14 Of The Best Restaurants In Myoko And Where To Find Them

Dotted throughout Myoko’s powdery paradise are izakayas, burger bars, noodle shops and even fine dining experiences, so here are 14 of the Uchi team's favourite spots to eat out. 

What better place to kickstart this list than with the epic, one-of-a-kind dining experience that is Chōchin Za. Here you'll be treated to a wonderfully creative menu that utilises local, organic and seasonal produce—past creations have included wild boar ragu, and vegemite brulée (colour us intrigued). What's even more epic is that the chef will prepare and plate these creations, right in front of you. We have always loved dinner and a show... 

Burgers are a fan favourite the world over, and they're being repped right here in Myoko by Calico (which also has restaurants in Hakuba AND Bali). You'll find this 100-seater eatery in the centre of town, serving up burgs in all their delicious forms along with other delights like chicken schnitty, corn rib 'fries' and fish finger sandos, plus signature cocktails, beers... the works. Open from 7am 'til late, you can also stop by in the morning for coffees and brekkie, or after dinner for more of a party vibe.

The memory of certain restaurants will stay with you forever and Restaurant by A.I.R is one of these. Found inside the A.I.R (Artists In Residence) hotel, this is where Lukas Keller is currently creating culinary magic from locally sourced produce with a largely plant-based degustation, which you'll enjoy from a communal chef's table (in keeping with the residence theme here, chefs change annually). If you really wanna make this meal one for the history books, splash out on the low-intervention wine and sake pairing.

At 2nd Step JY, French and Japanese cuisines are cleverly woven together by chef/owner, Jin Sato, who has a penchant for using only the freshest local ingredients available. Dine on whole roasted fish, Japanese beef fillet steak and oyster gratin, washed down with top-notch French vino and perhaps some pear sorbet for afters. But you wanna know what we love most? The fact that you're actually dining in Jin's own home (though the vibe is more akin to a cosy European restaurant) and that his wife, Yasuko, is the host (and a mean mixologist, btw). 

Some people like to warm up after a day on the slopes with an onsen—we prefer to get cosy with a slice of hot pizza. And Two Pines has our bases covered (get it?) with its gourmet line-up of stonebaked pies, served daily from their chic pizzeria in the heart of Suginosawa village. The teriyaki chicken and kabocha (that's pumpkin, spinach, tomato, and cheese with miso dressing to the uninitiated) are not to be missed. Open winter only. 

There's only one way sushi should be made: with fresh fish straight from the sea of Japan. At least, that's the ethos at Takasago Sushi, a small couple-run spot that's been feeding Myoko locals for almost 60 years. Enjoy generous bites of sushi plus mains like locally-sourced wagyu beef AND Niigata sake, all in a welcoming, traditionally decorated space. 

One of Myoko's top spots for a casual bite to eat is Yakitori Asagao. You don't have to be fluent in Japanese to know what they serve here—grilled chicken skewers—only these babies are made with domestic (not mass-farmed) chicken, basted in a secret teriyaki sauce and sprinkled with Himalayan rock salt before being grilled over charcoal. You can also expect other snackies like whole roasted garlic bulbs, booze by the bucketload, and a cool izakaya aesthetic. Open winter only. 

This is not your Nonna's pizza–unless your Nonna is partial to lotus root and soy sauce butter (didn't think so). These unique, Japanese-style toppings are exactly why Ginza Pizza is one of Myoko's most popular eateries; however its lush selection of desserts and cocktails may also have something to do with it (hellooo, yuzu martini). From the A.I.R team, everything here is on point. Bummer it's only open during the winter. 

Who doesn't love generous portions? Especially when the food in question is handmade gyoza, ramen, and garlic chicken don... just some of the tasty Japanese dishes on offer at Koyama. Those with a flair for firebreathing might also like the red hot yakisoba—the only item on the menu accompanied by a picture of a devil (yeah, we think we're good). Like so many of our fave Myoko spots, this one is also family-run and boasts a cosy, chill atmosphere. 

The family behind Yabusoba has spent more than six decades refining the dishes they serve today. Pick your way through fan favourites like tempura udon, ramen, and of course, tempura soba, washed down with a cheeky shot of rare-brand sake. For a truly authentic experience, you can dine while sitting on tatami mats. 

Pontaro (not to be confused with Ponyo!) is where you'll find Myoko's tastiest snacks: think chicken and deep-fried cheese yakitori, okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes), and fried garlic and four-cheese pizza. This is Japanese pub grub at its best and should absolutely be enjoyed with some local Niigata sake on the side. 

This spot is home to arguably Myoko's best bowl of ramen. A sort-of coffee shop by day, pub by night, Arakin Ramen is especially popular with the locals (always a good sign) and no wonder–its ramen broth is made from Japanese kelp boiled for 12 hours in a miso sauce and that's hard to rival. If you're feeling extra hungus, smash back a bowl of curry or fried rice and don't forget some local beer or sake on the side.

When in Rome, one eats pasta. When in Myoko, one eats squid ink udon. These handmade noodles, which you must wear a bib to eat—(trust us, it's for your own safety)—are the signature dish over at Udon no Fu, at a humble family-run restaurant in Akakura Onsen. N.B. If splashing about in a pot of midnight-black broth isn't your idea of fun, there's plenty of other tasty noods to have at. 

Fun and extremely random fact: Restaurant Shibata uses locally grown rice (carrying Japan's highest Rice Grading Certification), which it cooks in water straight from the mountains of Myoko-Togakushi National Park. Whether or not this has anything to do with the spot's popularity is uncertain; however the lengthy menu catering to almost every diet under the sun, almost certainly does. Don't leave without trying a bowl of bamboo shoot soup, considered a local delicacy here in Myoko. Open winter only. 

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