Restaurants and Bars
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!
Wadano Area (within 5 minutes on foot)
Humming bird - Japanese and Western
For those of you who have been to Hakuba before, this is the old “Un Bar” (the little white place just behind the Wadano sign). The new owners have given the inside a makeover and have an entirely new menu……and to our delight the food is very good! The chef was trained and worked as a chef in New York for several years so he knows what he`s doing in the kitchen! And he and his wife are really friendly and make an effort to make you feel welcome.
Open: 18:00 – 01:00 (last order for food @ 24:00)
Phone: 0261-72-7788
Typhoon café (the old Olympic lodge) - Thai and Japanese
Over the past few years many people have said “Wouldn`t it be cool if they turned that place into a restaurant?” Well, they have. Perched on a bluff above Happo, the dining area affords views of the ski hill and the Hakuba range behind it making it the restaurant with the best view in Hakuba! At night it turns into a pub/night club and hosts some of Hakuba`s best events.
Open: 18:00 – 02:00 (last order for food @ 23:00)
Phone: 0261-72-8850
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 food is good too (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 closure of Hakuba’s other nightclub, “Q-tips”, the Pub is set to be “the place to be” on Saturday nights!
Open: 16:30 – 2:00 (last order for food @ 24:00)
Phone: 0261-72-4453
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, 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 ￥300 to bottles ranging from ￥2,100 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, 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.
Open: 17:30 - late
Phone: 090-9357-8511
Sari Sari – Phillipino and Japanese
Just opened this year. Asian fusion cuisine. The bar is really atmospheric and also non smoking. Jury is still out on the food so we’d appreciate some reviews from anyone who goes.
Open: 17:00 – 24:00
Phone: 0261-85-4505
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. Courses start at 6500yen and reservations are needed by 5pm on the day.
Open: 7:00 – 10:00am, 11:30 – 14:30, 17:45 – 21:00
Phone: 0261-72-3001
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.
Open: 11:30 – 14:30, 18:00 – 21:00
0261-72-7111
Shinshu Soba - Japanese
Really nice atmosphere. 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.
Open: afternoon only
Restaurant Terry (Hotel Terry) - French
French courses from 2625yen, a large selection of wines and local draft beers. Reservations required.
Open: 18:00 – 21:00
Phone: 0261-72-5070
Windy’s - Korean BBQ (Yakiniku)
Just opened this year. Probably more like 10 minutes by foot as its quite a way up the hill. If you like Yakiniku (thin slices of beef and vegetables cooked at your table on a griddle or gas burner), you’ll enjoy this place!
Open: 18:00 – 24:00 (last order for food @ 24:00)
Phone: 0261-72-5382
Happo Area (within 10 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 may be the most popular restaurant in Hakuba. The Steven`s Burrito, chimichanga and enchiladas are all quite authentic and the portions are BIG (except for the Tacos which for whatever reason are noticeably smaller)!
Open: 11:30 – 24:00
Phone: 0261-72-7569
Maeda – Soba
Nagano is famous for Soba (Japanese buckwheat noodles) and Maeda is one of the best places in town to try it. The noodles are made fresh daily in the kitchen and are said to have healing qualities appropriate for those who may have enjoyed too much beer and sake between days on the slopes. 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 feling hungry! Recommended!
Open: 11:00 – 21:00
Phone: 0261-72-2295
M’s Café – Pizza and Pasta
They have a real pizza oven so the crusts are nice and crisp!
Open: 18:00 – 24:00
Phone: 0261-72-5811
Harapeko - Korean BBQ (Yakiniku)
Japanese people love Korean food and at the top of the list is Yakiniku or Korean BBQ. Thinly sliced strips of meet along with vegetables and Korean BBQ sauce that you cook yourself on a hot grill at your own table. If you`re a meat eater this is worth checking out!
Takoyaki Goten – Japanese octopus balls!!
A favourite food of kansai (the part of Japan around Osaka). Takoyaki can best be described as Octopus balls. The crunchy piece of Octopus is surrounded by soft batter and a variety of garnishes. The Takoyaki gratin comes highly recommended.
Open: 18:00 – 22:00 (last order for food @ 21:30)
Phone: 0261-72-3317
Kihachi – Japanese
A local bar that serves tradiotional Japanese dishes. Sashimi, grilled chicken, deep-fried octopus and even basashi (horse sashimi), this place has great atmosphere plus a wide selection of sake!
Open: 18:00-24:00 (last order for food @ 23:30)
Phone: 0261-72-3950
Ohyokkuri – Japanese
Local Japanese hang out. Good food cool atmosphere.
Open: 18:00-24:00 (last order for food @ 23:30)
Phone: 0261-72-3320
Hakuba Ringoya – Soba
Specialty soba restaurant just down the hill from us. Try the kurumi soba (soba with a walnut dip).
Open: 11:00-14:00
Phone: 0261-71-1566
Momo-chan’s Crepe stand
Proper French style crepes stuffed with huge portions of whatever filling you desire – Bargain.
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!
Open: 12:00 – 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 savoury 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.
Open: 11:30-15:00, 17:00-21:00 (closed on Tuesdays)
Phone: 0261-72-4305
Kikyo-ya – Sushi
This is the only true sushi restaurant in town……and it`s really good! 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` rarity needs to be order a couple days in advance. But if you want to save your near death experiences for on the slopes, there are numerous non-toxic fish to choose from!
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 is their specialty but there are a number of other dishes to choose from.
Reservations are recommended and so is a visit to Zen!
Open: 11:30 – 14:00, 17:30 – 21:00
Phone: 0261-72-3637
Sou’s Café (western)
Strangely, not often open place across the road from the station. When it is open a variety of nice fusion cooking.
Around Echoland
Hie – Japanese Izakaya
This might be Hakuba`s best restaurant. Great atmosphere and delicious food! It`s an Izakaya which means you generally share a bunch of small dishes amongst the table, washing it down with ample beer and sake. This is a great way to sample a variety of new things…...and if you`re feeling brave, try the “basashi” (raw horse), a Hakuba specialty.
Open: 18:00 – 24:00 (last order for food @ 23:50)
Phone: 0261-72-8035
Hindi Momo – Indian
Run by a Japanese woman and her Nepalese husband this is authentic Indian food. Nice curries, nice atmosphere and world-famous momos (or at least famous in Hakuba!)
Open: 18:00 – 22:00 (last order for food @ 21:30)
Phone: 0261-72-7715
White Horse Lodge – Pub food
Nice Aussie pizzas and big burgers. Also a nice place to hang out and enjoy some drinks.
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. 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).
Open: 18:00 – 01:00 (last order for food @ 24:00)
Phone: 0261-72-5566