. Their flavorful broth is a product of stewing pork bones for three full days. Thick yellow wheat noodles bathe in the soup, with slices of tender pig shoulder in its crest. Order through the nifty machine which allows you to customize your dish in terms of amount of oil, firmness of noodles, and thickness of the soup!
- +81 136 55 5421
Minami 10 Johigashi 1-Chome 1-9, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
北海道虻田郡倶知安町 南10条東1丁目1-9- https://www.yamaokaya.com/shops/1151
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A-bu-cha 2nd is a restobar that serves hotpot, yakitori, donburi, and sushi using Hokkaido’s extraordinarily fresh produce. The Sukiyaki Hotpot is perfect against the raging winter cold. The beef is so tender it melts in your mouth. Coat it with beaten raw eggs for a creamier taste. Bookings are highly recommended to secure seats. Otherwise, come before they open at 6:00PM and have your name listed down, or at around nine when seats free up.
- +81 136 22 5620
1F Suiboku, 191-29 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, Japan
俱知安町山田191-29水墨1階- https://www.abucha.jp/
Dig into fresh Hokkaido seafood at Ezo, where the day’s catch is served! Restaurant owner James Gallagher heads out early in the morning daily to fish markets and coastal villages. There’s no standard menu since the dishes depend on which products are available at the markets and from their suppliers. Choose from the splendid array of seafood displayed market-style and decide how you want to have it done. James and the staff are around to guide diners on the best way to have the dish prepared. The options could get overwhelming, in which case you can ask for an omakase, literally meaning “I will leave it to you”, and Chef Keiko will handle the rest!
- +81 136 22 3019
170-165 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, Japan
倶知安町字山田 170-165- https://www.ezoseafoods.com/
Owner Tatsuru Rai is widely-recognized as one the best soba masters. With only 12 bar seats in and two small tables in Rakuichi, you have a prime spot to witness him knead, roll, and cut dough. The noodle’s mellow broth is made with the immaculate spring water abundant in the area. Choose from either plain soba or duck soba noodles, prepared hot or cold and with a side of scrumptious vegetable tempura. Rai, his wife Midori, and their two sons built the patchwood building that houses the restaurant with their hands. Much like a family welcoming visitors into their abode, the family dons their kimono and hosts guests with exceptional hospitality.
- +811360481511
431 Niseko, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, Japan
〒048-1511 北海道虻田郡ニセコ町字ニセコ431- https://www.rakuichisoba.com/
From filling breakfasts to late night drinks, Musu’s got you covered. This bistro/café serves all-day breakfast and lunch made with fresh local ingredients. By late afternoon, it transforms into an apres-ski bar, offering tapas, alcoholic drinks, and a mix of live musical performances throughout the week.
- +81 136 21 7002
Odin Place, 190-13, Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, Japan
倶知安町字山田 190-13 Odin Place- https://www.facebook.com/musuniseko/
A feast of authentic Hokkaido cuisine beckons at Yukitei. Their specialty Gosetsu Udon is said to be the best in the whole country! Instead of using wheat flour, they use 100 percent Kutchan potatoes and spring water from Mount Yotei. Gosetsu means “heavy snowfall” an appropriate name for the white foam that tops the noodles, reminiscent of the snow-covered lands of Hokkaido.
- +81 90 3117 1001
Matthew Suites, 170-144 Aza Yamada, Kutchan-cho , Abuta-gun, Hokkaido, Japan
倶知安町字山田 170-144- http://www.nisekoland.jp
Named after its location (exactly 1000 meters away from the mountain peak of 1308 meters), Hanazono 308 is the biggest on-mountain restaurant in Niseko with 330 seats to go around. Satiate your appetite with the wealth of options from the restaurant, then head over to the café for a cup of Lavazza after. 308 is also the hub of all activities in Hanazono. You’ll find everything you’ll need for the day here: lift tickets, rental and retail stores, changing and locker rooms, a snow sports school, and desk counters for numerous snow experiences. After lunch, take the young ones to the Hanazono Adventure Park just right outside, with its dedicated area groomed for games like sledding and snow tubing.
- +81 136 21 6688
Niseko Hanazono Resort, 328-1 Iwaobetsu, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido
虻田郡倶知安町 岩尾別 ３２８−１- http://www.hanazononiseko.com/en/snow/restaurants/hanazono308.html
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