Starting from Niseko Village, Japan’s premier ski resort, take on a gastronomic trail in and around the area and discover a treasure trove of epicurean delights.
TRY HOKKAIDO'S FAMOUS SOUP CURRY
Two Sticks, Niseko Village’s izakaya, is the perfect place to warm up with sake and soup curry, a dish originating from Hokkaido. Made fresh every day, the restaurant staple of tandoori chicken soup curry infuses Indian spices into a hearty broth of local potatoes, eggplant, peppers, pumpkin, mizuna leaf and egg, paired with white rice.
SAVOUR LOCAL FLAVOURS
Kaisen Nabe is a staple dish that’s served at The Crab Shack. It features a variety of local produce, including the region's best seafood. Paired with the soul-warming Kombu Dashi (kelp stock), this popular local delight is truly tonic for any night in Niseko.
INDULGE YOUR SWEET TOOTH
Fluffy pancakes and waffles, topped with an assortment of berries, ice cream and syrups, are among some of the crowd pleasers at Village Patisserie. An assortment of fresh pastries baked daily, artisanal chocolates and Japanese cakes are also winners, especially alongside a steaming cup of gourmet tea or coffee.
TUCK INTO TRADITIONAL JAPANESE CUISINE
Yang Shu Ten, Niseko Village’s casual restaurant for classic Japanese fare, is known for turning fresh Hokkaido produce and prize catches from the ocean into delicious sushi, tempura and teppanyaki dishes. Multi-course set meals are a specialty here, as in Wagyu shabu shabu, sashimi and simmered Kinki fish. Kamotsuru Gold, the sake which Prime Minister Abe chose to serve President Obama in Tokyo during his 2014 visit, is also available to pair with your meal.
IMBIBE RARE JAPANESE WHISKY
Tomioka White at The Green Leaf Niseko Village is a whisky lover’s dream come true. Bedecked in plush Chesterfield sofas, leather upholstered lounge chairs, a modern ebony fireplace and a focused collection of rare Japanese whiskies, it’s the perfect place to partake in a dram or two after a day of skiing.
BUY AWARD-WINNING CHEESE
Hokkaido cheese is a natural byproduct of a region famed for its dairy. At Niseko Cheese Kobo, this artisanal cheese factory produces award-winning products such as Momiji, a Mimolette cheese that won the gold Japan Cheese Award in 2014 and was served in Japan Airlines’ first-class cabins throughout 2018.
PAIR IT WITH WINE
Is there a more suitable match than cheese and wine? Melt, Bar and Grill at Niseko Hilton offers an impressive wine cellar to go with your cheeses, complete with majestic views of a snow-capped Mount Yotei. Taste the local terroir with a bottle of Hokkaido’s cool mountainside weather, making for wine with a light berry character with hints of vanilla and spice.
SAVOUR POTATO RAMEN
Ramen chef Kazuhiro Sagara moved to Hokkaido from Tokyo after falling in love with Niseko’s nature and produce made possible by its favourable climate and fertile soil. Niseko Ramen Kazahana, 10 minutes from Niseko Village, pays tribute to the birthplace of miso ramen with its own special bowl - potato ramen - featuring an in-house broth made from a blend of 19 miso varieties covered in a potato cream vichyssoise. This popular noodle joint even makes its own chilli oil to complement its signature creation.
EAT WORLD-CLASS TOFU
The secret to Wakimizu No Sato’s tofu is the crystal clear water that flows under Mount Yotei. High in mineral and magnesium, the spring water enriches the tofu maker’s signature soy blend - Yūzuru - a masterful combination of soy beans native to Hokkaido. The result? Super smooth tofu. Other must-try items are the establishment’s sugoi tofu, finished in soy milk instead of water for a richer taste, soy milk matcha pudding and tofu donuts.
REWARD YOURSELF WITH GELATO
Niseko Gelato, approximately 12 minutes by car from Niseko Village, offers 20 flavours on rotation, featuring specialties like Grandma’s apple pie. The Doraemon flavour is an inventive mix of ripe banana and marshmallow. Hokkaido milk also has its own spot, along with other local specialties such as Yoichi plum sorbet and kinako (roasted soybean).
HAVE A GREEN TEA BEER
In the radius of 10 minutes from Niseko Village, Green Saso is a cafe owned by a Japanese tea adviser Stephanie Watanabe who hails from Canada. The cafe’s specialties is a matcha beer - a refreshing blend showcasing the bitterness of matcha tea and hops. Guests can also try green teas from all over Japan.
WARM UP WITH HAND-DRIPPED COFFEE
Prout Outdoor Espresso combines its owners’ love of the outdoors with coffee. All coffee beans at the cafe are roasted on premises by the owner. Among them are olfactory delights such as the in-house Mt Yotei blend using beans from El Salvador and Niseko haute Route - a blend of Colombianused for the caffe lattes. This cafe is located near Kutchan Station, easily accessible via Niseko Village’s free shuttle bus service.
