1Maruyama Coffee Harunire Terrace

Karuizawa is home to many cafes and coffee shops, and perhaps because of its delicious water, it has developed a high-level coffee culture. Among the many coffee lovers who gather here, Maruyama Coffee is one that has been highly regarded and has led the world in this field.
Currently, there are 12 stores nationwide, including the main store in Karuizawa, but the Harunire Terrace store in the Hoshino area opened in 2009. The spacious store also doubles as a bookstore.
You can enjoy the pleasure of reading while sipping coffee in a store that gives off a forest vibe. Aimed at information-conscious customers, the store stocks a wide variety of books, from architecture and art-related books that other bookstores don't carry, to lifestyle and cooking books, and tourist guidebooks.

The spirit of including latte art on takeout orders

The "Harunire Terrace Blend," available only at the Harunire Terrace store, combines the aroma of coffee with a refreshing orange flavor. The aroma is not lost even when milk is added. The dark roasted "Maruyama Coffee Blend" has a simple name, but is popular for its rich chocolate flavor.

In the shop, you can enjoy cappuccinos decorated with latte art such as hearts and tulips, but what's surprising is that even take-out cappuccinos have latte art. The art is drawn one by one on something that you can't see once the lid is closed. It's no wonder that they have so many enthusiastic fans.

Maruyama Coffee Harunire Terrace

• https://www.hoshino-area.jp/harunireterrace/maruyamacoffee/
• Nagano Prefecture, Kitasaku District, Karuizawa Town, Nagakura 2145-5 Karuizawa Hoshino Area "Harunire Terrace" MAP
• Approximately 15 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station, approximately 5 minutes by car from Shinano Railway Nakakaruizawa Station
• From JR Karuizawa Station, take the Seibu Tourist Bus bound for "Hoshino hot spring Tombo no Yu via Kyu-Karuizawa" for about 20 minutes, then get off at "Hoshino hot spring Tombo no Yu" and walk for about 15 minutes.
• 8:00-19:00 (last orders 18:30) (may vary depending on the season)
• Open everyday (may be closed temporarily)
• 0267-31-0553
• Paid (2 hours free for purchases of 2,000 yen or more in the Hoshino area)

2Coffee House Shaker

This hideaway cafe seems to epitomize the best of Karuizawa. It's not a typical tourist spot, and you can enjoy the simple and natural charm of Karuizawa.
The Early American style building is decorated with chic Shaker furniture, which was popular in America in the 18th and 19th centuries, creating a cozy atmosphere.
"I wanted to create a shop that is unique to Karuizawa and not found in Tokyo," says the owner, whose hobby is fly fishing. Stylish clothing and tackle are displayed inside the shop.
He is particularly particular about his coffee, grinding the beans after an order is placed and brewing each cup by hand drip using a copper pot with good thermal conductivity. The beans are an original blend specially ordered from Maruyama Coffee, a long-standing associate of his. You can enjoy your coffee at the counter, the best seat in the cafe.

The hamburger's miso sauce, which is characteristic of Shinshu, is exquisite

The owner is currently focusing on burgers, which are surprisingly tasty and made with lean Australian beef in the patty to accentuate the meaty flavor, sandwiched between buns.
The vegetables used are mainly from Karuizawa, and the miso sauce is homemade to bring out the flavor of Shinshu. This sauce is exquisitely tasty, creating a juicy taste that can only be found here.
Also, the handmade scones, which have been popular since the shop first opened, are a rare menu item, with only five sets baked every morning. Many customers come just for these scones, and they often sell out in the morning.
It's a wonderful cafe that's great to go to with someone special, where the owner personally carefully prepares each and every dish and drink.

Coffee House Shaker

• https://ja-jp.facebook.com/coffeehouse.shaker/
• 3460-16 Nagakura, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• About 10 minutes walk from Nakakaruizawa Station
• 10:00-18:00 (11:00- in winter), 10:00-17:00 and 18:00-23:00 every Monday
• Wednesday
• 0267-45-8573
• free
• Reservations: Reservations are possible during available times

3Rizanbo

Karuizawa was loved by John Lennon of The Beatles. This is a cafe he visited with his family in the summers of 1977 to 1979. He would cycle there for about an hour from the Mampei Hotel where he was staying at the time, and loved to drink the blended coffee and the original "special blueberry juice." Even today, traces of those days remain, and you can sit in the seat at the very back of the terrace overlooking the forest where he sat and Experience the scenery he actually saw.
"Risanbo" is a very famous place among John Lennon fans, and people come from all over the world to visit this cafe.

Homemade cakes are popular

The most popular item is the "Special Blueberry Juice" which has been made using the same recipe for over 40 years. Homemade cakes such as chocolate gateau, lemon cake, and baked cheesecake are available daily.
The "Rizanbo Blend" has a sour taste with little bitterness, and a refreshing richness.
Also popular is Minoriya's Royal Sweet Vanilla ice cream, a favorite of John Lennon and other literary figures at the time.

Rizanbo

• http://www.rizanbou.jp
• 820-96 Nagakura, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• About 25 minutes walk from Nakakaruizawa Station
• 10:00～L.O.16:00
• Wednesdays (may be closed on special days, closed for winter from December to March)
• 0267-46-0184
• free
• Reservations: Not possible

4NAGAKURAYA

A cafe and miscellaneous goods store where you can enjoy the bounty of Shinshu

This is a shop that sells miscellaneous goods and a cafe. We sell craft chocolates, baked goods, drinks, and miscellaneous goods that are made in the store. The cafe focuses on using local and healthy ingredients, and the miscellaneous goods are made with packaging designed by Staff/staff member, and we also create collaborative products that are born from encounters with various people, all of which are original products that can only be found at NAGAKURAYA.

NAGAKURAYA's popular cookie series

The popular cookies come in a variety of flavors, including apple and tea, salt and lemon, Shinshu miso and cheese, butter, and cocoa. The packaging, featuring illustrations of bears and dogs that evoke the shop and Karuizawa, is cute to look at and is recommended for both yourself and as a gift.

NAGAKURAYA

• https://www.nagakuraya.com/
• 333-1 Nagakura, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• From Karuizawa Station, take the Seibu Tourist Bus [Express] Shiozawako Line and get off at "Shiozawa" and walk for about 1 minute
• 10:00-18:00 (last orders for drinks 17:00)
• Hours may change on Sundays and during the summer. *Please check Instagram for detailed opening dates.
• 0267-44-4055
• free
• Baked goods: Available Thursday to Saturday

5Coffee Opera

This is a long-established coffee shop that was founded in 1982. Although it is located in the center of Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza Street, once you step inside the shop, you will be transported to a nostalgic world that makes you feel like you have traveled back in time.
The stately interior of the restaurant, which was relocated from a residence in the upscale residential area of Ashiya, was built in the image of the Tudor style of medieval England. All of the wood used, including the solid board counter, beams and floors of the building, is pine.
Most of the furnishings, including the stained glass, are antiques. The blue tablecloths have been used since the restaurant first opened, giving it a retro feel. You can enjoy a sense of authentic grandeur that is hard to find these days.

Hand-drip coffee served in a pot

The coffee, hand-dripped by the master with 40 years of experience, is exquisite. He uses French roasted Brazilian beans, and you can enjoy the bitter yet sweet taste.
The most recommended coffee is the "Classical Opera Blend Coffee" served in a Royal Copenhagen pot. It is a luxurious coffee. On the other hand, the specialty coffee is served in a cup, and has a mild acidity and a soft taste.
They also have a wide variety of cakes, all homemade, that go perfectly with coffee.

Coffee Opera

• http://www.ikg.co.jp/group/cafe.html
• 12-7 Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• About 20 minutes walk from Karuizawa Station
• From Karuizawa Station, take the town circular bus heading east or south (inner loop) and get off at "Kyu-Karuizawa"
• 10:00～18:00
• No holidays (April to November), other than that irregular holidays
• 0267-42-7833
• None
• Reservations: Available
  
  

6Cafe Raffine

This impressive café features a brick building and a beautiful moss-covered garden. It is located in a wooded area rich in nature, and is home to wild birds such as great tits and woodpeckers, as well as squirrels and the occasional flying squirrel.
It is a beautiful place where new greenery sprouts in early summer and the leaves turn bright red in autumn. You can enjoy the atmosphere of good old Karuizawa.
Opened in 1987 (Showa 62). The interior of the shop is decorated in an Art Nouveau style, and the rich aroma of coffee fills the air. The beans used are aged old beans from "Coctail Do". After receiving an order, the owner grinds the beans and drips them into a cloth filter for each cup.

Five bananas are used in one whole cake

The busiest time is between 2 and 3 p.m. Sweets to have with coffee are popular. The most popular item is the banana cake, which contains five bananas in one cake.
The lightly sweet and fluffy fresh cream is piled on top in such a generous amount that it's almost too much, and it's delicious. The rum accent makes it a perfect match with strong coffee.
The interior of the shop is dimly lit, giving it an adult atmosphere, but the best part is the terrace seats. Because it is humid, when the mist appears it creates a fantastical view. You can spend a typical Karuizawa cafe time in a moss garden in a forest covered with trees.

Cafe Raffine

• 1663 Roppontsuji, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• About 15 minutes walk from Karuizawa Station
• From Karuizawa Station, take the town circular bus heading east or south (inner loop) and get off at "Roppon-tsuji" and walk for 2 minutes
• 11:00-18:00 (may vary depending on season, weather, and schedule)
• Irregular holidays
• 0267-42-4344
• free
• Reservations: Not possible

7Akaneya Coffee Shop Station Front Branch

This high-end coffee shop in front of Karuizawa Station is easy for women traveling alone to enter. It was opened in 1982 by the previous owner, who founded the shop in Kobe, and is a long-established shop that has been visited by many business leaders and cultural figures.
Classical music plays in the air, and the rich aroma of coffee fills the air. Rows of coffee cups hang above the counter.
The beans are ground after an order is placed, and each cup is hand-dripped before the aroma escapes. The master will choose a cup that suits each customer. You can also choose your favorite cup from the nearly 400 cups available.
The cups are from overseas brands such as Ginori, but most are from Okura Touen, a company famous for its high-quality porcelain. The luxury of drinking from a top-quality cup is something you rarely get to experience.

Only the most delicious things are selected

The coffee beans are from Hagiwara Coffee in Kobe, a pioneer of charcoal roasting. Their original "blended coffee" is brewed using a lot of beans, so you might think it would be rich, but it's actually soft and has no unpleasant flavors, and a clean aftertaste. It's an addictive taste.
The "Grape Juice" is 100% pure grape juice specially ordered from Shinano Wine in Shiojiri. It is not just made by squeezing grapes from Shinshu, but by freezing them once to give it a rich flavor. The grapes used are the same variety that is also used to make wine, so you can enjoy the feeling of drinking a mellow wine.
The food menu consists of only two types of cake, beef curry, and ham sandwiches. As the shop's main focus is coffee, they carefully select only the most delicious items that go well with coffee.

Akaneya Coffee Shop Station Front Branch

• 30-8 Karuizawa Higashi, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• About 3 minutes walk from Karuizawa Station
• 9:00～18:00
• Open year-round without holidays
• 0267-42-5435
• 無料（3台）
• Reservations: Available (private rooms available)

8Cafe Cool Sound

Deep in a villa area, surrounded by the sounds of wild birds, is a cafe that feels like it's in a secluded area, reached by walking along a narrow path through a grove of trees.
This charming building, thought to have been built in the Taisho era, has been designated a national registered tangible cultural property and allows you to fully experience the atmosphere of Karuizawa at that time.
Welcoming you to the cool sound of a bell, you enter a nostalgic space with a Karuizawa carving table from the early Showa period and retro Taisho-era glass in the windows.
The owner recommends the sofa seats by the window, where you can see a variety of wild birds, including great tits and varied tits, visiting the bird feeders, and occasionally squirrels.

Fruity French toast

It opens at 9am every morning. Many people come to eat breakfast from vacation homes or from nearby long-established inns, and it can be full from the morning on holidays. They also offer a wide variety of lunch dishes such as taco rice and pasta, as well as sweets.
The signature dish is "French toast." They only serve 10 servings a day, so they may run out in the morning, but it is popular among women because it has a lot of fruit and looks good. You can also have as many refills of coffee as you like, which is a nice service. You can relax and enjoy a good book.
This area is one of the most humid in Karuizawa and is often shrouded in mist, creating a magical landscape.

Cafe Cool Sound

• http://suzunone.main.jp/
• Nagano Prefecture Kitasaku District Karuizawa Town Old Karuizawa 972 House No. 1138 MAP
• About 30 minutes walk from Karuizawa Station
• From Karuizawa Station, take the town circular bus heading east or south (inner loop) and get off at "Kyu-Karuizawa" and walk for 10 minutes
• 9:00-17:00 (Morning 9:00-11:00, Lunch 11:30-16:30)
• Wednesdays (closed during winter)
• 0267-31-6889
• None
• Reservations: Available

9Cafe Le Petit Ni Trois

This is a relaxing cafe recommended for those who want to enjoy delicious coffee. The coffee beans are roasted in-house, and a fragrant aroma fills the cafe. The popular pancakes are baked on a copper plate, resulting in a beautiful golden brown color. They are served with homemade preserved fruit (strawberries are pictured), butter, and maple syrup.

The famous French toast that you should make a reservation for

Reservations are required for the specialty French toast, as the thickly sliced bread is soaked in egg mixture overnight. It is then slowly cooked in the oven for about 15 minutes, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth bake. It is topped with plenty of cinnamon and powdered sugar, but is also served with maple syrup and apple preserves.

Quiet time surrounded by antique furniture

Originally a popular cafe in Mejiro, Tokyo, it moved to Karuizawa in 2009. It is a high-quality space surrounded by antique furniture and miscellaneous goods collected by the owner as a hobby, with jazz music playing in the background. The coffee is roasted in the bay window space of the shop and carefully drip-brewed one cup at a time. You can enjoy a rich cafe time with homemade cakes.

Cafe Le Petit Ni Trois

• https://karuizawa.themedia.jp/
• 1398-457 Hatchi, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• 6 minutes by car from Karuizawa Station
• 12:00〜17:00
• Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
• 0267-48-3334
• free