ツルヤ軽井沢店に入ってる花岡で食べたりテイクアウトしたり : Okashi Dokoro Hanaoka Karuizawa Ten

A Solo Journey of Soba Indulgence in Nagano via the Shinano Railway

■ Day 1
I took a highway bus from Shinjuku Station to Karuizawa Station, departing at 6:45.
At 10:30, I took the special train "Rokumon" from Karuizawa Station to Tanaka Station.
After getting off at Tanaka Station, I enjoyed a delicious soba lunch at Umino-juku and had some sweets at Okashi Dokoro Hanaoka, which is just moments away from the station.
I then took the Shinano Railway from Tanaka Station to Shinonoi Station at 13:34, arriving at 14:17.
After switching to the JR Matsumoto Line train at 14:27, I arrived at Obasute Station at 14:40.
From Obasute Station, I toured the terraced rice fields and Chōraku-ji Temple before taking the Chikuma City community bus to my accommodation, Fukujusō at Shin Tokura Onsen, where I stayed without meals.
For dinner, I enjoyed exquisite soba at Kaya, right by Tokura Station.

■ Day 2
I checked out of the accommodation before 7 AM and took a morning stroll around Tokura Yamada Onsen.
I had station soba for breakfast at Tokura Station.
After that, I moved from Tokura Station to Komoro Station via the Shinano Railway.

This was my second visit to Komoro, the last being about ten years ago with my husband.
I arrived at Komoro Station around 8:30, but I was too early.
I leisurely enjoyed the lovely English garden in front of the station and strolled around the town.
Most cafes were closed, so I decided to pass the time at Tsuruya, the local supermarket, which opens at 9:30.
I wrapped up my soba indulgence journey with lunch at a soba shop in Komoro!
→ I was eager to buy lemon cake and walnut sweets from Okashi Dokoro Hanaoka that I visited on the first day, so I confirmed that Hanaoka is located inside Tsuruya Karuizawa and headed there.

From Komoro Station, I rode the Shinano Railway and got off at Nakakaruizawa Station.
In the sweltering heat, I walked back and forth from Nakakaruizawa Station to Tsuruya Karuizawa!

At Tsuruya Karuizawa, I stocked up on various treats and suddenly realized the train's departure time was approaching! I needed to hurry to Karuizawa Station.
But I wouldn’t give up!
Even though I usually take my time with regular meals, I can finish sweets in no time.

Tsuruya Karuizawa is huge.
It might be the largest one in the chain.
Being located in a tourist area and vacation home spot, it attracts a lot of customers.
There is a small food court area with SUBWAY and a well-known coffee shop that I can’t seem to recall the name of (I should have looked it up!). Also, there's Hanaoka, renowned for its delicious soft serve ice cream.

At Hanaoka, I bought the last lemon cake (which needs to be refrigerated) and a few walnut sweets.
Oh, how I craved the coffee soft serve from the neighboring coffee shop! However, the line was daunting! (ﾟДﾟ)
I was looking forward to the lemon pie I enjoyed the previous day, but it appeared to be sold out...
I ended up savoring two layered cakes filled with cream and coffee cream in the food court area.
The atmosphere at Hanaoka's main shop was lovely.
The Hanaoka at Tsuruya Karuizawa is small and somewhat cramped, but it’s mainly for takeout, so it can’t be helped.
The cakes I tried were petite. They were delicious, though!
The cream puff was average.

However, the takeout lemon cake was hands down the best lemon cake I’ve ever had!
It’s coated in lemon chocolate, and there’s an extra thin layer of cream sandwiched between the cake and sponge, which does wonders!
This lemon cake is quite large, unbelievably delicious, and only around JPY 200!
I was thoroughly satisfied with both the taste and the cost performance.
The wrapping was also adorable!

I highly recommend Hanaoka's lemon cake ( ´∀`)

Now, it’s a Saturday afternoon, exactly one week after returning from my trip to Nagano.
Ah, I want to go back to Nagano again.
I’m excited thinking about what transportation to take next, which soba shop to visit, and wandering around Showa-style streets.
I always enjoy traveling with wonderful people, but solo trips are equally awesome.

But today is so hot, sweltering.
During the week, I usually get up around 4 to 4:30 AM, so I planned to wake up at 6 AM on Saturday but ended up waking at 5 instead...
After doing various chores in the morning, I spent the morning doing my beloved yoga.
After returning from yoga, I prepared and ate lunch, and continued with household chores.
Now, a brief rest...
I need to go to the hospital soon. It’s so hot… (ﾟДﾟ)