Kyoto Shabu-Shabu at Odin Place, Hirafu — Restaurant in Kutchan

Visited 28/12 in the evening. We just arrived in Niseko and were finding a place for dinner when we stumbled across this place. Oh my, best thing ever!

Originally they were only serving their dinner shabu shabu menu, but since I can’t eat beef, we enquired if they were able to do their lunch menu, and the chef agreed!

The place was gorgeous, very comfortable couch like sitting area, and all in all a very nice intimate dining experience considering we were the only ones there. I heard if you come during the day, the view of Mt Yotei is one of the best.

Meal started off with a few appetizers, each wonderfully prepared, and i must say, the best we had going in our 2 week trip around Japan. The main, the curry udon was incredible, the noodle was bouncy and firm, the curry was full of umami and overall a flavorful symphony.

The best part - the service, 10stars if i could. Both the waitress and chef were so friendly and we had amazing conversations about Malaysia(where we’re from) and how they’re keen on opening a restaurant there. You can clearly see their love for food and hospitality and i’d definitely love to visit again.

Don’t listen to those 1 star reviews, this is Niseko, you’re bound to be paying a premium and for the environment, food, views and hospitality don’t expect prices to be on a budget. We definitely found paying every penny worth it for this incredible dining...

Amazing view and friendly staff. The view of mount Yoeti is just incredible. Food wise, we had our lunch curry udon/ rice here and they are probably average. Obviously in Niseko, everything is charged doubled or even more compare other cities in Japan. Can’t complain the price but the portion is still quite small and it’s really a udon with few slices of deep fried tofu roll. I will expect at least few slices of meat. Food are expensive anyway in Niseko but it is still considered overpriced in Niseko standard. But the mountain view is...

Nestled above Hirafu Crossing, this small intimate restaurant boasts excellent Kyoto inspired dishes. They have not been in business long, but I foresee them becoming one of the most sought after restaurants in Hirafu. The chef and manager were so kind to us and the food was amazing. The atmosphere was out of this world, reminiscent of Shibuya crossing, a great spot for drinks and people watching. Pro Tip: The door is open, just push or wave to the host...