Links to Explore the Options

The first thing to say about dining in Niseko is that it is similar to dining in a place like Whistler, Vail, Aspen, or many other ski towns, in that there is seasonal turnover in the restaurant scene and the best restaurants do tend to ebb and flow year by year. As I am not based in Niseko permanently, I can offer many recommendations, but keep in mind that restaurants in Niseko are an ever changing landscape. The good news is that Japanese food is pretty much always amazing and it is difficult to find a bad meal anywhere in Japan. I think it is a good idea to explore the following links:

  • Niseko Dining Guide - you can filter the search results by cuisine type and/or location. Select the "Hirafu" location to see restaurants that are generally within walking distance (if you are staying in Hirafu)

  • Niseko Restaurant Guide (From Japan Experience) - Can jump to restaurants based on location. A better tool for exploring some restaurant options outside of Hirafu. There is amazing food within 30 minutes of Hirafu if you have a car.

  • Hirafu Restaurants near the Skye Niseko Hotel - This is a list that does not include different restaurants from the Niseko Dining Guide, but this list is created by the Skye Niseko hotel and it is helpful because it shows the distances the restaurant is from the Skye hotel (which is located at the top of the Hirafu village) and this list has easy notes on how/if each restaurant accepts reservations.

  • Niseko Hirafu's Top 10 Restaurants for Dinner - this is a blog-style post from a longtime Niseko property management company that offers their top 10 Hirafu village dinner restaurants.

  • Guide to the Growing Food Truck Scene - The title says it all. Explore the reservation-free food truck options.

Niseko’s Popular Reservation Platform

Reservations are a good idea to have in Niseko. The general rule is that reservations can be made 90 days in advance, but every spot does have its own system and there are spots that only take walk-ins as well. Many places will require a deposit in order to make a reservation and the platform TableCheck is popular for making online reservations in Niseko.  

 
 

I suggest making a free TableCheck account so that some or most of your reservations can be in one easy place and can be created and edited easily. It is very user-friendly and with an account you will have all of your reservations in one place. 

You do not have to make a TableCheck account and can make reservations as a guest, but then you will have to find each reservation again in your email if you want to view or edit it.

SnowLocals List (nothing you can’t find in the restaurant guides)


 A couple of my restaurant recommendations are:

  • Kougetsu: A local family run Izakaya style restaurant that serves japanese pub/tapas style food. They take reservations by email.

  • Afuri: Quick and easy Ramen & dumplings located in the Setsu. can reserve one month out, but not always necessary.

  • Kumo Restaurant: relaxed Izakaya-style Japanese food with a lot of small tapas-style options (common for Izakaya).

  • Mame Niseko: A fine dining experience serving contemporary Japanese food.

  • Akaru: Hip and artsy with vegetarian options and run by a local couple. Reservations by email form on website.

  • Steak Rosso Rosso: Amazing steak house. Pricey and can make reservations online.

  • Niseko Bang Bang: Izakaya style (Japanese pub food) specializing in Yakitori (skewers). This is a long-time Niseko favorite spot and reservations open 90 days in advance.

  • Rin Japanese Restaurant: Izakaya / Japanese cuisine in a traditional cozy setting. Only takes phone reservations.

  • Snow Castle: Sushi

  • Sushi Kato: Very good and fancy sushi. There are 2 locations in Niseko and one is in the Setsu (Sushi Kato INORI).  Reservations can be made online.

  • An Dining: Popular restaurant located in the Ki Niseko hotel. Reservations online.

  • Haku Steak: Good but expensive steakhouse with a fine dining atmosphere (wagyu specialty).

  • Genghis Khan Eijin Bette: Genghis Khan (Mongolian barbecue) is a Hokkaido local dish that consists of grilling meat and vegetables on a grill in your table.

  • Niseko Sakura: high end Shabu-Shabu.

  • Somoza: 150 year-old private gallery restaurant and fine dining experience.

  • The Barn: Super hip and local Hokkaido ingredients.

  • Temporada: Tapas bar and accepts reservations online.

  • Hirafuzaka: Izakaya (Japanese pub style). Is located in the chalet Ivy hotel and does not take reservations for non-hotel guests, but does accept walk-ins.

  • Green Farm Cafe: Breakfast & Lunch food (no reservations)

If you want to keep it a little more casual on one or two evenings, then you can get food at cafe-style restaurants, food-trucks, or bars without reservations, but in this case be prepared to wait in line or search a bit for a table. If everything is full and you don't have a reservation and are getting desperate, then try driving or grabbing a taxi to nearby Kutchan where you will find some good local spots with space. My Kutchan ramen recommendation: ramen Daishin.

Bars & Nightlife

As for the bar recommendations, see below. Bar Gyu+ is a must see (the one with the fridge door). You can't make a reservation, just wait at the door for a spot to open up. There are great unique cocktails here and a wonderful atmosphere. It's a famous Niseko spot. 

Niseko Bars:

Niseko Beer Tap House: We have a winner in the best view category, and that’s thanks to Tap House’s hilltop location on the edge of the town. Raise your glass of Niseko craft beer (made with water that really does come from Mount Yotei) to the stunning view of sun sets over the ski slopes.

Niseko Tap Room: For the love of craft beer (and tired legs that can’t make it far), Odin Place in Hirafu has another great place for a couple of pints. The bar serves up casual drinks that pair excellently with rotisserie chicken and other local cuisine-inspired bar bites.

Bar Gyu+: aka the Fridge Door is one heck of a place to grab a drink, especially Japanese craft brews. The only challenge here should be finding the hidden bar. From the only set of lights in Hirafu, go down into the lower village about 250 meters. At the bend look right 

Wild Bill's: Food is great, and while dinner goes on during the earlier hours of the night, the vibe is a lot more relaxed. Come 10pm, we hope you’re done with all your conversation for the night because the live music and DJ sets can get pretty loud.

Powder Room: Powder Room is new in the scene; a very luxurious club with dancing.

The Edge Room: The Edge is a terrific place for music too, celebrating nightly with house and guest DJ’s. The vibe is unpretentious and the setting is more intimate and cozy. For the extra luxe, there’s even a VIP room.

Tamashii Bar: An atmospheric place illuminated by dim lighting, along with a billiard area and pool table, and three big screen TVs for sports matches. 

Ground Pub Niseko: This place specializes in playing soothing jazz that complements a more relaxed ambience for the night.