In early autumn in Karuizawa, I was able to enjoy delicious cuisine in a quiet setting. I arrived a little early, before 3:00 p.m., tired from the drive, but the welcome drink was nicely chilled, and the florentines left in the room were crisp and delicious. Although it was close to central Karuizawa, it was a lovely auberge with an attractive exterior, surrounded by forest and offering a calm, peaceful atmosphere. Inside, while the doors, windows, and other fittings had a classic style, everything was kept clean and there were no issues with usability; the furniture and small decorative touches were also charming. The lighting fixtures had a lovely lamp-like design, but they were somewhat dim—I would have appreciated an additional light for reading.
For dinner, I was disappointed that one of the two restaurants (Pyrenees) was closed, so I chose French cuisine at the main building instead. It was a French course with subtle Japanese influences and priced on the higher side at ¥22,000. The main dish was duck (a bit early for the season), though there may be room for improvement in its arrangement; however, the wine pairing selected for us matched beautifully. Dessert consisted of two carefully crafted dishes using seasonal fruit. Considering this attentive service as part of the experience—and given that prices have risen everywhere over the past year—I felt it couldn’t be helped.
The bathroom had a Western-style tub along with a separate shower booth and was well equipped overall; however, as someone with a smaller build (and over 70), I found it slightly concerning that the tub floor felt slippery and deep/high without anything to hold onto when getting in or out. I would appreciate consideration for elderly guests.
Overall, it had an elegant and relaxing atmosphere.