While the West has picked up on plenty of Japanese dining styles, one they can’t seem to replicate authentically is “izakaya” – basically pub-style restaurants serving tapas-style food. They’re busy, loud, often smoky, and the idea is that a table shares a number of small Japanese dishes.
The abundance of izakayas is one of our favourite things about Niseko. Every one of these rustic little restaurants oozes its own particular brand of Japanese atmosphere and charm. They’re casual, fun and full of life… oh yeah, and the food is invariably unbelievable. The pics on the left and previous spread were taken at one of our faves, A-Bu-Cha 2. As you can see, plates are plonked down anywhere they’ll fit across your table, and come out in a steady stream as they’re cooked.
The experience begins when you enter to a boisterous “Irasshaimase!!” welcome by all staff in sight. As soon as you’re seated, you should order your first round of drinks and bowl or two of edamame – don’t ask, just do it. Then grab some menus and everyone can pitch in and add their favourite dish or three to the order. Be sure to visit A-Bu-Cha and as many more as you can while you’re here, ‘cos I guarantee you’re not going to find an izakaya experience like these back home.