Caldera Niseko — Restaurant in Kutchan

Struggling to understand why this place was nearly empty on a Friday night in early February. If only folks ignoring this gem would likewise skip the powder stashes in the trees around the top of Ace Gondola...

Our party of seven had a great dinner with at most minor nits. Service was kind, clear and prompt (generally they prefer to not split tickets but as they were not terribly busy they were happy to accommodate). The building is beautiful and cozy (though there is a bit of echo upstairs which could be problematic for holding a conversation if it were crowded). The menu is diverse/interesting - their concept it shared plates (aka family style) but we sort of paired up and split dishes. Salads, mains, sides - all of it was great and every plate was returned to the kitchen very clean (IMO the waygu beef could have been served slightly warmer but other than that there was just nothing to criticize).

Our biggest "issue" was silly. Upon departure they very kindly gave everyone a marshmallow on a stick to roast in their fire pit out front. We had the great fortune of having it snow on us while we browned our sticks of sugar - a beautiful/fun ending to a nice evening inside. But we Americans know how to roast marshmallows over a fire - one of the few foods we might claim as our invention is a Smore (look it up - you'll never be the same). The issue? The roasting stick was way (way) too short - basically a fat chopstick that when used over the fire served to singe the hair off our hands. Caldera: It is a delightful idea, just give us a roasting stick at least a meter long and you have a closing act that will bring a (pain free) smile all around. (Even better? Include a couple of digestive biscuits and a bit of...

We had a chance to visit this brand new restaurant during our recent stay in Niseko Village (Jan 2025).

Restaurant is located in a beautifully designed building opposite the Orchard. A chic bar is on the ground floor with a cool vibe, with dining tables upstairs. This is probably one of the few restaurants in Niseko which I think can comfortably cater to large groups, with reservations ofcourse.

Food is a mainly Western cuisine with some Japanese elements. The kids menu was a bonus - our kids loved the chicken katsu (portion large enough for an adult) and cheese risotto. The adults enjoyed the wagyu beef steak and oysters, amongst others. And as a real treat, the kids got marshmallows to roast outside in the campfire after dinner.

And special mention for the lovely service staff - our waitress in particular had such a friendly smile and was very attentive and kind to our large group, which included...

Cute spot a little out from Kutchan Town, with amazing Japanese food with a French twist from the chef.

We ordered the uni toast, chicken katsu, wagyu steak, olive flounder, tofu and roasted veg, which for 3 was just slightly more than enough food. Everything was lovely but highlights include the katsu, wagyu and olive flounder 😋 definitely recommend trying all 3! The only thing i thought that needed improvement was the presentation of the uni toast, I'm guessing they changed it as some photos on here look a little different; thought it was a little underwhelming but it tasted great.

Service was great and food came out fast, but we did dine in early. We also got a free s'mores sundae for a birthday celebration which was yum! And the marshmallows at the end are a lovely touch.

Can't wait...