NISEKO SAKURA — Restaurant in Kutchan

Should have read the reviews before we came here. We booked a good week in advance for our group understanding it was fine dining and looking forward to a premium dining experience. On arrival they seemed annoyed we were there, and we quickly noticed the difference in treatment of local patrons who arrived compared to us, if you are foreign / tourist don’t waste your money here. We booked an expensive set menu and ordered expensive wine, which would normally represent a good customer for a restaurant. However we were treated with increasing rudeness across the evening, dismissive attitude, the chef particularly was exceptionally appalling. They shortened our seating and hurried us out (our online booking was for a good 30 mins longer) we paid $500 a head for this dinner and yet we had better food and 10x better service at a local traditional Japanese spot the night before, which cost 1/5 of this place! A table of non-westeners came in after us, they had a stack of kids, in ski boots, on their phones, making loads of noise and jumping around - we could see it bothered the staff but they didn’t say a thing and fawned all over this group like you would normally expect service to be in a high end restaurant. All the stories I had heard about the attitude towards westerners in Japan unfortunately rang so true during this dinner. Do not dine here, so many other wonderful spots in...

An Unforgettable Experience at Niseko Sakura

During my stay in Niseko, I had the pleasure of discovering Niseko Sakura, a restaurant that perfectly blends elegance, refined flavors, and exceptional service.

From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed with warmth and genuine hospitality. The staff, deeply passionate about wine, guided me through a superb selection, with each bottle thoughtfully chosen to complement the exquisite dishes.

The meal itself was a true sensory journey: incredibly fresh seafood, expertly prepared to highlight its natural flavors, and a shabu-shabu experience like no other, where premium meats and seasonal vegetables simmered in a perfectly balanced broth.

The harmony between the cuisine and the wine pairings made the evening truly unforgettable. A must-visit for those seeking an authentic and refined dining experience in Niseko. I will definitely return on...

My wife and I travel regularly and this will be my fourth time staying in Niseko. I don’t write many reviews but when I do, it’s normally due to an exceptional culinary and service experience. Sakura is that experience in Niseko. From the moment we entered Sakura, the staff were delightful and very attentive. We chose the Yuki menu and enjoyed a beautiful glass of sake with our fresh sashimi. We accompanied our Shabu Shabu experience with a fine glass of Pinot Noir recommended by Xavier, the restaurant manager. All the ingredients were very fresh, the cooking experience exemplary and the atmosphere was casual but with an air of style and sophistication. Book Sakura and we hope you are lucky enough to have Xavier help you with how long to cook each ingredient or the lovely Claudia who kept our wine glasses topped up. Thank you Sakura for a truly magical evening! We will be...