Surrounded by a dense canopy of green, with a babbling brook below, summer is a special time to enjoy a total sensory dining experience at Somoza.
A relocated 150-year-old “kominka” farmhouse perched on a cliff top overlooking a spectacular gorge and stream, this unique structure is home to an all-seasons restaurant, gallery, shop and tearoom.
A drive up a winding road into the mountains beyond the Hanazono ski resort is a fitting prelude to the Somoza experience. After parking in the forest and finding their way down into the building, guests are invited to walk around exploring the various galleries and spaces, and enjoy the picturesque outlooks, before starting the dining experience.
Lunch at Somoza consists of a balanced menu showcasing the best of local produce. Guests are served a tasting menu created by Somoza’s team, and dishes are samplings of the flavours, colours and seasons of Niseko and Hokkaido. In spring, from April through to June, sansai (foraged mountain vegetables) are added to the menu. Throughout the green season right through until the end of autumn in October, vegetables harvested from Somoza’s own farm garden are introduced as they come into season. Diners can choose to sit inside at a range of different tables or outside on a terrace. With doors and windows open, anywhere you dine will be accompanied by a soundtrack of nature highlighted by wind blowing through the trees and sounds of the stream floating up from below.
Somoza also offers a tea ceremony experience which can be paired with a specially prepared lunch that is more of a traditional Japanese style than the usual lunch menu (advance bookings required). Private dinner / chef’s table is also available with pre-booking.
Somoza’s current main historical art exhibition is titled Hokkaido Through the Ages. It features a collection of artefacts from various cultures of people throughout Hokkaido’s history, dating as far back as 10,000-year-old Jomon pottery, to recent Indigenous Ainu artwork. The gallery shop sells art and traditional craftworks created by local artisans for those who want to take home a unique memory of Niseko and their Somoza experience.
