Delight in a warm and comforting bowl of noodles at this soba joint. Thin soba noodles are made in-house with 100 per cent freshly milled Hakuba buckwheat flour and boiled over high heat to retain their soft and chewy texture. Before serving, the chefs bathe the noodles in a fragrant dashi stock made with freshly shaved bonito flakes and katsuobushi (skipjack tuna). The broth is rich and aromatic, further elevating the flavours of the soba noodles.
 
Take your pick from the extensive menu, with offerings like the yamakake, signature noodles topped with rich yamaimo yam; comforting duck soba noodles soup; and cold soba noodles topped with refreshing daikon, perilla leaves and myoga ginger. Try the hot tempura soba set, a favourite that sees its signature soba noodles and broth accompanied by lightly battered prawn tempura.

Riki Soba Noodles, 399-9301 Nagano, Kitaazumi District, Hakuba, +81 261-85-4311

This classic Japanese gastro pub serves an array of tantalising Japanese pub fare, among which are the chicken karaage and baked camembert. Meat lovers, however, can go for its selection of grilled skewers—the tsukune is a classic that sees chicken meatballs grilled until tender and juicy. Of course, an izakaya experience is not complete without a pint of refreshing beer. Wash these dishes down with a bottle of smooth Asahi or crisp Asahi Dry Black.

Izakaya Hie, 3020-868 Hokujo, Hakuba, Kitaazumi District, Nagano 399-9301, Japan, +81 261-72-8035

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Feeling peckish while on the slopes? Why not head to Mon Pigeon for an afternoon tea break. Want something savoury? Dig into hearty pizza slices; ham and cheese rolls; and bacon and egg rolls. If you have a sweet tooth, head to the cake display for a range of sweet creations that are satisfying for both the eyes and stomach. Standouts include the fruity strawberry mousse cake; rich baked cheesecake; and the Super Heavy Chocolate Cake. The latter is an indulgent treat of decadent chocolate cake coated in a velvety smooth chocolate ganache.

Mon Pigeon, 828-333 Hokujo, Hakuba, Kitaazumi District, Nagano 399-9301, Japan, +81 261-72-3535

Italian head chef Simone de Battisti helms the kitchen at Blizzard and serves up authentic pizza and fresh pasta. Its pizzas are baked in a wood-fired oven, resulting in a slice that’s crisp on the outside and beautifully fluffy on the inside.
 
Naturally, its pizzas are a crowd favourite—for something classic, go for the funghi e salsiccia, comprising a thin and fluffy pizza base generously layered with mozzarella, sausage, mushrooms and smoked provola cheese. But if you have a palate for spice, the jalapeno is topped with spicy salami, bell peppers and fiery jalapenos.

Blizzard, 4257, Hokujo, Hakuba, Kitaazumi District, Nagano 399-9301, Japan, +81 261-85-0017

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