There are dozens of restaurants and bars to choose from in Hakuba with the greatest concentration being in the Wadano/Happo Village area around Morino Lodge.
Other popular areas for eating out and drinking include Echoland as well as the area near Hakuba station.
The following list of restaurants and bars include our favorites as well as ones recommended by our customers. There are a number of establishments not included so if you find somewhere worth mentioning, let us know and we’ll add it to the list!
Reservations are necessary at a lot of these places, especially for big groups, so ask one of the staff to help you out if you’d like to go!
Wadano Area (2-10 minutes on foot)
Mimi’s (The Phoenix Hotel) - Contemporary European cuisine
Mimi’s is our next door neighbor and this makes us happy because the food is exquisite! The manager, Simon Rawlins, runs the multi-award winning restaurant Summit Ridge in False Creek Australia and has been brought to Hakuba to make a similar success. Combining the best local produce with exceptional service and a slick atmosphere, this is first class dining right next door!
Reservations are needed.
They also have an adjoining bar with great views of the Japan Alps!
2 minutes walk
$$
Open: 18:00 – late
Phone: 0261-72-3001
The Tokyu Hotel Chamonix & Manyo (Tokyu Hotel) - French & Japanese
There are two restaurants in the Tokyo Hotel. Chamonix offers a variety of French set courses while Manyo serves delicious traditional Japanese food. Both are high quality in a nice atmosphere. Courses start at 6500yen and reservations are needed by 5pm on the day.
They also do really nice Japanese and Western lunch sets for around 2000yen till 2:00pm!! Recommended.
$$
2 minutes walk
Open: 7:00 – 10:00am, 11:30 – 14:30, 17:45 – 21:00
Phone: 0261-72-3001
Humming bird - Japanese and Western
The little white house just behind the Wadano sign, this is where we go when we’re craving some home-style cooking. The food is a mix of Japanese and western and the owner and chef go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Plus this is one of the few places nearby open in the daytime!
$
3 minutes walk
Open: 11:00 – 01:00 (last order for food @ 24:00)
Phone: 0261-72-7788
369 (SunRock) - Grill and Live Bar
With fantastic views of Happo in a big wooden building, this is one of the prime venues in Hakuba! The restaurant has a variety of grilled Japanese dishes and the bar often has live music and can turn into quite the party at night! Keep an eye out for parties and special events!
$
3 minutes walk
Open: 17:00 – 24:00 (last order for food @ 24:00)
Phone: 0261-85-4554
Sari Sari - Japanese/South Asian food Izakaya
Sari Sari is another good option close by. The food is Japanese izakaya style along with a variety of South Asian dishes like Nasi Goreng and spring rolls. The bar has good atmosphere and can be a great place to have late night beers as well.
$
3 minutes walk
Open: 17:00 – 24:00
Phone: 0261-85-4505
Mimasakatei - Japanese Izakaya
This is another izakaya with nice food and a nice atmosphere nearby. It’s the somewhat rustic log cabin about 50 meters past the Hummingbird on the left hand side. They serve a variety of Japanese dishes. No Credit Cards.
$
4 minutes walk
Open: 18:00 – 22:00
Phone: 0261-72-5380
Hakuba 70 - Japanese
On the right hand side just before you get to the Mominoki parking lot, Hakuba 70 is a quaint little place with a really cozy atmosphere. The menu consists of simple local dishes but very good and the owner Matsumoto-san is super kind! It’s open all afternoon so if you miss lunch you can head over there for a mid afternoon feed. The kamonanban (duck soba) is good.
$
4 minutes walk
Open: afternoon only
Vendimia Wine and Tapas (at the Mominoki Pub)
If you love wine, or even like it just a bit, then this is the only place in Hakuba for you. The owner and good friend, C. Lawrence Rials, a self-professed wine geek has gone to great lengths to provide you with the ultimate wine experience. Choose from glass wines beginning at ￥500 to bottles ranging from ￥2,500 to ￥1,000,000! Here, wine is in the spotlight, but food plays a vital supporting role, thus he’s stocked the pantry with gourmet items like Iberico Ham, wild game, Fondue, French, Italian, Greek, and Spanish cheese, fruit, bread, French and Spanish olives, and wonderful fresh Japanese seafood. All are designed to pair perfectly with the wine list. So, after a day on the slopes playing in the pow, drop in and treat yourself to a deluxe night out. After all, you are on vacation.
5 minutes walk
Open: 17:30 – late
Phone: 090-9357-8511
The Pub (Mominoki Hotel) - English Pub/Italian
This is a British style pub serving, um……pub food. Pizza, pasta, onion rings, and pool tables, the atmosphere is great and the pizza is decent (although when ordering the fish and chips you may want to recall that you’re in the middle of the mountains……in Japan). The Pub is open late and often has live music and events and with the addition of the adjacent night club “Altitude”, is the nerve center of Hakuba nightlife!
$
5 minutes walk
Open: 16:30 – 2:00 (last order for food @ 24:00)
Phone: 0261-72-4453
Kanpeki Steak House (Mominoki Hotel)
Wagyu beef is Japan’s gift to steak lovers. The higher percentage of unsaturated fat gives it a flavor and juiciness that’s made it famous worldwide! At Kanpeki you can choose from a variety of steaks, including Wagyu of course, as well as fresh fish and vegetarian dishes.
$
5 minutes walk
Open: 17:00 – 22:00
Phone: 0261-72-4453
Allure - Contemporary
The restaurant at Allure serves up tasty fusion food at affordable prices. Prawn & pork dumplings as an entrée then a pan seared salmon steak for the main all for under 2500yen!
$
5 minutes walk
Open: 17:00 – 22:00
Phone: 0261-85-4048
Double Black - Contemporary
The newly renovated bar and restaurant has that mountain resort atmosphere that compliments the good food and selection of international wines beers and spirits perfectly!
The chicken pasta is very nice as is the risotto!
$
5 minutes walk
Open: 17:00 – 22:00
Phone: 0261-85-8838
Restaurant Terry (Hotel Terry) – French
French courses from 2625yen, a large selection of wines and local draft beers. Reservations required.
$$
8 minutes walk
Open: 18:00 – 21:00
Phone: 0261-72-5070
La Neige Higashikan – French
Exquisite French style meals with an extensive selection of wine and cheeses. Diner courses range from 4000 to 12000yen. Reservation by 2pm on the day.
$$
10 minutes walk
Open: 11:30 – 14:30, 18:00 – 21:00
0261-72-7111
Windy’s - Korean BBQ (Yakiniku)
Windy’s has been a big hit with all the customers we’ve sent there! If you like Yakiniku (thin slices of beef and vegetables cooked at your table on a griddle or gas burner), you’ll love this place. Great food, great atmosphere and they even provide pickups and drop offs!
Recommended!
$
10 minutes walk, free pickup and drop off!
Open: 18:00 – 24:00 (last order for food @ 24:00)
Phone: 0261-72-5382
Yamazaki (Hotel de L’Aile) - Kaiseki & ShabuShabu
Another new option in town with excellent food and atmosphere. Kaiseki is a type of dining where lots of Japanese dishes are brought to you separately. Shabu Shabu is strips of meat, fish and vegetables cooked in hot water at your table. Like Windys, this is a place we highly recommend visiting once during your stay! And like Windy’s they provide a free pick up and drop off.
$
10 minutes walk, free pickup and drop off!
Open: 18:00 – 24:00 (last order for food @ 24:00)
Happo Area (5-12 minutes on foot)
Uncle Steven’s - Mexican Food
That’s right! Mexican food, in the middle of rural Japan……..and it’s good! In fact, this place is somewhat of an institution in Hakuba, being showcased on TV shows a number of times. The Steven’s Burrito, chimichanga and enchiladas are all quite authentic and the portions are BIG!
$
10 minutes walk
Open: 11:30 – 24:00
Phone: 0261-72-7569
Hakuba Ringoya – Soba
The Nagano region is famous for Soba (Japanese buckwheat noodles) and you’d be hard pressed to find better soba anywhere than at this specialty soba restaurant just down the hill. The noodles are made fresh daily by the master and are said to have healing qualities appropriate for those who may have enjoyed too much beer and sake between days on the slopes. Besides the superior noodles, what makes Ringoya unique is the variety of sauces available to dip the soba in. Try the “Soba Zanmai” to experience all 3 dips including walnut, daikon and traditional soba sauce.
$
8 minutes walk
Open: 11:00-14:00
Phone: 0261-71-1566
Acchan Sushi - kaiten sushi
“Kaiten” means “revolve”, and that’s what the sushi does in Hakuba’s only kaiten-zushi restaurant! Choose your favorite dishes from a conveyor belt or ask the master chef to prepare something special. Then wash it all down with a hot bowl of miso soup or a cold Asahi! Oh, and if you’re skiing at Happo, this is ski-in ski-out lunch!
$
10 minutes walk
Open: 11:00-22:00
Phone: 0261-71-1566
Maeda - Soba
Maeda is another one of our favorite soba restaurants. Soba can be served hot or cold, by itself or with other things. Try the “tenzaru soba” (cold soba noodles served with assorted tempura) if you’re feeling hungry! Recommended!
$
10 minutes walk
Open: 11:00 – 21:00
Phone: 0261-72-2295
Momo-chan’s Crepe stand
Right by the base of the Adam Gondola, proper French style crepes stuffed with huge portions of whatever filling you desire – Bargain.
The Butter Bar
Somewhere in between bar and nightclub, the Butter Bar is a cool place with an underground kind of feel. Good people and slick music make it a favorite with Hakuba locals. Any night of the week is fine, but special events are often held on Wednesdays and weekends and Sundays are 200yen chuhai nights!
10 minutes walk
Open: 15:00 – late
Phone: 0261-72-5064
Yohei Club
Hakuba’s first standing bar is a good place to enjoy a few drinks (and a game of foosball) when you get of the slopes or late into the night!
10 minutes walk
Open: 17:00 – 24:00
Phone: 0261-85-4011
Marzen
Hakuba’s only bar serving German quality Lowenbrau beer in a relaxing atmosphere with a big screen TV!
10 minutes walk
Open: 17:00 – 01:00
Phone: 0261-72-5064
Bangkok-Ya - Thai Food
The venue is a bit shabby but the tasty food and low prices make up for that!
Located near the bottom of the Nakiyama lift, take your skis off and enjoy the weekday lunch combo for 1000yen!
$
12 minutes walk
Open: 10:30-17:00, 18:00-21:00
Phone: 0261-72-7081
Kihachi - Japanese izakaya
A local bar that serves traditional Japanese dishes. Sashimi, grilled chicken, deep-fried octopus and even basashi (horse sashimi), this place has great atmosphere plus a wide selection of sake!
$
12 minutes walk
Open: 18:00-24:00 (last order for food @ 23:30)
Phone: 0261-72-3950
Restaurant Pilar - French-Italian
If you’re after an exquisite lunch on the mountain, this is your place! Located a top the Happo Gondola behind the Virgin Café, enjoy fine French & Italian dishes with spectacular views of the Alps!
$$
10 minutes by gondola
Open: 11:00-16:00
Phone: 0261-72-3950
Around Hakuba Station (5 minutes by car/taxi/shuttle bus)
Gravity Worx - Western/Italian
This is the original place to get good western food in Hakuba. If exiting the station, take an immediate right, walk 20 meters and on the right you’ll see a big log cabin. That’s Gravity Works. The best thin-crust pizza and pasta in town, salads and desserts, this is a great place to get good food, good coffee and relax in a warm environment!
$
5 minutes by taxi
Open: 11:00 – 21:00
Phone: 0261-72-5434
Emu - Okonomiyaki/Japanese
Okonomiyaki is another food you should try while in Japan! Sometimes described as a Japanese pizza or a savory pancake, you get a bowl of vegetable, meat or seafood filled batter that you cook yourself on a grill in front of you. Anyhow it’s really good, fun and surprisingly cheap!! They also have gyoza, ramen, yakisoba and other popular Japanese dishes.
$
5 minutes by taxi
Open: 11:30-15:00, 17:00-21:00 (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: 0261-72-4305
Kikyo-ya - Sushi
This is the original sushi restaurant in town……and still the best! The atmosphere is great, with no small thanks to the owner/chef who’s Fugu preparing license hangs proudly on the wall. Fugu or blow-fish contains a deadly toxin and only specially trained chefs are allowed to prepare it. It’s considered a delicacy and because of it’s rarity needs to be ordered a couple days in advance. But if you want to save your near death experiences for on the slopes, there are numerous non-toxic and delicious fish to choose from!
Also check out the 1000yen lunch set till 14:00!
$
5 minutes by taxi
Open: 11:00-22:00 (last order for food @ 21:30)
Phone: 0261-72-3633
Zen - Soba/Japanese
Traditional as well as modern Japanese style cuisine set in a great atmosphere. Soba and tempura are their specialties but there are a number of other dishes to choose from. Reservations are recommended and so is a visit to Zen!
$
5 minutes by taxi
Open: 11:30 – 14:00, 17:30 – 21:00
Phone: 0261-72-3637
Sou’s Café - coffee and cakes
Strangely, not often open place across the road from the station. When it is open it’s a decent place for a coffee.
Bamboo Coffee Bar
The new Bamboo Coffee bar right in front of Hakuba Station, has specialty coffees with real baristas serving them and they’re meant to be great! They also have cocktails, cakes and cookies! Stop in while you’re waiting for your train or having a wander down by the station.
$
5 minute by taxi
Open: 08:00-late
Phone: 090-7017-5331
Hakuba Hanten - Chinese
Got a hankering for decent Chinese food while in Hakuba? Then this is the place! Hakuba’s first (and only??) Chinese restaurant.
$
20 minute walk, 4 minute by taxi
Open: 11:30-14:00, 17:30-21:00
Phone: 0261-72-5258
Around Echoland
Hie - Japanese Izakaya
This is one of the restaurants we highly suggest visiting at least once during your stay in Hakuba! Classic Izakaya style atmosphere with delicious food at reasonable prices! Share a variety of small dishes amongst the table and wash it all down with ample beer and sake. This is a great way to sample a variety of new Japanese dishes……and if you’re feeling brave, try the “basashi” (raw horse), a Hakuba specialty.
$
5 minutes by taxi
Open: 18:00 – 24:00 (last order for food @ 23:50)
Phone: 0261-72-8035
JK’s Mexican Restaurant
It’s about time someone made a delivery place in Hakuba!….and JK’s have done it right! Delicious & healthy Mexican food you can eat in or have delivered. Burritos, Tacos, Quesadillas, all delicious and all come with heaps of fresh salsa and guacamole! Ask one of the staff for a delivery menu. Ace!
$
5 minutes by taxi
Open: 17:30 – 22:30
Phone: 0261-75-5250
Hindi Momo - Indian
Nepalese chefs cooking up delicious and authentic Indian food right here in Hakuba! Tasty curries, tandoori chicken, and world-famous momos (or at least Hakuba famous!) to be enjoyed with a great view of the Japan Alps!
$
5 minutes by taxi
Open: 18:00 – 22:00 (last order for food @ 21:30)
Phone: 0261-72-7715
Non Jae’s - Japanese izakaya
The biggest Izakaya in Hakuba and open late. Can accommodate large groups easily and even has karaoke rooms in the rear for when you’ve had a few too many. Try the geso age omori (Fried tender squid huge portion).
$
5 minutes by taxi
Open: 18:00 – 01:00 (last order for food @ 24:00)
Phone: 0261-72-5566
Traumerei - French
There’s a Michelin star holding chef in Hakuba preparing the finest of French cuisine right here in Hakuba! The dinner courses start from 9,240yen and use the finest of ingredients flown in from France. Reservations are needed 1 day in advance.
$$
5 minutes by taxi
Open: 18:00 – 23:00
Phone: 0261-72-5120
Denenshi - French
Another very talented chef works his magic at this quaint restaurant in Mizorano.
Excellent course dinners in an intimate atmosphere.
Reservations are needed 1 day in advance.
$$
5 minutes by taxi
Open: 11:30-14:00, 18:30-20:30
Phone: 0261-75-3909
902
One of Echoland’s long standing late night hang outs! Big screen TV and lots of local djs rip it up nightly!
Qtips
This is party central in Echoland! Check out events on weekends!
Master Braster
Who needs an “L” when you could go with an “R” instead? A little bit of Trenchtown right here in Hakuba. Lots of reggae music and a great selection of imported beers! Good vibrations!
Cherry Pub
Another good late night hang out in Ecohland. And if you’re into golf, check out the privately rentable, super hi-tech golf simulator room upstairs!
- Hakuba Onsens (Japanese hot springs)
- Hakuba Restaurants and Bars
- Matsumotto Castle
- Nightlife
- The Monkey Onsen
- The Nozawa Fire Festival
- Zenkoji Temple