1Atelier de Fromage Karuizawa Pizzeria

Atelier de Fromage started making cheese in Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture in 1982 with the idea of making Camembert. Even now, more than 30 years later, they still make around 20 kinds of cheese in their workshop using raw milk from cows and goats raised on their own farm.

At Karuizawa Pizzeria, the crispy oven-baked pizzas, which use plenty of cheese, are very popular. The course set, which allows you to choose one dish each from salad, pizza, baked curry, or pasta, is a great deal. Homemade cheese is used generously in every dish, so you can enjoy cheese to your heart's content.

The charm of cheese in various styles

One of the specialties of "Karuizawa Pizzeria" is cheese fondue. This Swiss dish, which combines hot cheese with bread, sausage, potatoes, etc., goes well with the atmosphere of Karuizawa. There is a wide variety of options, including "Karuizawa Cheese Aging Center Fondue" and "Super Gold Award-winning Blue Cheese Fondue." There are also other dishes, such as "Grilled Cheese Curry," which allows you to enjoy the deliciousness of cheese in various styles, making it an irresistible menu for cheese lovers.

Atelier de Fromage Karuizawa Pizzeria

• http://www.a-fromage.co.jp/archives/shop/pizzaria/
• 22-1 Karuizawa Higashi, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 6 minutes walk from Karuizawa Station
• 11:30-15:00 (LO) 17:00-20:00 (LO)
  * May vary depending on the season
• Wednesdays and Thursdays (subject to change)
• 0267-42-0601
• None

2Fressgasse

Karuizawa is home to many shops selling handmade ham and sausages, but this family-run shop has been preserving the flavor loved by locals for over 30 years. The popular ham steak is luxuriously large and thick. Finished with butter and white wine, it is juicy and goes well with rice. It is typically eaten with rice mixed with glutinous barley and miso soup.
The dish is accompanied by large cut vegetables, which are served with a homemade miso paste so that tourists can fully enjoy the sweetness and freshness of the delicious local vegetables.

A homely, warm set meal

The store is located in a house within walking distance of Karuizawa Station. There is a smokehouse at the back where all the hams, sausages, etc. are made. All of them have a very gentle smoked aroma and you can feel the deliciousness of the meat itself.
In addition to smoked food, the restaurant also offers set meals with meat dishes such as ginger pork and piccata, making it a place that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

Fressgasse

• http://www.karuizawa-on.com/fress-gasse/
• 29-15 Karuizawa Higashi, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• 3 minutes walk from the north exit of Karuizawa Station
• Monday and Tuesday: 11:00-LO 13:30, 17:00-LO 20:00
  Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 10:00-14:00 (last orders), 17:00-20:00 (last orders)
• Wednesday and Thursday
• 0267-42-8169
• None

3Karuizawa Kawakamian

A soba restaurant with a high-quality atmosphere located at the Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza rotary.
Karuizawa has long been known as a place with many delicious soba restaurants. One reason for the deliciousness of soba is that buckwheat seeds can be grown in Shinshu, but the abundance of clean water is also one of the reasons. In addition to the buckwheat seeds and water being key to the flavor, the water used at key points such as kneading, boiling, rinsing and rinsing in cold water is also very important.

The buckwheat is selected according to the season and is ground every morning in a workshop in Karuizawa. Freshly ground, kneaded, and boiled, the buckwheat has a rich aroma and a sweet taste. The slightly thicker buckwheat is chewy, has sharp edges, and is easy to swallow.
The soup is made from kelp and bonito flakes, and the mirin and soy sauce are specially selected for this soba.

Enjoy soba on the breezy terrace

The terrace is surrounded by greenery and is spacious and well ventilated, and the high-ceilinged interior is decorated with paintings and utensils, making it an artsy place to visit. Although it is close to the hustle and bustle of Old Karuizawa, it is a quiet, secluded place to relax.

Karuizawa Kawakamian Main Store

• https://www.kawakamian.com/shops/karuizawa.php
• 6-10 Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Right next to the bus stop "Kyu-Karuizawa"
• 11:00-22:00 (last orders 21:00) *May vary seasonally
• none
• 0267-42-0009
• None * After 17:00, nearby Parking are available

4Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura Kyu-Karuizawa

The calzone pizza, available only at the Kyu-Karuizawa store, is delicious

This extremely popular bakery and Restaurant has three locations in the Karuizawa area, including a roastery. The recommended dish is the "Calzone Pizza," which is only available at lunchtime. The pizza is made by wrapping ingredients in pizza dough and baking it, and the only place you can try it out of all the Sawamura stores is the Kyu-Karuizawa store. The "SAWAMURA Special Bolognese Sauce" is a masterpiece that combines tomato sauce infused with the flavor of Japanese beef and mozzarella cheese. If the weather is nice, you can enjoy it on the terrace with a glass of wine.

Homemade bread baked using four types of homemade yeast is also available for purchase.

Besides the calzone pizza, the "SAWAMURA Special Hamburger" is also popular. The hamburger is made with a chewy homemade bun and a juicy patty made from 100% ground beef, making it very filling. It goes great with a cold beer.

The shop also sells take-out bread. The homemade bread, made using more than 30 types of wheat carefully selected from Japan and overseas and baked with four types of homemade yeast, is a popular Karuizawa souvenir.

Bakery & Restaurant Sawamura Kyu-Karuizawa

• https://b-sawamura.com/shop/28/
• 12-18 Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 20 minutes walk from JR Karuizawa Station
• From JR Karuizawa Station, take the Seibu Tourist Bus bound for "Kusatsu hot spring" for about 2 minutes, then get off at "Kyu-Karuizawa" and walk for 2 minutes
• Restaurant 7:00-22:00 (last orders 21:00)
  Bakery: 7:00 - 21:00
  *From December to February, opening hours are from 8:00
• Open daily
• 0267-41-3777
• free

5Modesto

A stylish restaurant in a detached house nestled in the forest. The chef, who was born in Ueda City and trained at famous Restaurant in Italy and Tokyo, has been familiar with Shinshu vegetables since he was a child, and every morning he uses vegetables selected at farmers' markets and direct from farmers' farms for the day's lunch.

Freshly picked vegetables not only have a strong taste and aroma, but also have vibrant colors, allowing you to enjoy the individuality of each vegetable. Bagna Cauda, which can be eaten simply and almost raw, is a dish that many people order every time they visit. There are many vegetables unique to Shinshu, such as wild vegetables in spring. Asparagus is not only green, but also purple, and carrots are small and sweet.

Freshly picked vegetables can be used in salads, of course, or pureed and used as sauces for main dishes, allowing you to enjoy Shinshu vegetables in a variety of dishes.

A luxurious lunch in the woods

Despite its easy Direction, it is located in a quiet villa area surrounded by forest and within walking distance of the Hoshino area. You can spend your time surrounded by elegant interiors that are also popular for wedding parties.
Lunch requires a reservation and is accepted for two or more people.

Modesto

• http://www.modesto.jp/
• 3430-5 Hirano, Nagakura, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• 3 minutes by car from Nakakaruizawa Station on the Shinano Railway
• 12:00～13:15（L.O.）、17:30～20:15（L.O.）
• Wednesdays *Other temporary closures may occur *Irregular closures during winter
• 050-1721-4330（予約専用）
• free

6Sonmin-Shokudo

Located next to "Hoshino hot spring Tombo no Yu" in the Hoshino area, this casual dining restaurant offers set meals and a la carte dishes. The restaurant's name comes from the fact that novelist Tatsuo Hori described Karuizawa as a "beautiful village" in one of his works.
"Sonmin-Shokudo" offers a menu of dishes that are adaptations of Shinshu's local cuisine. The seasonal menu, such as wild vegetables in spring and mushrooms in autumn, is also very popular.

Adapted local dishes are also a specialty

Meanwhile, the ever-popular local dish of the Chushin region, "Sanzoku-yaki," is an original dish that can only be enjoyed at "Sonmin-Shokudo Shokudo," which is marinated in "Shinshu apple miso" and then deep-fried. The combination of the local flavors of miso and apples creates a deep, rich flavor. There is also a wide selection of local sake and craft beer.

Sonmin-Shokudo

• https://www.hoshino-area.jp/sonmin-shokudo/
• Hoshino Area MAP, Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture
• 15 minutes by car from Karuizawa Station
• 11:30-21:30 (last orders 20:30) *May vary depending on the season
• Open daily
• 0267-44-3571
• Paid parking: 250 cars

7Sajilo Cafe Linden

This cafe is run by an owner who is passionate about Nepalese spice cuisine. The cafe serves spice dishes and curries in a unique atmosphere created by the comfortable interior and tableware.
You can choose from four types of curry for lunch. The most popular is butter chicken. The roux, made from thoroughly fried onions and tomatoes, contains 18 types of spices. It is rich and thick with a mild spiciness, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to the elderly.
The small side dishes that come with the curry are popular and are simple dishes that combine local vegetables and spices.

A wide variety of spice-based desserts

Sajiro Cafe Linden also has a wide selection of desserts on the menu. Their cheesecake is made with fenugreek seeds (a spice from the legume family), which have a maple syrup-like aroma and a slightly bitter taste.

The cafe also has a lifestyle shop attached to it, which sells spices that you'll want to display in your kitchen, plates and cutlery that are actually used in the store, and linens that are handmade in Nepal.

Sajilo Cafe Linden

• http://sajilocafe.jp/
• Hoshino Resorts Harunire Terrace Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• 15 minutes by car from Karuizawa Station
• 11:00～21:00（L.O.20:00）
• Open daily
• 0267-46-8191
• Free (located within the Hoshino area) *Charged on certain days

8Chinese Home Cooking Kisurin

This authentic Sichuan restaurant has been popular since Harunire Terrace opened.You can watch the cooking process from the counter, giving you a lively experience.
The specialty is "KisurinDandan noodles. Thin, chewy noodles and a rich sesame soup are its characteristics. Topped with plenty of bean sprouts and Chinese chives, you can eat a lot of vegetables.

Authentic Sichuan refreshing spiciness

Another popular menu item is mapo tofu. They value the authentic taste so much that employees take turns going to Sichuan for training once a year. Mapo tofu is a prime example of this, and is made with homemade chili oil and green Japanese pepper as a finishing touch, making it spicy but refreshing. The aroma is gorgeous and addictive. The tofu also has a strong soy flavor and elasticity that stands up to the spiciness, making it stand out.

9Jinenya Karuizawa Bypass Store

This long-established organic and macrobiotic Restaurant has been run by a husband and wife since before the word "organic" became widespread. The menu features ingredients marked to identify those with various allergies and preferences, allowing customers to choose from them.

The "Vegan Katsu Curry" is a popular lunch choice for both children and adults. The main dish is a vegetarian cutlet made with gluten meat, and the accompanying vegetables are also very filling. The curry roux is also filled with beans, giving it a fluffy sweetness. This curry allows you to consume 350g of vegetables in one meal, making it a very satisfying curry.

Organic ingredients and goods available at the shop

The vegetables are delivered from organic farms all over the country. Thanks to their long-standing relationships, they are able to gather the best vegetables, all of which have a strong flavor. The brown rice, cooked soft and chewy in a pressure cooker, is delicious and popular even with people who don't like brown rice. They also offer special menu items, such as luxurious trays and bento boxes with colorful handmade small dishes, and vegetable box sushi.

There is an organic shop at the back of the store. Not only do they sell the vegetables used in Restaurant, but they also sell organic seasonings, cosmetics, and daily necessities, so you can shop while you wait for your food. You can also just come in to shop.

Jinenya Karuizawa Bypass Store

• http://jinenya.wixsite.com/jinenyakaruizawa/
• 2733-1 Nagakura, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• 3 minutes by car from Nakakaruizawa Station
• 10:00～20:00（L.O.19:00）
• Thursday
• 0267-46-2476
• free

10Karuizawa Japanese Cuisine Oshima

This is one of the few authentic Japanese restaurants in Karuizawa, run by a chef who has trained at luxury inns in Tokyo and Hakone. In the evening, they offer a selection of omakase courses ranging from 8,850 yen to 13,500 yen, but for lunch you can enjoy a set meal that brings together the essence of the dishes.

For example, the rice changes with the seasons, and in spring it is "chirashi sushi." Fresh sashimi mainly comes from the Sea of Japan, and takiawase (a stew) with plenty of high-quality dashi is served in beautiful dishes selected by the owner.

Surrounded by authentic beauty

The food is traditional Japanese, but the building is modern. The exterior looks like a villa when seen from the bypass. At lunch, you can spend a relaxing and luxurious time in the sunlight pouring in while looking at the borrowed garden scenery. There is also a private room for eight people, and surrounded by high-quality tableware and furnishings, this is a recommended restaurant to make a reservation at if you are visiting Karuizawa on a special occasion such as an engagement ceremony or birthday.

Karuizawa Japanese Cuisine Oshima

• 646-1 Nagakura, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• 10 minutes by car from the South Exit of Karuizawa Station
• 12:00-13:30 (last entry), 18:00-20:00 (last entry)
• Tuesdays (Some irregular holidays)
• 080-4345-2009
• free
• Reservations required / No lunch menu available during peak season

11Sakura

Enjoy fragrant homemade soba noodles at a reasonable price

This soba restaurant is located in a detached house along the old Nakasendo road in the Oiwake area. It is popular among locals for its reasonable prices. The recommended dish is the "Soba Sanmi" served in a zaru (bathtub). You can enjoy the fragrant soba noodles made from homemade flour in three types of sauce: homemade walnut sauce, grated yam, and regular zaru tsuyu. First, try the standard zaru tsuyu, then move on to the walnut sauce. It is recommended to mix the grated yam with the zaru tsuyu. The "mini tempura bowl" is a popular side dish. It is topped with kakiage-style tempura and two shrimp tempura, and is more filling than it looks.

Enjoy local Shinshu sake with a la carte dishes made with local ingredients

The bright sunlight pours into the restaurant, creating a somewhat homey atmosphere. You'll feel like you're visiting the countryside of Shinshu. Menu items such as vegetable tempura and seasonal wild vegetable ohitashi use local ingredients as much as possible. For example, Soba Sanmi's tororo is made with yam from the nearby town of Matsushiro during the season starting in November.

They also have a selection of local Shinshu sake, such as "Mizunoo" and "Sakunohana," so you can enjoy soba and sake for lunch. They also have a wide selection of a la carte dishes, such as tempura platters and buckwheat croquettes.

Sakura

• https://x.com/sasakura_soba
• 655-3 Oiwake, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 20 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station
  25 minutes walk from Shinano Oiwake Station on the Shinano Railway
• From Shinano Oiwake Station on the Shinano Railway, take the Karuizawa Town Circulator Bus (West Course) bound for Mitsuishi Community Center. It is about a 10-minute ride and a short walk from Oiwake Shoshinbashi.
• 11:30〜15:30
• Tuesdays and other temporary closures *Irregular closures during winter
• 0267-46-5577
• free

12Iibashi Residence

Authentic Italian cuisine with a la carte menu available day and night

This Restaurant in the Oiwake area offers authentic Italian cuisine in a casual atmosphere. It opened in January 2024 and quickly gained attention. The menu is the same for lunch and dinner, and the majority of orders are made a la carte. The recommended way to enjoy the restaurant is to order a total of 4-6 dishes, from appetizers to pasta for the primo piatto (first course) and meat or fish main course for the secondo piatto (second course), and share them with 2-3 people. Italian wine pairings are also available. If it's your first time visiting, you might want to order the 11,000 yen course.

Enjoy a luxurious lunch at a mansion designed by Junzo Sakakura, a master of modern architecture

The stately building was originally designed by architect Junzo Sakakura and was relocated to Karuizawa from Todoroki, Setagaya. The site was taken over by Domaine de Mikuni, designed by Kiyomi Mikuni, when the latter left Karuizawa. It is located in a section of a complex of seven villas, and has a large courtyard. You can enjoy dishes made with seasonal ingredients while feeling the four seasons of Karuizawa. Order two or three a la carte dishes and wine per person and the budget will be around 10,000 to 15,000 yen per person. It is recommended for those who want a slightly luxurious lunch.

Iibashi Residence

• https://www.instagram.com/iihashitei_karuizawa
• 46-13 Oiwake, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 20 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station
• Lunch: 11:30-13:00 (last order), Dinner: 18:00-22:00 (last order)
• Tuesdays, irregular holidays
• 080-3752-1184
• free
• If you wish to bring children, please make a reservation by phone.

13River fish cuisine Yusuge

Serves local river fish dishes such as sweetfish, char, and Shinshu salmon

Located between Nakakaruizawa and Shinano Oiwake, this restaurant serves lunch made with ingredients from Shinshu. You can enjoy river fish dishes with connections to Nagano Prefecture, such as sweetfish, iwana, snow trout, and Shinshu salmon. The "daily set menu" is popular at lunchtime, and on the day we visited, it was Shinshu salmon and avocado rice bowl. Shinshu salmon has little fat and a refreshing taste, which goes perfectly with avocado. It also comes with homemade soba noodles, making it a very filling meal. They also offer set meals made with wild sweetfish and iwana.

Enjoy seasonal delicacies in a relaxing atmosphere

The restaurant also has tatami seating, creating a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy your meal. People who are visiting on holiday often order local Shinshu sake starting at lunchtime. There is also a wide selection of a la carte dishes, including local delicacies such as "salt-grilled wild sweetfish (seasonal)," "whole-sized rock trout sashimi," "washed Saku carp," and "fried minnow." River fish are taken straight from the tank and cooked for you when you order. "Unagi-ju" (grilled eel on rice) is also popular, and you can also order white-grilled eel. From October every year onwards, they also offer "sashimi eel" in limited quantities.

Yusuge

• https://www.instagram.com/yuusuge1963
• Nagano Prefecture, Kitasaku District, Karuizawa Town, Nagakura Furusato 4404-3 MAP
• Approximately 20 minutes walk from Nakakaruizawa Station on the Shinano Railway
  Approximately 15 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station
• 11:30〜14:00、17:00〜20:00
• Irregular holidays
• 0267-45-5378
• free