Food & Nightlife
All four areas of Niseko have restaurants and bars, but Hirafu is the heartbeat of Niseko, with most dining and nightlife options centred around this little village. Many bars and restaurants don’t accept credit cards so make sure you’re cashed up with yen before you arrive.
Niseko Restaurants Some holiday and accommodation packages include dinner, but where possible try to avoid this. There are so many great eating spots in Hirafu, prices are very cheap by Western comparison, and the variety of Japanese cuisine will be a highlight of your trip.
You’ll need to make reservations for dinner at many of the mainstream trendy restaurants, but if that’s too much of a chore, pick one of the more authentic but less flashy restaurants. A powderhounds’ favourite is the Zyukou ramen restaurant on the corner of the main intersection.
Another good restaurant for Japanese fare in Hirafu is the Big Cliff. This restaurant has the best of both worlds with authentic Japanese food, but English menus and western-style seating if your body is too inflexible or sore to sit on the tatami mats.
Out of Hirafu there are also great eating opportunities such as the “all you can cook and eat yourself in one hour” near An’nupuri. You’ll need to ski or board hard the next day to make up for all the calories you can consume in one hour!
The town of
Kutchan is not far from Niseko and there’s a large variety of restaurants here. Whilst you might not find English menus or English speaking staff, it will be cheaper and you’ll experience a little of the “real” Japan.
Niseko Hirafu Bars and Nightlife 
Niseko gets the Powderhounds awards for the
best après and best nightlife in Japan, and for good reason. Niseko is renowned for its nightlife, and Hirafu in particular has a large range of bars to choose from. From authentic Japanese bars for a quiet beer to bars that absolutely rock, there’s something for everyone. Considering that some visitors get really excited with the nightlife at Niseko, some of the accommodations run to a curfew. Perhaps they are doing powderhounds a favour by making sure they’re up for first lifts?!
A favourite bar of the Powderhounds was Hanks which no longer exists, and may have been bulldozed to make way for “progress”. We also have fond memories of the Yuki bar, but perhaps that’s because of the romance that further blossomed outside the back door!
Another good bar is the Java Bar in Hirafu. This cocktail and lounge bar has a mellow vibe so it’s good for a relaxed drink and a yarn. They have live music or a DJ each night, but the clientele usually don’t get too carried away.
And what would a big resort be without an “
Ice Bar”? It is great for a visit for the novelty factor but generally one drink is enough before you get too cold.
Another favourite was the
Fridge Door Bar where you literally entered the bar through a tiny coke labelled fridge door. A favourite hangout for Qantas staff, this place always seemed to be happening.
There’s not much nightlife in An’nupuri or Hanazono, so this is the place to stay if you’re looking for peace and quiet.
For après ski, Niseko après is really good by Japanese standards, but pretty average compared to Austria or Whistler. There’s the Après Bar next to the King No. 1 chairlift specifically catering to early drinkers, but our favourite was the A-frame building on the slopes, Boyo-So which we affectionately re-named "the stinky bar" for its unplumbed toilets. It’s really low key with a great atmosphere around the fire whilst sinking Sapporo biero.