The recent opening of Kamimura, Dragon Bar and J Sekka has seen the local dining scene step up to another level this season.
Previously the top restaurants were still fairly casual and inexpensive. Now true fine dining is widely available.
Yuichi Kamimura’s new restaurant in the Yama Shizen is one of the most talked about new arrivals of the season.
Kamimura-san worked at Tetsuya’s in Sydney for five years before opening a small restaurant in Sapporo staffed by only himself and his wife.
Simon Robinson and Matt Denning from Hokkaido Tracks were avid fans of that restaurant and eventually persuaded Yoichi to set up in their latest major development, Yama Shizen. Kamimura mirrors Tetsuya’s style with a 12-course degustation menu.
Another one to step things up this year is Wine and Food Bar Dragon. Managing director and talented sommelier and chef Noriko Masubuchi opened a small establishment inside the Alpen Hotel last season but this year has upgraded to a two storey, refurbished pension in the middle village, which has received a great reception from Japanese and foreign guests alike.
J-Sekka continues where the original Sekka left off with beautifully presented food in Shouya Grigg’s signature classy style.