Issue 58 | 5 Minutes with Ihara Hiromasa, Mountain Kiosk Coffee
INTERVIEW BY JACINTA SONJA / TRANSLATION ASSISTANCE YUURI WOODS, MOUNTAIN KIOSK
PHOTOS BY JACINTA SONJA / ADDITIONAL IMAGES COURTESY OF MOUNTAIN KIOSK
(Interview conducted in Japanese and translated for publication)
Located beside the Grand Hirafu Welcome Center, Mountain Kiosk Coffee has become a familiar stop and a favourite coffee shop for locals, seasonal staff, and visitors in the resort. Opened in 2013 by Kutchan local and former pro snowboarder Ihara Hiromasa, the café is built on a simple idea: a really good cup of coffee, made with care and shaped by life in Niseko. We spoke with Ihara-san about coffee, community, and connection.
Tell us a little about yourself and how Mountain Kiosk Coffee began.
I was born and raised in Kutchan. From the age of 15, I travelled the world competing in snowboard World Cup events, where coffee was always part of the routine — before riding, between runs, and after long days. Experiencing coffee culture in the US, in particular, inspired me to bring that feeling back to Kutchan.
When did you open your first café, and how did it evolve over time?
In 2008, I opened a Spanish-style café and bar called Mañana on Ekimaedori in Kutchan. In 2012, it evolved into chiyoniyatiyoni × Azmaya, a Japanese craft select shop and tea stand. This was where our Matcha and Hojicha lattes were developed, and we operated at this location until 2014.
In 2013, Mountain Kiosk Coffee opened in Upper Hirafu as a takeout-only stand at the base of the ski resort. In 2016, Kissa Azmaya opened at a new location in Kutchan, and in 2020 it became the flagship Mountain Kiosk Coffee shop.
What inspired the concepts behind Kissa Azmaya and Mountain Kiosk Coffee?
“Azmaya” (東屋・あずまや) means a small pavilion or hut, a place to pause and rest. I was inspired by the idea of a “yamagoya” (山小屋), a mountain hut rooted in nature. Development is happening quickly across Niseko, and I wanted to create something a little different, a space that feels closer to nature, simple, natural, and welcoming.
How did you learn to make coffee?
Mostly by watching and observing. It’s the same approach I had with snowboarding.
Mountain Kiosk is a favourite stop for great coffee in the resort. What do you think is most important in making a good cup of coffee?
For me, coffee should feel smooth, balanced, and comforting, not too strong or bitter. The customer’s experience comes first. Technique and beans matter, of course, but the goal is always a cup that simply feels good to drink. We’re also lucky to have excellent spring water here in Niseko, which really helps.
What does “good coffee” mean to you personally?
I like coffee that feels gentle on the body and leaves you feeling settled, not overstimulated. Kutchan has such clean nature and spring water, and I imagine that softness finding its way into the coffee.
Is there something you always keep in mind when you’re making coffee?
Love! (laughs) I try to make coffee with care and intention, focusing on the feeling it leaves with the person drinking it.
You use beans from Takano Coffee. Can you tell us about your collaboration with Takano Coffee?
Takano Coffee and Mountain Kiosk Coffee started around the same time. Growing together as a local community is important to me, and I asked Takano-san to come on board to develop a blend for Mountain Kiosk Coffee. Over two seasons, and after a lot of experimentation, Takano-san and I developed a blend together using Ethiopian and Tanzanian beans.
How did your slogan “Connecting the World with a Cup of Coffee” come about?
When I was travelling and competing as a professional snowboarder, my English wasn’t very strong, but coffee became a shared language. It helped me connect with other snowboarders, without words. That experience stayed with me and eventually became the idea of connecting people through coffee.
What do you enjoy most about running the café?
I enjoy the craft of making good coffee and the small, everyday interactions with customers. Seeing familiar faces return, season after season, and building that sense of continuity is very meaningful to me.
What would you recommend to first-time visitors?
The Caffè Latte is one of our most popular orders. For non-coffee drinkers, we recommend the Matcha Latte or Hojicha Latte. For something to eat, try our homemade cookies and brownies, including vegan options.
Tell us a little about the merch that you sell.
We design our own T-shirts, sweatshirts, water bottles, coffee mugs, and stickers. We also sell our original Mountain Kiosk blend coffee beans, drip packs, and Hojicha Latte mix, available in-store at Mountain Kiosk Coffee and through our online shop.
Your philosophy includes “Creating No Impossibilities.” What does that mean to you?
We try not to define ourselves too narrowly. Coffee is at the centre, but we’re also involved in tea, design, building, art, and even running a rental cabin.
What’s your creative process like?
Inspiration comes from everywhere. I take in what I see, and let the design to emerge naturally from within.
Looking back, what have been some highlights over the past ten years?
Achieving goals I once dreamed of, appearing on magazine covers as a snowboarder, and building my own coffee business.
What would you like visitors to take away from their visit?
Mountain Kiosk Coffee is a place where visitors experience a little of the local culture and connect with people from here and beyond. Mountain Kiosk Hirafu offers a familiar presence in the resort, while Mountain Kiosk Kutchan (which closes during winter and reopens after the season) is rooted in everyday town life. Through coffee and a welcoming, familiar space, I hope the café can act as a quiet bridge between the two.
How would you describe Mountain Kiosk Coffee in your own words?
Our café is a place where the world connects through a single cup of coffee. If you’re in Niseko, or have just arrived, we hope you’ll stop by.
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Thank you Ihara-san!
Mountain Kiosk Coffee
HIRAFU: 1-63, Kita 4-jo Higashi 1-chome, Kutchan-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido (NEXT TO GRAND HIRAFU WELCOME CENTER)
mountainkioskcoffee.com
hours: 7:30 – 17:00