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.
Sonmin-Shokudo (Karuizawa) | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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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.
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. -
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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.
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. -
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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.
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. -
