yosaku

While Hirafu’s Tamashii– which means spirit or soul in Japanese – has always been a popular après ski bar, it is now open from 7 in the morning, offering freshly baked Muffins, big breakfast, various wraps and of course coffee.

Another major change this year is that Tamashii has been made bigger with a pool table included, as well

HOLLYWOOD has its Sunset Strip, Paris the Champs-Élysées, and then there's the famous Tokyo shopping and entertainment strip, Ginza.

WITH some dishes, it can be the case that less is more. The very same can be understood about Hirafu’s yakitori restaurant and bar, Yosaku. It’s the simplistic nature of the yakitori food style – which is essentially meat and vegetables on a skewer – that charms and delights my senses every time I dine here.

Open till 2am with plenty of Japanese culture and atmosphere to boot, A-Bu-Cha is the king of late night eats. Try the sun-dried squid tempura with a big dollop of mayo; tuna and tofu salad with sesame dressing; and 'kari-kari', little spring rolls filled with chicken and cheese or shrimp with Japanese herb.

ONE of Hirafu’s coolest new restaurants is yakitori joint Yosaku. Yakitori literally means ‘grilled bird’, although ‘bird’ really just means chicken. But there are plenty of other meat and vegetable combinations, which can come cooked in either salt or a dark soy-type sauce. Owner Akihiro Kimura (second from right)