14 Of The Best Restaurants In Nozawa Onsen

A visit here is only made more delicious by the fact that there are also a tonne of top-notch restaurants for you to have at. From cosy family-run izakayas dishing up steaming bowls of ramen and yakitori to elegant kaiseki establishments and inventive food courts, you'll find a diverse range of flavours, atmospheres and price points to explore during your stay. Here are 14 of the best.

Introducing the newest kid on the Nozawa block—mont. Found inside a former ryokan (that's a traditional Japanese inn, to the uninitiated), now hotel, this deluxe dining experience offers French-style cuisine made with seasonal ingredients harvested from the local landscape (and all to the soundtrack of a gently crackling fire, over which your food is actually cooked). Bon appétit.

This year marks an entire century since the Katagiri family began making and selling soba from their restaurant, Sobadokoro Daimon. And you can enjoy the fruits of this three-generation-long labour in a number of tasty options, including their popular zaru or cold soba—along with tempura, rice dishes, and Japanese craft beer to wash it all down. This spot is on the cosier side and doesn't offer bookings, so be prepared to queue in the busier months. 

Meat is 110% on the menu at Suminoya, Nozawa's premium Japanese BBQ or 'yakiniku' experience. Here, you'll be treated to nothing but the very best cuts (naturally, local wagyu makes a starring appearance)–which you'll grill, alongside any veggies you fancy, at the table. Shoutout to the international wine list, with vino from as far afield as New Zealand, and also the epic ice cream sando ft. a grilled melon pan bun, stuffed with matcha ice cream. Open winter only. 

When only a burger will do, there's only one place in Nozawa that will, well, do. Introducing Genki Burger, run by mates Yumi Sakumoto (from Nigata) and Josh Wilson (from Melbourne). Together, the pair have crafted a unique fusion-style menu, deliciously blending flavours from their respective countries. Case in point? The aptly titled Nozawa Onsen, which pairs a 100% beef pattie with an onsen egg (that's an egg slow-cooked in a hot spring!), cabbage, nozawana (a native Japanese green), red cheddar cheese, and kimchi mayo laced with bonito flakes. Oof. Open winter only. 

We've come to learn that family-run restaurants are home to some of the country's best food (and, more often than not, located in an actual home). Enter Sooyu (hidden in the basement of a cosy inn) which is bringing delicious, unpretentious fare to the table—think hot pot, rice bowls, and other Japanese comfort food—made with the magic of homemade broth and other treats. Also serving generous portions, affordable prices, and ultra-cosy vibes (there are just four tables).

Husband-and-wife duo Kono-san and Atsuk-san have been showcasing their love for Italian cuisine from Kaze No Ie—their second-storey spot in the heart of Nozawa Onsen—for years. Kickstart your feast with their famous tomato bruschetta, followed by pasta and pizza to rival Napoli's own, along with a glass or two of something spesh from their impressive wine selection. As it's just these two on the job, wait times can vary – but when the food's this delizioso, we reckon you won't mind.  

Tengu takes sushi very seriously indeed, and is dishing up a unique, rather high-brow experience from its chic dining room in the heart of Nozawa Onsen. In full view of you, his esteemed guests, chef/sushi master Danmoto-san marries traditional techniques with the freshest local ingredients to create dishes that are as pleasing to the eye, as they are to the palate. N.B.: If you have an aversion to seafood, give this spot a miss, as it specialises in the Edo style of sushi aka raw fish. 

Long days on (or simply in!) the snow requires some serious carb-loading after the fact. And we personally believe there's no better carb alive than pizza. Snaffle back slice after slice of the good stuff at Gochisou Pizza, which slathers its famously crispy bases in toppings both tradish (Margherita) and not (they once made a ramen-themed pizza topped with char siu and soft-boiled eggs). Chase your meal with a slab of tiramisu, a cheeky cocktail, or both. 

Forget the bacon and maple syrup, Japanese savoury pancakes (okonomiyaki) are where it's at. And you'll find this version of the dish done to absolute perfection at Tonkichi–a popular spot on the edge of town, where the owner cooks your order on a teppan grill, just inches from your face.

We've never met an izakaya we didn't like, and Kāhu Bar is no exception. This cute spot will wet your whistle with its local selection of beer, sake and wine, and whet your appetite with its selection of tasty small plates (think shinshu beef, sashimi, and the sauciest damn Japanese curry you ever did taste). We think the word you're looking for is 'arigatou.'

Nothing screams 'eat me' on a snowy day like a sizzling hot pot (which, for the record, is just as enjoyable on any other day of the year). Doing the dish proud is Pots Bar & Kitchen, a self-described Korean izakaya hidden away in the mountains. Choose from a trio of broths (including those with wagyu and pork), each served with ramen noodles and a platter of fresh local veg, which you'll slap together and then inhale quicker than you can say 'pot', at your table. Korean fried chicken and other snacky bits also make an appearance. Oh, and good wine! Open winter only. 

Hakuna matata. It means no worries. And here—at this restaurant named in the famous phrase's honour—it also means gyoza, okonomiyaki, and fried chicken curry pot with cheese. Get amongst all this and more in a chill, cabin-like setting with a father and son at the helm. As Hakuna Matata leans more towards a bar than a restaurant, there's also plenty of booze to keep the good times rolling (but strangely, no sign of Timon or Pumbaa...). 

Ramen, sushi, katsu—Wakagiri is offering a crash course in Japan's most famous dishes. For this reason, it's often considered a great first port-of-call for tourists, as well as families with multiple palates to please. That, and it's spacious, super-friendly vibes (the kids will love sitting on the traditional tatami mats). If you try just one dish here, make it the katsu pork fillet—it's the stuff of deep-fried dreams. 

And finally, one restaurant that's actually six—Food Village Kongou. Located inside a former steel works and centred around a magnificent temple-like decoration, suspended from the ceiling—this food court has atmosphere in droves. As for the cuisine, that comes in a range of equally impressive forms—we’re talking yakitori, oden, yakiniku, wheat-free soba, and even Thai curries. Better yet, there's around 100 seats, making this a great spot for large groups and families (hello, kids' corner!). 

If the restaurants above have you dreaming of life in Nozawa Onsen, start your home search on Uchi to find listings near your favourite spots.