Elliot

Elliot worked as a Bartender at An Dining for the 2024/25 winter season, taking a leading role on the bar crafting barista coffee and curating speciality cocktails. His charisma and charm getting to know customers and creating a unique and memorable experience for guests of the hotel was a huge asset and something he brought to Niseko from his work experience back home in the UK.

Obviously most of us are here for the snowboarding and skiing that Hirafu has to offer, but the food and atmosphere in some of the local venues and hidden gems make Hirafu really special! I especially love winding down and relaxing with a hot bowl of ramen after a long day snowboarding and working.

The most enjoyable thing I’ve found co-running the bar is the ability to engage with customers and provide a flexible and tailored bar experience; from getting to know the individual to getting to know their tastes. There have been some brilliant customer interactions which make day-to-day life on the bar extremely enjoyable, as well as the ability to hit the mountain and snowboard during some of the best times of day for snow before work.

Dress WARM! And be yourself, engage with the local culture as much as possible, and make an effort to learn Japanese! There’s no better opportunity..