LIFE

2025.09.24

A somewhat luxurious stay at the latest staycation "Hotel Indigo Karuizawa"

I stayed in Karuizawa with my family over the weekend. This is a record of my stay filled with tranquility and richness at Hotel Indigo Karuizawa.

Surrendering to the tranquil Karuizawa, a somewhat luxurious way to spend a holiday

Loading luggage into the car and heading to Karuizawa. As we drive along the highway, the cityscape transforms into mountains and lush greenery filling the windows, creating an uplifting feeling as we approach a different world, just a few hours from the metropolis.

Karuizawa is a summer resort discovered for its charm by foreign missionaries during the Meiji period, attracting members of the royal family and cultural figures. In this place that continues to inspire artists and intellectuals, I decided to spend the weekend with my family to align our minds and bodies.

To the hotel where a giant, sculpture-like fireplace awaits us

Hotel Indigo Karuizawa provided.

The accommodation was decided to be Hotel Indigo Karuizawa, located about 3 km by car from Karuizawa Station.

Upon arriving at the hotel, the first thing that spreads out before you is the dynamic entrance featuring wood materials. The large overhanging eaves and beams stretching toward the sky are impressive, and they exude a stately presence while harmonizing with the blue sky and green trees behind them.

Entering the building, you are enveloped by light pouring in from the high ceilings and large windows, making you want to pause and take it all in. In the center, there is a large fireplace. Although the fireplace wasn't lit, just its size and the scent of the wood stimulate the imagination of what a winter night spent here would be like.

The children exclaimed, "It's so big!" while gazing up at the atrium, and my husband settled into a sofa, saying, "It's so relaxing." The entire family took a deep breath, wrapped in the scent of wood.

Provided by Hotel Indigo Karuizawa.

On the bookshelf in the lobby lounge, there are books selected by the concierge from Daikanyama Tsutaya Bookstore. Among many related to art and travel, it was surprising to see a book that caught the children's interest, saying, "This looks like a picture book." Even the books for adults felt like they could be enjoyable for the whole family when viewed from a different perspective.

The large fireplace visible through the bookshelf is luxurious even when unlit. It created a space of intellectual relaxation.

Art and furniture that evoke the essence of Karuizawa are present in the room.

This time, I stayed in a standard type room. The first thing that caught my eye when I entered the room was the art themed around Karuizawa. The colors strangely linked with the forest outside the window, making me think, "So you can feel Karuizawa even while inside the room." The furniture was simple, making use of the texture of the wood, with no unnecessary decorations, allowing for a more calming stay.

At night, we turned down the lights and spent a relaxing time. After the children fell asleep, the time spent whispering with my husband felt special. The comfort of being enveloped in a tranquility not found in the city is perhaps unique to Karuizawa.

The open-air bath and sauna in the large public bath were extremely luxurious.

Provided by Hotel Indigo Karuizawa.

In the afternoon, I decided to try the large public bath. When I soaked in the open-air bath, it was "silent"! Normally, there are sounds of cars or people coming from somewhere, but here, there was only the sound of my own breathing and the water gently swaying, making the open-air bath feel truly luxurious.

Provided by Hotel Indigo Karuizawa.

The sauna and cold bath, separated from the outside world, were enveloped in tranquility.

It was a strange experience to feel like "I can try again" when entering the cold bath from the sauna. Perhaps as I alternated between heat and cold, my body's senses became sharpened. The pounding of my heart and my breathing felt vivid, and I think I felt that way as I faced only my inner self.

The casual warmth of wood gives a sense of being in nature.

As I walked through the hotel, the warmth of wood was felt everywhere. I heard from the hotel staff that "about 80% of the building's wood materials are thinned timber from Nagano Prefecture, and a special construction method is used," which shows consideration not only for warmth but also for sustainability.

Provided by Hotel Indigo Karuizawa.

It was also impressive that the children were taking deep breaths, saying "It smells like wood." The wavering wood grain and warm colors visible to the eye create a sensation as if you are in nature while being in the hotel.

A recommended experience is the firewood time in the courtyard.

The expansive grounds have the lobby, guest room buildings, restaurants, and large public baths scattered about, all connected by covered walkways.

After refreshing myself in the large public bath, I went to the courtyard while it was still early in the day. The hotel is designed so that you can feel the outside air every time you move within the building, and at its center is the courtyard's forest garden.

Here, a collaboration with the French historic champagne house "Veuve Clicquot" was taking place. (Limited until October 31) The flicker of the fire, an experience that's hard to find in the city unless you go camping, was surprisingly available in the hotel courtyard.

When I visited again after it got dark, there was the fire right in front of me. Sitting close by, I could feel the warmth gently radiating. Next to me, my son was diligently chasing a cricket. The sound of insects heralding the arrival of autumn and the crackling of the fire intertwined, creating a time that felt like being in nature even while in the hotel. There is a pleasantness in sharing the same space while each family member spends their time in their own way.

A memorable Karuizawa lunch in the dining room

provided by Hotel Indigo Karuizawa.

The next day, after checking out, the last stop was the all-day dining "KAGARIBI" within the hotel. It is a restaurant where you can enjoy Italian cuisine cooked over a wood fire, and it can be used for lunch even if you are not a guest. The interior, which feels warm with wood, has spacious table seats, making it comfortable for families to spend time together.

What I chose was the "LUNCH 4 COURSE." The first dish was carpaccio with the refreshing tang of citrus. It is served with colorful vegetables, stimulating the appetite from the moment it touches the palate.

What followed was penne Bolognese made with Shinshu beef. The rich sauce combined with the savory aroma of the wood fire created a simple yet profound taste.

The main dish is fresh fish nicely grilled over a wood fire. The outside is flavorful and crispy, while the inside is moist, and with each bite, you can feel the power unique to wood-fired cooking.

And to conclude, we have tiramisu where bitterness and sweetness beautifully intertwine. Enjoying this dessert while reminiscing about the time spent in Karuizawa deepened the aftertaste even more.

Paired with the meal, there's a locally crafted beer. Its crisp finish is pleasant and pairs excellently with the wood-fired dishes. Each time I tilted my glass, it felt like I was tasting the clear air of Karuizawa along with it.

The children ordered “homemade spaghetti with Shinshu pork sausage” and “Margherita.” Their appetites were particularly hearty, and they finished everything with smiles on their faces.

It wasn't just the deliciousness of the food; the calm ambiance that allowed for relaxed conversations was also exceptional. While sharing stories about our travels, it became a time where the whole family could enjoy ourselves with smiles until the end. Sharing dishes arranged on the table and enjoying beer in hand created a table where both adults and children could be satisfied, making the happiness of the journey even more certain.

A weekend where I was able to regain my personal time at a hotel where I can quietly experience Karuizawa

My stay at Hotel Indigo Karuizawa wasn't a journey to tour tourist spots, but the moment I took a deep breath in the lobby, the tranquility of the open-air bath, and the time spent around the bonfire in the courtyard—all of these left a delightful impression.

Moreover, I believe what brought me the greatest joy was the sharpening of my senses.

Each moment overlapped, and even though it was a short weekend, it left space in my heart. This experience spent with my family lightened my spirit and has become the energy to start a new week smoothly after returning to daily life.

Hotel Indigo Karuizawa
Location: 18-39 Yashikizo, Nagakura, Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture
Phone: HG-ANA Call Center: 0120-056-658
Phone: Hotel General: 0267-42-1100

Written by: SYURI