お料理高レベルのカーロのはずなんだが : CARO FORESTA Karuizawa Jyarudino

I stayed at a CARO location again this time.
This was my first time staying on a weekday, and I was surprised by the different atmosphere.
There was only one other group staying besides us, which made it quiet but a bit lonely. I definitely prefer a place filled with dogs.

One of the reasons for choosing CARO is the high quality of the food, but unfortunately, both breakfast and dinner were a bit disappointing this time.
I understand that there’s a campaign going on with discounts, so no fish dishes were served, which is fine, but the appetizer quiche felt homey, the meat dish lacked flavor, and there was only one dessert? The pasta and soup were delicious, though.
Breakfast was filled with items like natto and hijiki, which were not very satisfying. In contrast, places like Nasu and Miura had chawanmushi and sashimi on their menus.
Well, there’s no point in dwelling on that; the main purpose of this trip was to enjoy the snow! I wanted to let my dog run around in the snow, and that wish was fulfilled.
On the second day, a friend from the area came to play with us at the dog run. It was a pity we couldn’t have lunch together due to their schedule.

Now, instead of my impressions, here’s a report on the meals and hotel situation.
Like other CARO locations, dinner consists of a French course and breakfast is Japanese cuisine. Drinks are charged separately, and there are no options for meals without accommodation.
It seems they also offer lunch (though it was closed during my visit) with a JPY 2700 course or pasta dishes for around JPY 1000.
Everyone eats together in the restaurant; meals are not served in the rooms. The dog menu is the same as at other locations. The restaurant entrance features stylish stained glass.
There’s a terrace next to the restaurant, adjacent to the dog run, which would be lovely for dining when the weather is nice.
The dog run is spacious, allowing dogs to run freely. There’s also a smaller area separated for timid dogs.
The bath isn’t a hot spring but has an open-air option. There’s also a shampoo room for dogs.
I took the train this time and was picked up at Shinano-Oiwake station, which has a very retro and charming railway.
You buy tickets (no Suica), go through the ticket gate, and the train doors are opened manually (they open automatically when getting off). It feels like stepping back in time.
Just riding this train made the trip worthwhile.
However, there’s no elevator at Shinano-Oiwake station, so it’s difficult for those with dog carts.
The towels and facilities in the hotel are average... they don’t quite meet the price point, but dog-friendly hotels tend to be pricier. The staff are friendly towards dogs and provide plenty of dog amenities, so as long as it’s not peak season, I don’t think you’ll feel too dissatisfied.

The food this time wasn’t very good. Compared to Nasu, it unfortunately falls short, so I’m not sure if I would use this location again.
But the Shinano Railway is wonderful!