子羊のローストにサンテミリオン、いけてますよ。 : Hotel du Karuizawa Wald

First of all, the exterior is charming. As you approach by car, the green walls peek through the trees. The parking lot is across the road, but there is a space right in front of the entrance, which is convenient for loading and unloading luggage. Inside, there are plenty of arranged flowers with a European flair. Right at the entrance is the dining area, complete with a fireplace and sofas, making it feel like a large living-dining room.

You can help yourself to water, coffee, and tea at any time.

Our room was a two-room suite on the first floor, each with two beds, a refrigerator, a desk, a TV, and a unit bath and toilet. Each room had different fabrics, which I thought was quite detailed. I'm not sure about the overall size, but our rooms felt a bit small. However, if we wanted to relax, we could go to the living-dining area, where there’s a sofa by the fireplace. While sitting there, the owner came by to stoke the fire for us.

The atmosphere was very calming, and it was quite relaxing. The room was just the right size for lying on the bed and chatting.

The meals included dinner and breakfast. For dinner, water is self-serve, while everything else is served to you. The meal featured a lot of vegetables and was quite healthy; the salad was delicious. The main dishes were pan-seared sea bass and roasted lamb, both bursting with flavor and delicious. The roasted lamb paired with Saint-Émilion was quite impressive. The all-you-can-eat bread was also tasty! I suspect it was flavored with olive oil and salt, but it was great even without any spread, or with sauce added.

The portions were not overly large, just the right amount to enjoy wine and other beverages. The owner and staff were friendly and created a warm atmosphere. They even provided a birthday cake with three candles, delivering plenty of service.

The owner's cello performance after dinner was touching. The sound of the instrument heard live at such close distance was powerful. I wonder if the Emperor and Empress, who stopped by for tea, also listened to it (there's a photo of them in the living room, and the owner and everyone looks young).

The next morning, we strolled around the garden. It wasn’t a perfectly manicured garden, but rather a natural setting with various blooming flowers, which was delightful.

This time, my wife chose this place. It’s a serene little European-style hotel; I’ve been around for a long time, but this was my first stay. It’s lovely here. It's also convenient since both Old Karuizawa Ginza and the Prince Outlet are within walking distance.

Thank you for a wonderful meal! (smile)