Linda Liao's Reviews Page 3/11

Coffee at MARUYAMA COFFEE

MARUYAMA COFFEE is a specialty coffee shop with its main store in Karuizawa. The high-quality coffee beans are purchased directly from overseas by Kentaro Maruyama, the company's representative, who goes to the production areas as a buyer.

• Nagano
• Food & Drink

Maruyama Coffee is a well-known specialty coffee shop in Karuizawa. Besides freshly brewed coffee, it offers coffee beans and drip bags in many different flavors, making them great souvenirs for anyone looking to take home a favorite blend.

The Harunire Terrace location is surrounded by greenery and elm trees, with a book area and outdoor seating where you can enjoy coffee along with Karuizawa's relaxing natural scenery. The store-exclusive “Harunire Terrace Blend” is also worth trying. It has a mild, smooth taste with a subtle sweetness.

KARUIZAWA PRINCE SHOPPING PLAZA

It is one of Japan’s largest resort-style shopping malls, located just outside the south exit of JR Karuizawa Station. There are 10 areas on the premises in a rich natural setting, having about 240 stores offering a wide range of products, including famous brands, interior goods, general goods, and outdoor products. It is an attractive place where you can get high-quality items from top brands at outlet prices.

• Nagano
• Commercial Buildings

This was my first time here, and it completely changed how I imagined an outlet mall could be. I never knew a shopping center could be so beautiful! The expansive lawns, ponds, and lush greenery make it feel less like a typical shopping mall and more like a relaxing park. It also attracts many local residents who come to walk their pets.

The grounds are quite spacious and blend beautifully with Karuizawa's natural scenery, making it very pleasant to stroll around. The complex is divided into different areas with many well-known international and Japanese brands, offering a wide selection of clothing, shoes, bags, household goods, and outdoor gear.

Besides shopping, there are also plenty of restaurants, cafes, and food courts where you can sit down, rest, and enjoy some food when you're tired from browsing. There are also souvenir shops where you can buy some local Karuizawa specialties to take home.

Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory "Milk Cheese Busse"

The Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory, known for its dedication to using high-quality milk, cheese, and other carefully selected ingredients, is a renowned confectionery brand that aims to create delightful and surprising sweets. One of its standout offerings is the Milk Cheese Busse, launched in 2022 and available exclusively at Haneda Airport.

• Oimachi, Kamata, Haneda Airport Area
• Snacks

Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory features milk and cheese in many of its distinctive sweets. Its most famous product is the Salt & Camembert Cookie. The cookies are crisp, with rich cheese and a hint of saltiness, creating a distinctive sweet-and-savory flavor. They're usually sold at airports and can be purchased directly at duty-free shops, making them a great Japanese sweet to bring home as a souvenir.

KONGEN Yawataya Isogoro “Shichimi Togarashi (Japanese spice mixture of seven aromatic ingredients) ”

Yawataya Isogoro has its main store in Daimoncho, the home of Zenkoji Temple, an ancient temple in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. It is a spice specialty store with a long history of 280 years, and sells a variety of Shichimi and Ichimi flavors, including “Shichimi togarashi”, a signature product since its establishment.

• Nagano
• Food & Drink

Yawataya Isogoro Shichimi Togarashi is a famous seasoning from Nagano, Japan, with a rich aroma and moderate heat. In addition to chili peppers, it blends spices such as sansho pepper, shiso, and dried citrus peel, giving it a complex flavor. Sprinkling it on ramen, udon, or grilled meat adds aroma and depth to the food, leaving you wanting more.

This time, I happened to find a limited-edition package at the Suica Penguin specialty store in JR Ueno Station. It was especially cute〜

Kirin Afternoon Tea (Gogo-no-Kocha)

This long-selling tea brand was first launched in 1986. It was born as Japan’s first bottled black tea made to evoke the customs of afternoon tea in Japan. Since then it has become the No. 1 leading brand in tea drink sales.

• Food & Drink

Kirin Afternoon Tea has a rich tea aroma and a smooth taste without being too sweet. It's especially refreshing when served cold. The subtle black tea aroma is very relaxing, making it just right for an afternoon break. The overall flavor is natural, and you can add a few fresh lemon slices to make lemon tea with more depth of flavor.

Maruchan Red Kitsune Udon

This cup instant udon only needs hot water and a wait of 5 minutes to be ready to eat. Topped with slightly sweet deep-fried tofu, it's so popular in Japan that it's hard to find anyone who doesn't know about it.

• Food & Drink

The fried tofu in these soup noodles has a sweet flavor and tastes delicious after soaking up the broth. The udon noodles are springy and chewy, and the broth is rich and smooth. The sweet and savory combination is quite distinctive. A warm, satisfying bowl when you're feeling a little hungry〜

Sonmin-Shokudo (Karuizawa)

Karuizawa, often referred to as the “Beautiful Village” in the works of novelist Tatsuo Hori, is home to Sonmin-Shokudo, a restaurant produced by Hoshino Resorts. Its concept is “a casual dining spot that warmly welcomes visitors to this beautiful village of Karuizawa with delicious meals.”

• Nagano
• Japanese Cuisine

When visiting Karuizawa in the fall or winter, the temperature is noticeably colder at night. After soaking in the hot springs, we had dinner at Sonmin-Shokudo in Hoshino Resorts Karuizawa and warmed up. The restaurant mainly serves Japanese home-style food, with a wide selection of rice bowls, set meals, noodles, and side dishes, leaning toward traditional Japanese regional cuisine.

Many local ingredients are used, paired with simple Japanese seasonings that let their natural flavors come through. Hot rice and hot pot dishes are especially welcome on cold fall and winter nights, and the restaurant has a comfortable atmosphere.

Kumoba Pond

Located in one of Japan's premier plateau resorts, Karuizawa, this serene pond has become a staple on the tourist route. Once the surrounding area was a villa region for foreigners, it earned the nickname "Swan Lake" because swans would come to visit in the winter.

• Nagano
• Nature Spots

Kumoba Pond, a famous fall foliage spot in Karuizawa, attracts many visitors every autumn. When I visited last time, it happened to be a warm winter, so the maple leaves turned red much more slowly than in previous years. Fortunately, the weather was on our side, and the leaves finally began taking on their fall colors a few days before our departure, so the trip wasn't left with any regrets.

The lake was calm and picturesque, with wild ducks gliding leisurely across the surface. Their graceful reflections in the water were mesmerizing. If you have enough time, consider walking around the lake to enjoy the scenery and fall colors from different angles. Every view is incredibly romantic.

Koyo Toshokan (Red Leaves Library)

This event is held every year from early October to early November in the "Karuizawa Hoshino Area" to enjoy the Momiji leaves(maple leaves), read books, and have café time. The event is in the plaza in front of "Hoshino Onsen Tombo no yu -Onsen," surrounded by red Momiji (maple) trees and golden larch trees. Bookshelves are set up along the gently undulating terrain.

• Nagano
• Autumn festivals & Events

Every fall, Hoshino Resort holds its “Red Leaves Library” event, inviting travelers to connect with nature in a different way during the crisp autumn season. Unlike a typical library where you have to sit quietly in a fixed spot, here you can choose any position you like—sitting in a comfortable chair or lying in a playful hammock, with a view of the fall colors whenever you look up.

I especially like the hammock design. Once you lie down and gently sway with a book in your hands, listening to the wind rustling through the leaves, you rediscover the feeling of “reading slowly.” The autumn sunlight isn’t harsh, the cool breeze feels just right, and you’re surrounded by red, yellow, and orange leaves. Before you know it, you’ve blended into the scenery, warmly wrapped in a golden blanket.

Hoshino Onsen Tombo-no-Yu

Located about a five-minute walk from Harunire Terrace, the lifestyle complex operated by Hoshino Resorts, Hoshino Onsen Tombo-no-Yu is a renowned day-use hot spring cherished as one of Karuizawa’s classic retreats since its founding in 1915.

• Nagano
• Bathing & Spa Facilities

This is probably the most refined hot spring I've ever visited〜 Hoshino Onsen Tombo-no-Yu is very spacious, and even with quite a few people, it doesn't feel crowded or noisy at all. My favorite part was soaking in the bath while admiring the natural scenery through the large floor-to-ceiling windows. My whole body slowly warmed up as I looked out at the quiet forest. It was truly relaxing.

My last visit was during the fall and winter season, when they happened to be offering a limited-time “apple bath.” Bright red apples floated in the hot spring, and a subtle fruity fragrance drifted through the steam. The scene was so romantic it almost didn't feel real. I heard that these apples were purchased from farmers in Aomori and had cosmetic imperfections or weren't suitable for sale. This gives the fruit another purpose while adding some limited-time seasonal fun to the hot spring experience.

Tombo-no-Yu also has an open-air bath where you can enjoy different scenery in each season. Soaking in the piping-hot spring during fall and winter is especially nice—looking up at the sky and listening to the subtle sounds of nature around you, your body feels warm and your mind becomes calm. It's more than just soaking in a hot spring; it feels like giving yourself time to truly clear your mind.