--- title: The Best Restaurants In Zao Onsen date: 2026-06-26T20:00:00+09:00 author: Armelle Frimpong canonical_url: "https://uchijapan.com/news/zao-onsen-restaurants" section: News --- [Japan](https://uchijapan.com/news/japan)# The Best Restaurants In Zao Onsen Jun 26, 2026 - [ ](mailto:?subject=The%20Best%20Restaurants%20In%20Zao%20Onsen%20on%20Uchi&body=https%3A%2F%2Fuchijapan.com%2Fnews%2Fzao-onsen-restaurants "Share by Email") - [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fuchijapan.com%2Fnews%2Fzao-onsen-restaurants&title=The%20Best%20Restaurants%20In%20Zao%20Onsen&description=If%20you%27re%20lucky%20enough%20to%20be%20visiting%20the%20charming%20village%20of%20Zao%20Onsen%2C%20read%20on%20for%20the%20Uchi%20team%27s%20top%20restaurant%20picks.&caption=Uchi) ![Shibamama cafekitchen lead](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_480x270_crop_center-center_60_line/shibamama_cafekitchen_lead.jpg)Welcome to Zao Onsen, a beautiful village in Japan's Yamagata prefecture that's famous for its large ski resort, ancient hot springs, and iconic snow monsters or 'juhyo' (actually just trees that have been engulfed in snow, giving them a slightly ominous appearance). Naturally, a destination as popular as this also has some great spots to wine and dine, though these are much fewer in number and focus more on local cuisine than a lot of the other major resort towns. Gobbling hot pots in an 'igloo', smashing back soba in a spa and dashing through the snow to a lodge where you can sip mulled sake, fireside are just some of our favourite options—so let's get into it, shall we? ## Forest Inn Sangoro ![Forest Inn Sangoro](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/Forest-Inn-Sangoro.jpg) Image: Enjoy belly-warming grub by the fire at Forest Inn Sangoro / Tripadvisor Honestly, you had us at '[Forest Inn](https://sangoro.co.jp/cafe/).' And it's not just the name that's cute—this A-frame lodge, which can only be reached by venturing through a snow-covered forest on the mountainside, has charm oozing out of its very foundations. Inside lies a roaring fireplace, practically made for sitting beside with a mug of mulled sake; and a delicious food offering that includes local faves like Yamagata beef. A perfect spot for apres ski, or simply revelling in the alpine atmosphere (but also perfectly pleasant during the summer!). ## Shibamama Cafe ![Shibamama cafekitchen](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/shibamama_cafekitchen.jpg) Main article image above: Shiba Mama's Mikoshi—around 30 ingredients you can eat on one plate! Image above: The legendary shaved ice at Shibamama / Shibamama, Instagram Fun, unrelated-to-food fact: the owner here, fondly known as '[Shibamama](https://www.instagram.com/shibamama_cafekitchen/)', is the mother of Olympic snowboarder, Masaki Shiba. Now that we think about it, it's not ENTIRELY unrelated, considering the cafe is located inside a former ski/snowboard shop. Anyways! It's the food you really wanna know about and that, Uchians, is hauling in accolades of its very own. Shibamama loves her veggies and uses only the best local produce, including takenoko (bamboo shoots) which are grown on her family's own land; however you can also get amongst bowls of shaved ice and mugs of sweet pumpkin-laced milk, if you're feeling less virtuous. An absolute joy to visit. ## Kiraku Sushi ![Kiraku Sushi](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/Kiraku-Sushi.jpg) Image: The nigiri at Kiraku Sushi is especially popular / Tripadvisor Don't think its mountainous location is going to stop [Kiraku](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sushi+Kiraku/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xb8cb40db4783bcce?sa=X&ved=1t:2428&ictx=111) from bringing you deliciously fresh, seafood-forward sushi. Run by an elderly couple, this spot is beloved by the locals and is actually the only sushi restaurant in Zao Onsen (for the record, it also serves hot pot, fried fish, and other Japanese dishes). Watch as the chef works his magic behind the counter before tucking into the mouthwatering results, best enjoyed with one (or more) of the many available sakes. ## Hachiman Yakiniku ![Hachiman Yakiniku](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/419841/Hachiman-Yakiniku.jpg) Image: The charming dining room at Hachiman Yakiniku / Hachiman Yakiniku Run by a couple of hospitality veterans, [Hachiman Yakiniku](https://www.instagram.com/hachiman.zao/?hl=en) is definitely worth adding to your restaurant hit-list. As its name suggests, yakiniku (grilled meat) is very much on the menu here—cuts of locally-prized Yamagata beef, to be precise, which you'll cook yourself at the table. Things CAN get a little smokey, we won't lie, but it's a small price to pay for such deliciousness. Other dishes we've seen doing the rounds here include beef tenderloin curry (again, using Yamagata beef), tsukudani soup, warabi mochi with black honey, and matcha pudding. Yummm. ## Bar Woodpecker ![Bar Woodpecker](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/Bar-Woodpecker.jpg) Image: Bar Woodpecker is known for its gigantic burgers / Bar Woodpecker Sometimes you (and particularly any little people travelling with you!) need a taste of something familiar. And nothing screams familiarity in a foreign country quite like a burger, which you can find in a number of mouthwatering iterations at [Bar Woodpecker](https://maps.app.goo.gl/DqYP34t5jpcZ5Quv9). Located at [Lodge Scole](https://lodgescole.com/), this spot will see you right with its mile-high buns (we like the OG smashburger with special sauce), French fries, and pours of ice-cold beer. Finish your meal in true Western style with a slab of baked cheesecake (and if you're lucky, a meet-and-greet with the owners' pet meerkat. We're not joking). ## KOTOBUKI ![KOTOBUKI](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/KOTOBUKI.jpg) Image: Cook your own hot pot at KOTOBUKI / KOTOBUKI Dining in a snow-covered dome sure is one way to make memories here in Zao Onsen. Enter [KOTOBUKI](https://www.instagram.com/kotobuki_zao_ynsc/), where you can reserve one of two tables inside a cosy, igloo-style tent before tucking into what many have dubbed the area's best beef sukiyaki (a traditional hot pot-style dish, which you'll cook here yourself), amongst other delights. And in case you were wondering... yes, the tent IS heated. Open winter only. ## Yunohana Chaya ![Yunohana Chaya](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/Yunohana-Chaya.jpg) Image: Enjoy some of Zao Onsen's best soba at Yunohana Chaya / Tripadvisor Kill two birds with one stone by visiting [Shinzaemon no Yu](https://zaospa.co.jp/en/). This facility offers a number of beautiful open-air baths, along with an onsite restaurant serving up some of the area's best soba. [Yunohana Chaya](https://zaospa.co.jp/en/restaurant)'s the name and 100% buckwheat or 'juwari' soba is its game—made fresh each and every day, then topped with tempura chicken, shabu shabu pork and other goodies. Curries, katsu bowls and assorted appetisers (we like the hot spring eggs, which are literally cooked in their own onsen!) also make an appearance, along with local sake. ## Parlor Kamoshika ![Parlor Kamoshika](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/419861/Parlor-Kamoshika.jpg) Image: The famous cream brulee bun from Parlor Kamoshika / Parlor Kamoshika, Instagram If carbs is your middle name (and anything remotely bread-y is your game), be sure to swing by [Parlor Kamoshika](https://www.instagram.com/kamoshika_zao/). This cute little cafe is home to the legendary cream brulee bun, which is just like the dessert, only in bread form—right down to the crackable, caramelised sugar topping (it's also served hot and gooey, for added yumminess). If you're more of a savoury person, no problem—this spot is also known for its delicious interpretation of the American hotdog. Find Parlor Kamoshika operating throughout the winter, on the slopes of Mount Zao. ## Otochaya ![Otochaya](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/otochaya.jpg) Image: Otochaya's delicious seasonal grilled cheese & beef curry / Otochaya, Instagram Don't be fooled by the grungy aesthetic—[this cafe/restaurant](https://www.instagram.com/otochaya/) is an absolute delight. Here you'll find hearty curries that'd put a smile on any Pokemon's dial (IYKYK), and towering bowls of brightly-coloured shaved ice in flavours like strawberry milk, lemonade, and cherry, that'll surely put a smile on yours. The rice bowls are also highly sought-after, as is the impressive craft beer selection (widely considered the best in Zao). ## Toen Shuka ![Toen Shuka](https://d1g90p0r985xbs.cloudfront.net/general/_1280xAUTO_fit_center-center_82_none/Toen-Shuka.jpg) Image: Enjoy traditional lamb BBQ at Toen Shuka / Toen Shuka, Tripadvisor [This popular izakaya](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Toen+Shuka/@38.1680016,140.3964743,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x5f8a4b003899a7c9:0x2b5d987df377d6ca!8m2!3d38.1680016!4d140.3964743!16s/g/11xfxblbl_?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==) is dishing up solid dining, every day of the year from the heart of Zao Onsen. Warm the cockles with a hot pot, graze over plates of edamame and fried chicken, or show off your grilling skills with an order of traditional lamb BBQ. The Zao cheese also comes highly recommended and like everything else on the menu, reaches peak deliciousness when paired with an icy beer (this is a Japanese pub, after all). Has all that reading about Zao Onsen's restaurants left you hungry for more? Like, I-could-potentially-see-myself-buying-a-property-here more? We got you. Check out our full list of real-estate listings for [Nagano and Niigata, right here](https://uchijapan.com/properties?search%5BrefinementList%5D%5Barea.title%5D%5B0%5D=Niigata&search%5BrefinementList%5D%5Barea.title%5D%5B1%5D=Nagano&search%5BsortBy%5D=date_desc).