JYUU OKONOMIYAKI

Okonomiyaki is best described as a savoury pancake crossed with a pizza. Always a hit with foreigners, and Jyuu is a local favourite.

Tetsuo Inoue, 58 came to Niseko six years ago because he loves snow. He used to come for snowboarding holidays but one day made it permanent. He closed his small business in Osaka and headed north. His friend was the owner of an Okonomiyaki restaurant in Osaka – okonomiyaki is Osaka’s most famous dish and is best described as a pizza crossed with a pancake – and Tetsuo helped in the restaurant for two months, during which time he ate okonomiyaki everyday. So much so he’s actually sick of it. But fortunately for visitors to Niseko, he still loves making it! After moving here he began thinking about opening his own Okonomiyaki restaurant but was warned off by people who told him Hokkaido people wouldn’t go for it. He ignored the advice and went ahead with his plan – deciding on Annupuri because he thought he’d be too busy in Hirafu and wouldn’t have time to ride. Just his luck, the restaurant was a hit and he’s flat out anyway! He still rides Annupuri almost every morning. He’s living his dream lifestyle and can never see himself leaving. Inoue-san you’re a lucky guy.

Soga, Higashiyama
Okonomiyaki | Dining
〒048-1522 263, Soga, Niseko-cho, Hokkaido
TEL：0136-44-2336 / FAX：0136-44-2336
Opening Hours：Summer: 12:00-22:00 Winter 16:30-22:00 (※Sat. Sun. and National Holidays 12:00-22:00)

Okonomiyaki is best described as a savoury pancake crossed with a pizza. Always a hit with foreigners, and Jyuu is a local favourite. Between Niseko Village and Annupuri (car or taxi required).

Location and directions
Soga Niseko, at the junction between routes 343 and 66. It’s apporoximately half way between Niseko Village (Higashiyama) and Annupuri. In winter it is a long walk from anywhere to get here, so please come by car or taxi. Summer you could walk from Niseko Village, Annupuri or Niseko Town in less than 30 minutes.

About Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki originated in Japan’s second biggest city, Osaka, just south of Tokyo. It is best described as a cross between a pizza and a savoury pancake. It’s main ingredients are flour, water and cabbage, and into the mix you can choose what types of other meats, vegetables and toppings you want to inlcude (okonomi means ‘as you like it’). It’s topped with generous lashings of a thick Japanese Worcestershire-like sauce and Japan’s amazing Kewpie Mayonnaise. Jyuu serves it with the other traditional garnishings – Katsuobushi bonito fish flakes and seaweed sprinkles – so please let them know before hand if you don’t want these (but we recommend you try them!).

About Jyuu
Jyuu is a casual teppanyaki-style restaurant. Hotplates are built in to the tables to keep the food warm after it’s been brought to the table, which allows you to take your time eating without worrying your food will get cold. If you ask, they may bring the prepared ingredients out for you to mix up and cook yourself.
Owner Tetsuo Inoue came from Osaka to Niseko six years ago to snowboard, relax and run a small, stress-free business. He opted for a quiet location away from the main ski fields so that he wouldn’t be too busy. Unfortunately for Inoue-san, the business has been a hit and he’s much busier than planned, but he still manages to snowboard every day in winter and dish up one of the area’s best okonomiyakis with a smile.

Food
Apart from okonomiyaki, Jyuu serves three other mains – modanyaki (okonomiyaki with fried noodles), negiyaki (similar but with spring onion, chinese chives, tempura flakes, soy sauce and lemon), and yakisoba (fried noodles and vegetables in a delicious savoury Japanese sauce). There are also several interesting Osaka-esque side dishes (see menu).

Beverages
Softdrinks, beer on tap, Japanese sake, shochu and chuhai.