Are you headed to Hakuba this winter? We fully support your decision to go – between the snow, the world-class slopes, and the apres-ski scene, it’s a great place to be. Oh and the food! It’s pretty glorious. The range of choices, though is overwhelming.
So, how do you narrow down the list of restaurants where you should be refuelling? To help you best organise your holiday, we’ve sought out the top foodie spots for you. And, remember, Hakuba restaurants tend to be very small, so make sure you reserve your meals as soon as you know what you want!
Read also: 9 Reasons to love Hakuba
For the whole family
#1 Marillen Hotel
For a Swiss Alp-like experience, Marillen offers Bavarian-style cuisine in front of a roaring open fire. The restaurant provides favourites like cheese fondue, steak, house-made sausages and schnitzels. Pair this heart-warming comfort food with one of the many German beers in stock, and you’re bound to have a really good night.
Location: 4050, Happō, Hakuba, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Daily, 3 PM – 10 PM with weekend lunch specials from 11 AM – 3 PM on Saturdays and Sundays.
Reservations: Book online
#2 Zen
This family-friendly restaurant, serving both traditional and modern Japanese cuisine, is best known for its buckwheat soba – a dish unique to the region. Get in early though! Their stock of soba is limited, and they close as soon as the soba has been consumed.
Location: 3020-49 Hokujō, Hakuba, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Daily, 11 AM – 2 PM for lunch and 5:30 PM – until the soba is gone.
Reservations: +81 (0) 261-72-3637.
#3 Hummingbird
For a warm and welcoming environment that’s perfect for an evening with friends and family, try out Hummingbird. The restaurant serves Japanese and Western home-style cuisine with fresh seasonal ingredients. The menu features vegetarian options and a wide selection of sake, shochu and cocktails.
Location: 4715-1 Wadano, Hakuba, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Open for lunch and dinner, closed on Sundays.
Reservations: +81 (0) 261-72-7788
#4 Kikyo-ya
Kikyo-ya offers the freshest sushi and sashimi in Hakuba, all the way from the Itoigawa Coast of Japan. The restaurant has long been a favourite of tourists and locals alike. It has won the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence from 2015-2019! You’ll love the food, and kids will certainly adore watching the chef at work.
Location: 1909-4 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Daily, 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Reservations: +81 (0) 261-72-3633
#5 Sharaku Restaurant
Sharaku Restaurant is a modern Izakaya offering authentic Japanese share plates and superb sushi and sashimi from renowned sushi master Nakazato-san. The restaurant is beautifully appointed. Sharaku can cater for couples, families and larger groups at either western or Japanese-style tables.
Location: 3020-868 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Daily, 6 PM – 10 PM
Reservations: Book online
#6 Luce
For the meat-lovers, Luce is the place to treat yourself. Dig into the A5-grade wagyu beef and enjoy a drink from the vast wine selection. The restaurant is directly across from the Kokusai chairlift, making it very accessible after a long day on the slopes.
Location: 4313-1 Hokujyo Hakuba, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Daily during winter, 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM.
Reservations: +81 261-85-5008
A candlelit meal
#7 Mimi’s Restaurant
A fine-dining restaurant located in Wadano’s Phoenix Hotel, Mimi’s is one of Hakuba’s finest. Run by a husband and wife team, the restaurant offers the best of the region’s produce crafted in a western style with Japanese artistry. Come for the exotic dishes, stay for the signature cocktails and carefully curated international wine list. (It’s family-friendly too!)
Location: 4690-2 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Daily, 5:30 PM – Late
Reservations: Book online
#8 Restaurant Enchante
Enchante offers Japanese-French fusion cuisine with an extensive wine collection (they have over 2,000 bottles). The menu is a celebration of classic French flavours and hearty classics – perfect for a lovely night out after a day on the slopes.
Location: 3020-868 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Reservations: Book online
#9 Pilar Cafe & Restaurant
Sitting atop Happo-One and with majestic panoramic mountain views, Pilar is a ski-in-ski-out dining experience. Indulge your taste buds with the full-service a-la-carte Italian meal. The restaurant is only open for lunch.
Location: 4487-12 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Daily, 9 AM – 4 PM
Reservations: +81 (0) 261-72-8438
Read also: The first-timers Niseko guide: 10 things to know when planning your ski trip
Keeping it casual
#10 Emu
If you haven’t tried okonomiyaki before, now’s the time. Okonomiyaki is a traditional Japanese “pancake” stuffed full of vegetables, noodles and meat. Here, you get to grill the okonomiyaki yourself. If that isn’t quite your speed, enjoy Japanese specials such as noodles and curry. Emu is famous in town for its chicken Katsu curry.
Location: 6375 Hokujo Shiroumamachi, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Daily, 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Reservations: +81 (0) 261-72-4305
#11 Izakaya Hie
Possibly the most popular izakaya in Hakuba, Hie is a quirky restaurant with lots of nooks and crannies serving quality Japanese sharing platters.
Location: 3020-868 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM, closed on Thursdays
Reservations: +81 (0) 261-72-8035
#12 Cherry Pub
A Country-Western style bar and restaurant, Cherry Pub is as American as one can find in Japan. Serving generous portions and American classics like BBQ Ribs, New York Steak, Buffalo Wings and Stone Baked Pizzas this is a great place for a casual group outing. The pub also stands by its name, offering a wide selection of drinks like draft beers, wine, bourbon, and over 70 kinds of cocktails. If you want to party on through the night, there is a karaoke lounge on the second floor and a golf simulator on the third floor.
Location: 2937-736 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Thu 11 AM – 3 PM, Fri & Sat 11 AM – 3:30 PM, 5 PM – 10 PM, Sun & Mon 11 AM – 3 PM, closed on Tue & Wed.
Reservations: +81 (0) 261-72-2343
#13 Wagyu Kobeya
Well-known in Hakuba for its Shinsyu Premium Wagyu Beef, Kobeya offers a variety of Japanese & Western-style dishes. Enjoy cooking your own yakinuki. If you want a ride to the restaurant, they can arrange for pick-ups from your hotel.
Location: 4836-5 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun
Open: Daily, 5 PM – 10 PM
Reservations: +81 (0) 261-72-5382
What are you eating?
