Sushi Kato Setsu Niseko INORI

Out of all the luxury hotels in the Niseko Grand Hirafu ski resort area, the Setsu Niseko alone stands out with its flawless synthesis of traditional Japanese design and contemporary architectural sensibilities. The winner of the World’s Best New Ski Hotel in the World Ski Awards 2023, the Setsu Niseko offers a luxury experience unlike any other. And one of the major draws to the Setsu Niseko is the presence of Sushi Kato INORI, the brainchild of seafood entrepreneur Toshiaki Kato, known colloquially as Hokkaido’s “King of Crab”. For over 50 years, his company, Kato Suisan, has been spreading the gospel of Hokkaido crab throughout the country. Originally a seafood supplier based in eastern Hokkaido, its country-wide outreach effort began in earnest in 1998, when it started selling and distribution of Hokkaido crab through e-commerce channels. Seeking to continue to reach more and more travelers across the world, Kato then established the Sushi Kato series of restaurants, with the intention of becoming the “world’s gateway to Hokkaido” by marrying Hokkaido seafood of unmatched quality — including sea urchin and crab — with the expertise of some of Japan’s best chefs. INORI means “prayer” in Japanese. Conceptually, the restaurant is a prayer of gratitude to the people who made it a reality, from the fishermen who brave the roiling waves to bring back the bounties of the ocean, to the guests who take their seats at its counter. Simultaneously, it is an act of supplication: for the harvests to be plentiful, and for the reputation of Sushi Kato to spread far beyond Japan’s borders. Counter seating lets up to six guests have a firsthand view of premium Hokkaido seafood being transformed before their eyes into works of gastronomic art, while an eight-seat private room provides a quieter, more secluded atmosphere for special occasions. Regardless of their choice of seating, guests can adjourn to the attached Bar Kato to finish off the evening with a cocktail — or multiple — of their choice.