Kuma Yama

About Kuma Yama

Kuma Yama serves Japanese ramen and yakitori in the Ski Louise base lodge, which means you get serious kitchen technique without leaving the mountain. The owner trained in Tokyo, and that focus shows in broths simmered for hours and grilled skewers that actually taste like they should. This is proper food, not resort compromise.

Order the tonkotsu ramen if you want richness, or the shoyu if you prefer clarity. The yakitori comes in traditional cuts: chicken hearts, thighs, skin. The sake list leans Japanese, and the beer selection includes harder-to-find options beyond the usual suspects. Portions are generous enough that you won't need much else, though the gyoza and edamame are worth adding if you're sharing.

Go here midweek in shoulder seasons (September or May) when Ski Louise empties out and you'll actually get a seat. Winter weekends mean crowds and waits. The downside is you're eating in a ski lodge rather than a dedicated restaurant space, so the atmosphere reflects that—functional, loud, filled with people in puffy jackets. But the food itself transcends the setting. Come hungry.