I’ve been incredibly grateful to do 3 separate five-day trips to Niseko from 2019-2024, a world-class ski and snowboarding destination in the Northern Hokkaido prefecture of Japan. It’s known as the powder capital of the world as they get insane amounts of light, powdery snow every season. Besides the idyllic conditions for winter sports, you’ll find some incredible food throughout the area at generally reasonable prices. Here are my best restaurants to eat both on the mountain and around Niseko.
JUMP AHEAD:
Must-Book/Pre-Order Niseko Restaurants
Ezo Seafoods
We’ve ordered takeaway sushi platters from this fresh seafood market in 2023 and 2024 and I cannot recommend it enough! You’re getting such high quality sushi and chirashi that are perfect to bring back to your chalet so you can drink your own liquor at home but still enjoy amazing quality fish. While it’s normally served in paper takeaway boxes, you can request wooden platters and sushi boats that you return to the shop after your meal if you message them.
The pictured chirashi platter was a custom order so be sure to message them at least a week in advance to get this amazing platter with seasoned furikake rice topped with the freshest fish, ikura and Hokkaido scallops and uni.
Yakitori Fujiwara
One of my favorite meals in Niseko comes from a yakitori omakase counter with 12 seats. It’s part of a new dining and retail complex called The Select, which houses 4 different intimate dining concepts in one building (highly recommend also checking out Bar Haku for incredible and unique cocktails). Our group of 12 took over the whole restaurant, where the yakitori master cooked each skewer over charcoal to perfection. It’s worth the splurge to experience this masterclass in yakitori, plus the chef is very friendly and engaging.
The showstopper was the Kuroge wagyu beef chateaubriand that gets slow cooked – the chef alternates between grilling it over charcoal and resting the meat inside a clay pot. It’s absolutely worth upgrading to the Ezo menu to try this and the Hokkaido sirloin. Note that the smoke does start to get quite strong as the meal progresses, so be wary of this if you’re sensitive to it.
Bang Bang
We’ve tried to visit this popular izakaya on the main road in Hirafu since 2019, and finally succeeded this year since you need to remember to book it 3 months in advance. It’s a super quaint and cute place with friendly staff to talk you through their very deep and extensive menu. It’s also a vibe with their yakitori master grilling everything in his hat reminiscent of One Piece.
You can find pretty much any grilled item here along with a variety of special market price items, which are on the more expensive, borderline-overpriced side but overall we found the meal to be very tasty and worth the cost.
Eat this: A4 wagyu beef steak (soo good), tuna jaw (only for groups of at least 8 as this thing is HUGE), butter corn, mushroom roll, deep fried squid legs, kawa chicken skin yakitori, grilled onigiri (we didn’t try any of the sashimi since we had Ezo Seafoods the day before so I can’t comment on if it’s good or not, but I would skip the grilled oysters and green pepper skewer as those were very overpriced vs the taste)
Crab Dining Kanon
If you love crab, this cozy shabu shabu restaurant is a must. You prepay for their 7 course menu that starts with a Hokkaido hairy crab with rich kani miso that’s meticulously cut open to make it easy to eat while you wait for the snow crab hot pot to cook.
After finishing the comforting hot pot loaded with sweet snow crab, oysters and tofu, you’re served a plate of marbled kobe beef to do shabu shabu in the flavorful seafood-infused broth. There are “grilled,” “warm” and “rice” courses that change nightly – we had a grilled king crab leg, crab meat dumpling and a teeny ikura rice before finishing off with a bright yuzu ice cream. The portions might be small if you have a bigger appetite, but our group left very satisfied and happy from the delicious meal.
Restaurants that have been on my list to try but I keep missing the booking window: Rakuichi, Bianca Omakase, Niseko Loft Club
Where to Eat around Hirafu Village
Niseko Cheese Tarte
This small shack down the hill from the Hirafu Welcome Center sells the dreamiest, creamiest Hokkaido cheese tarts. It’s actually an outpost of Niseko Milk Kobo located in Niseko Village, so if you’re staying in Hirafu you can try their treats without having to travel to the next village. Both the regular and chocolate versions are divine, with a sweet filling that practically oozes out of the shortbread-style crust after you take a bite. We also loved the Hokkaido milk and Uji matcha ice creams.
Eat this: cheese tart, chocolate tart, milk and matcha ice cream
Tozanken Ramen
After 2 visits to this ramen shop in both 2019 and 2023, Tozanken is one of my favorite spots in Niseko. This no-reservations eatery is super popular for its prime location near the Hirafu Welcome Center and affordable prices, so I recommend going just before they open to grab a ticket so you don’t have to wait.
Their signature Asahikawa ramen features a smooth and rich pork-based soup that’s excellent if you want something heartier in the cold weather. If you enjoy lamb like I do, try their Genghis Khan ramen pictured above, which turns a Hokkaido grilled lamb dish called genghis khan into a deep flavored bowl of noodles. All of their bowls feature perfectly cooked noodles made from 100% Hokkaido wheat.
Eat this: Asahikawa ramen, Genghis Khan ramen, snow crab ramen (rotating special)
Teuchi-Soba Ichimura
This popular soba shop is located on the edge of Hirafu village, accessible on the Niseko United bus line and just a short walk from where we stayed at Panorama Niseko. It can get busy during peak lunch time, but it’s worth it for some delicious, comforting soba and tempura. Come early as they often sell out of soba before their 2:30PM closing time.
Eat this: duck soba, oyster tempura
Otsukima and Bar Moon
Ramen and billiards is a new restaurant concept for me, but that’s exactly what Otsukima and Bar Moon delivers. The space is divided with a full bar at the entrance flanked by a small dining room and pool table on either side. Those choosing to dine are granted with flavorful bowls of miso and tan tan (spicy sesame) ramen and curry bowls at affordable prices.
Eat this: spicy sesame miso ramen, katsu curry, gyoza
Niseko Pizza
Japan is actually known to make great pizza, and Niseko Pizza is no exception. It’s located out in Kutchan, which is also where the supermarkets are, so it’s perfect to stop by during a big grocery run for your chalet. We’ve gotten their puffy crusted, wood-fired pizzas to back to our house during all 3 trips, and the cheesy pies always hit the spot. If you can’t make it out to Kutchan, you can also find tasty wood-fired pies from the food trucks outside of Seico Mart.
Eat this: diavola pie, pepperoni, margherita, meat lovers
Roketto
Chef Willan Low gained fame in Singapore for his restaurant Wild Rocket, but decided to close it to pursue other projects. Roketto is one of them – a Singaporean-Japanese counter-service restaurant located in the Maples hotel right off the Hirafu slopes. The minimalist dining room has floor to ceiling windows so you can have a view of the slopes while enjoying their curated menu of daily rotating rice and noodle bowls and snacks like gyoza and karaage. We came on the wrong day to try their laksa udon, but thoroughly enjoyed their bak chor mee style mazemen (dry ramen) and their roast pork bowl which is available daily.
Eat this: pork bowl, dry ramen, gyoza
Fuji Sushi
Located right on the main road, this sushi restaurant is a convenient option as you won’t find long waits or have to make reservations months in advance – we had no problem getting a table for 6 at prime dinner time. That said, it’s definitely overpriced. Our sampler of uni, ikura and tuna rice bowls was pretty good but more expensive than you would expect in Japan, so you’re definitely paying for the ease of satisfying your sushi craving with no wait. You’re better off pre-ordering from the aforementioned Ezo Seafoods for your sushi fix.
Eat this: uni, ikura and tuna sampler, eel tempura donburi
A-Bu-Cha 2
[2024 UPDATE: This popular izakaya permanently closed after the 2023 season, but they still operate Niseko Loft Club, which has long been on my list to try]
Eat this: tsukune, zangi fried chicken with black vinegar sauce, chicken and cream cheese spring rolls, baked potato and cream cheese Hokkaido style, fatty tuna
Best Food We Tried on the Mountain in Niseko
Baby Crosta at Niseko-Yo
So this isn’t exactly on the mountain, but the best pizza in Niseko happens to be right at the base of the Niseko Village mountain. Baby Crosta is actual an import of Manila’s top pizzeria Crosta (which was just voted #2in Asia!), where you’ll find the same light and crispy Roman pies they became famous for, plus some new topping combinations thanks to the produce of Japan (maitake mushroom slice is a must).
Upstairs, they are also hosting a pizza omakase by Filipino-Japanese sibling owners and chefs Yuichi and Naomi Ito, as chef Yuichi previously worked at Tokyo’s renowned pizza omakase Pizza Bar on 38th. Here they are doing a mix of both pizza and other dishes, featuring everything from Hokkaido ingredients to their own housemade A5 wagyu pancetta. Be sure to DM them to book this in advance!
King Bell Hut and Mountain Cafe
Yummy beef bowls, pork katsu curry, miso ramen and udon next to the top of the Grand Hirafu Gondola with views of the slopes from the window tables.
Pork katsu curry from Tanta-an
Thanks to its convenient location right next to the Grand Hirafu gondola base, we happily ate this flavorful and soul comforting bowl 3 days in a row while taking in a view of Mount Yotei from the big bright windows and sipping on Sapporo beers. They also have great fries, and the mille crepe and cookies are worth indulging in for dessert.
Ace Hill Hut
Solid ramen overlooking the slopes, located at the top of the Ace Quad Lift.
Traveling elsewhere in Japan? Check out my ramen guide.
