Hokkaido food explained for visitors — what the island is known for, what soup curry actually is, and what you can eat in the Furano valley without a long drive.
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What Hokkaido Is Known For
Hokkaido has a reputation in Japan for its ingredients rather than for any one dish. Dairy, potatoes, corn, onions and melons come off the land; crab, scallops, sea urchin and salmon come out of the cold water around it. Much of what you eat here is good because of what went into it, not because of what was done to it.
The seafood is mostly a coastal experience, and Furano is inland — a couple of hours from either coast. Plan a market visit around a trip to Sapporo or Hakodate rather than expecting it on your doorstep here.
Soup Curry: The One to Try
Soup curry is Hokkaido's own contribution to Japanese food. It began in Sapporo and it is exactly what the name says — not a thick curry sauce but a thin, aromatic spiced broth, served with vegetables and a protein, and eaten with rice on the side.
It suits this climate. In winter it is the most warming thing on any menu, and because you choose the heat level, it works for people who do not normally eat spicy food. We serve three: Mix Vegetable, Chicken and Vegetable, and Momo and Vegetable — the last is the one people come back for.
Eating in the Furano Valley
The valley is farming country, so what it does well is what it grows — corn, dairy, melons in season. Restaurants are spread out and many close between lunch and dinner, so distances and opening hours matter more here than in a city.
We are a Nepalese and Indian restaurant based in Nakafurano, the town in the middle of the valley — about fifteen minutes by car from Furano Ski Resort and from Kamifurano, around thirty from Biei. Free parking, sixty seats, and English-speaking staff.
If You Have Dietary Requirements
Vegetarian dishes are on our standard menu: Mix Vegetable Curry, Mix Vegetable Soup Curry, and momo with a vegetable filling. Please note that our two dal dishes are cooked with mutton or chicken, so they are not vegetarian despite the name.
We are halal-friendly — not halal-certified, and we say so plainly. Vegan, nut-free and allergy requests are possible on request: our standard naan contains dairy and egg, but the kitchen will work around it if you tell us when you order.
Sharing the best of Furano travel, Hokkaido food culture, and the story of Nepal Dining — where Himalayan flavours meet Japanese hospitality.