The 10 Best Places to Eat in Karuizawa, Japan

Karuizawa in the Nagano prefecture which is not far from Tokyo is a popular spot as a holiday destination. There are a few famous sightseeing facilities such as the Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski- slope, Hoshino hot-spring and Shiraito waterfall. There may be many people who have been planning the trip to Karuizawa, I wonder. I’m introducing the 10 recommended gourmets which you shouldn’t miss tasting in Karuizawa.

1. Depending on a shop, their elaborations are different [Shinshu soba]

When you have a meal in Karuizawa in the Nagano prefecture, you can’t ignore the [Shinshu soba (buckwheat noodles)]. Depending on a shop, they are differently particular about the broth stock made from dried bonito shavings and the flavour. It may be interesting to have an eating comparison.

An especially recommended [Shinshu soba] shop is the [Kagimotoya] which is a 2-minute-walk from the Naka-karuizawa station. It is a long-established soba-noodle shop which started its business in the 3rd year of Meiji (1870). The set-menu is ¥1,750 and the single dish is ¥1,000. In spite of the authentic Shinshu soba, the prices are very reasonable. When you visit Karuizawa, please sample them!

2. The seasoning which goes very well with all dishes! The dish which I’d like you to taste in Karuizawa [Shinshu miso (soybean paste)]

You can’t be trifling with the [Shinshu miso] as a seasoning. The miso is something that we, Japanese can’t live without, especially for people who like a Japanese-styled breakfast. It is not separable from our daily lives. That’s why miso is a very important seasoning. In Shinshu, you can taste the elaborate one.

I’d like to introduce the [Restaurant Suju Masayuki]. You can enjoy the miso-katsu-don (¥1,330) (rice topped with the pork cutlet in a bowl), using the Shinshu miso at this restaurant which is a 20-minute-walk from the Karuizawa station. They use the [Restaurant Suju Masayuki]’s special Shinshu miso. You can’t ignore it once you visit Karuizawa.

3. If you sometimes want to eat something refreshing, this gourmet is for you! [Nozawana]

Don’t forget the [Nozawana] as a local gourmet in Karuizawa! The deep-fried nozawana is delicious, but the pickled nozawana is also excellent just like a very Japanese person likes it.

You can buy the pickled nozawana at the [Tsuruya]. They have been selling their original goods as well, so please drop in at this shop when you visit Karuizawa. They have the eat-in corner and the home delivery service. Please buy some of them as your souvenirs!

4. You only can eat it in Shinshu! The gourmet which you should challenge in Karuizawa [Inago-no-tsukudani] (grasshoppers cooked in soy-sauce)

When you hear of Nagano, you may recognise it, but you might not have tried it yet, that’s the [Inago-no-tsukudani]. You might have already known what it is, but [Inago-no-tsukudani] is preserved grasshoppers boiled in soy-sauce and sugar. The original shape as an insect is still there, so you may need to be brave to eat it for the first time. But the crispy texture and sweet and salty flavour is much tastier than you would expect!

The recommended shop is the [Honjin Soba-ten] which is a 1-minute-walk from the Karuizawa station on the JR Hokuriku Bullet-train-line. You can buy the [Inago-no-tsukudani] for ¥500. As it is very close to the station, why don’t you drop in at the shop on your way back home?

5. If you are an edible wild plants lover, you shouldn’t miss eating them at their best season![Koshiabura]

The [Koshiabura] is an edible wild plant just like a tara-no-me (aralia sprout) and udo (plant of the ginseng family). They are growing wild all over Japan, but here, in the Nagano prefecture, they are familiar ingredients for the locals. Their best season is from spring to early summer. People eat them as tempura or boiled Koshiabura salad.

You can taste the superb cuisine of the [Koshiabura] at the [Sansui] in Karuizawa. You can enjoy the tempura of [Koshiabura] as a seasonal limited gourmet for ¥580. You can also enjoy the tempura of aralia sprout (¥850) and giant butterbur (¥580). I recommend that you should visit this restaurant just once.

6. The brand of beef with the registered trademark reared with apples in the Nagano prefecture [Shinshu-beef]

The [Shinshu-beef] has sprung into fame by the catch phrase, “Shinshu-beef reared with apples”. Among many brands of beef, such as the Matsusaka-beef and Kobe-beef, the Shinshu-beef has been keeping up with them. The producers reared the Shinshu cattle in their elaborate manner. When you visit the Nagano prefecture, please sample some of it.

You can taste the excellent Shinshu-beef at the Italian restaurant, [Magicamente Bivacco] in Karuizawa. You can eat the casual-styled Italian cuisine using the Shinshu local ingredients in particular. Even the wheat flour they use is the one produced in Shinshu district. Please have a meal here.

7. It suits eating while walking, feeling Karuizawa in the Shinshu district [Goheimochi]

The [Goheimochi] is a local food in the Aichi and the Shizuoka prefectures, including the Nagano prefecture. Put the boiled rice into the oval shape on the slender plate and coat it with the miso dipping sauce and then grill it. That’s the [Goheimochi].

As a few of them are skewered, you can hold the skewer by hand, so it is very convenient to eat while you are taking a walk. You can buy them at various places, but if you buy one at the [Shiraito-no-taki kiosk], you can taste it, viewing and feeling the nature. It is very refreshing. At this shop, you can sample tofu, oyaki (roasted dumpling) and iwana (char) apart from the [Goheimochi]. Please enjoy it together with the sightseeing spots in Karuizawa.

8. The attractive wide variety of the local food in the Nagano prefecture [Sasa-sushi]

The [Sasa-sushi] is one of the local dishes in the Nagano prefecture. It has a wide variety, such as nozawana, (turnip greens) carrot and abura-age (deep fried tofu). The taste differs depending on one’s area or family, so you can enjoy your favourite.

You can taste the unique [Sasa-sushi] using Japanese beef as an ingredient at the [Nagakura]. As you can take it away, it is suitable for a souvenir, but they have a home delivery service. You can enjoy it at home. When you want to eat it at the eat-in corner, they can offer the [Sasa-sushi] set menu using the Shinshu premium beef. Please enjoy it!

9. The fatty state is totally different! Appreciate and enjoy the exquisite gourmet in Karuizawa [Basashi] (horse meat sashimi)

Nowadays, you can eat [Basashi] all over Japan at general taverns, but the Basashi in the Nagano prefecture is one of their local dishes and is especially delicious. Not too much and not too little, thewell balanced fat is superb.

I’d recommend the [Shunka] which is a 5-minute-walk from the Miyota station on the Shinano-tetsudo-line. It is a tavern, but they are clever with the local ingredients and have the tonkatsu (pork cutlet) (¥800), gyoza (¥450) which will please children. You can enjoy it with your family. The most precious basashi is ¥980 and they have basashi-yukhoe (Korean dish of seasoned raw beef topped with an egg yolk) (¥800) as well. It is a superb gourmet which you should eat at least once.

10. The typical local dish in the Shinshu district [Sanzoku-yaki]

Do you know a dish called [Sanzoku-yaki]? It is one of the local dishes in the Shinshu district and is definitely a soul-food. It is called [–yaki] (grilled) but it is a deep fried dish. I’d like you taste it when you visit the Nagano prefecture. There is a restaurant where you can taste the [Sanzoku-yaki] in a refined manner.

At the [Haretasora-no-terrace] in the Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza, you can have the buffet-styled dinner with the main dish for ¥3,000. Among the main dishes, you can choose the [Shinshu-meibutsu Fukumidori-no Sanzokuage]. Here, it is clearly described, using “—age” (deep-fried), so it is easier to understand, isn’t it? This restaurant offers other dishes such as the [Haretasora-no special hamburger with mozzarella cheese], the [Genghis Khan of Venison produced in the Minami-Shinshu] and the [Assorted grilled chicken skewers] which are all distinctive of the Shinshu district. Please enjoy the dish and yourself.

Let’s eat the delicious gourmets in Karuizawa!

Have you found it interesting? I’ve featured the gourmets in Karuizawa. Have you found your favourite food? Karuizawa has many standard sightseeing spots, like Karuizawa Outlet for example. Many people visit Karuizawa for sightseeing or on a trip. If you visit such a place, Karuizawa, please enjoy the superb gourmets there. Please return home full of satisfaction with the gourmets as well as the sightseeing!