Onsen Hotel in the Highlands of Japan’s Best Summer Retreat | Le Grand Karuizawa H & R

Onsen Hotel in the Highlands of Japan’s Best Summer Retreat | Le Grand Karuizawa H & R

Cool breezes drift through Japan’s favorite summer retreat, Karuizawa. We escape to an elegant resort set on vast, peaceful grounds. Here, silky hot springs and fresh greenery soothe both body and soul. A seasonal course brings the flavors of Shinshu beautifully to the table. Come along and enjoy every moment with us. Hello! Japan has been in a heat wave every day. Tokyo honestly feels like a sauna. Right now, we’ve escaped Tokyo and are heading to Karuizawa in Nagano, about two hours away by bullet train. We’ll spend a refreshing summer at a highland hot spring hotel. Karuizawa is known as a summer retreat. In winter, it’s a busy ski resort. In the 1880s, foreign visitors came here to escape the summer heat, leading to more Western-style houses. And it eventually developed into a vacation home area. It feels so cool the moment we arrive!!! It’s about 8°C (46°F) cooler than Tokyo!! From the south exit of the station, we take the hotel’s free shuttle bus. Many hotel buses stop here, so we need to make sure we get on the right one. Buses run about once an hour, and it takes around 15 minutes to the hotel. The scenery is filled with beautiful green trees, a symbol of Karuizawa. Can’t wait. We’ve arrived at our hotel for today. It looks quite Western, yet offers the uniquely Japanese experience of a natural onsen. The grounds cover about 2.15 million sq.ft. With gardens and a lake, it’s a place to relax in nature. I hope Mt. Asama clears up later. It’s so big with so many buildings, but we’ll make the most of our one-night stay. Right now, we’re at the main hotel building. Check-in starts at 3 p.m. >> Staff: Welcome. >> Staff: You’re staying with us tonight, correct? Let me show you the way. Not many staff speak English, but there are some. Such a classic atmosphere. >> Staff: I’ll take you to the lounge. The space is decorated with antique furniture and accessories. This is the lounge. It becomes a bar at night. It opened in 2018, so it’s relatively new. Maybe it’s meant to look like an old European castle. >> Staff: We’re currently in the main building of the hotel. >> Staff: On the second floor of this building, there’s a hot spring facility. >> Staff: There’s another hot spring facility in a different building on the grounds. >> Staff: It’s a three minute walk from the main building, last entry 9:15 p.m. >> Staff: If you’d like to go to the Yamanoue area (Hilltop), we can take you by cart, so feel free to ask. >> Staff: If everything is clear, I’ll guide you to your room. The grounds are large, but you can get around by cart. It’s nice that it’s covered. Let’s head to our room. Our room is in the “Yamanoue” area, the highest part of the hotel at 1,000 meters (3280 ft) above sea level. The road winds its way up. It’s paved, but quite steep. Walking up would be tough… taking the cart is the way to go. >> Staff: We’ve arrived. The hotel has rooms in the main building, the Yamanoue, and stand-alone villas. The Yamanoue rooms are suites. It’s so cute, like something from a picture book. I can imagine rabbits living here. First, the lounge. Guests from other rooms can also come here freely. Further in is the quiet guest room area. >> Staff: Your room today is number 1004. Yamanoue Suite with dinner and breakfast for two people: 143,880 yen (978.75 USD / € 837.94). >> Staff: The lighting is special, and the brightness is adjusted with a slider. >> Staff: Touch the center frame to turn it off. >> Staff: Water, coffee, and so on are complimentary. >> Staff: Everything in the fridge is charged, so please be aware. >> Staff: I’ll leave you now. Please enjoy your stay. It’s 69.8 ㎡ (751.3 sq.ft.), a room with sunlight filtering through the trees. It even has a fireplace. From the bedroom window, you can step outside. There’s a small table and chairs. And soothing greenery. There’s a living room with a TV. The bathroom area is near the entrance. A closet and maybe a study. It’s spacious enough for large suitcases. Bathrobes. Maybe for the terrace. And slippers for inside the room. The washroom has a different, more luxurious feel. It has two washing areas, with a shower and bath in the back. Basic amenities. The hair dryer is KOIZUMI. The room’s bath is not a hot spring. The toilet. It’s clean. A bit spacious, too. Room tour over, now let’s explore the hotel. Since it’s not auto-lock, don’t forget your key. We’ve come to the lounge. From 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., free drinks are served. Sangria. Lemonade. I went straight for the sparkling wine. Got some apple cookies too. It’s sunny but cool and comfortable. The wine is nicely chilled and tastes great. Oh, is that the peak of Mt. Asama coming into view? At 1,000 meters (3280 ft), the sky feels closer. Yes, we can see Mt. Asama. Impressive. Those connected brown roofs you see below are the main building. We’re going to visit the CHAPEL YAMANAGI. It’s within walking distance from the Yamanoue, so let’s go. The hotel has three chapels. This one is known for its mountain views. This chapel is mainly used as a wedding venue, and requires advance reservations. In Japan, some couples choose to have their wedding in a church regardless of their religion. It’s truly beautiful. Wow, the view of Mt. Asama through the window looks like a painting. What a stunning view. I’d love to attend a wedding here. Now, with swimsuits in hand, let’s take the cart back to the main building. We’re heading to the 2nd floor, where the pool and hot springs are. Oh, there’s a gym. It’s free to use. It’s nice that you can see the outside view. Because the building is square-shaped, we had to walk all the way around to get here. The baths are on the right, and straight ahead is the pool. In front of the pool, you can relax with free drinks like juice. And here’s the pool. With its brown roof and Mt. Asama in the background, it looks amazing. Doesn’t feel like Japan. The weather changes easily here. A few more clouds have appeared. It’s so pretty that it feels like it’s just for show, but in summer you can swim here. Let’s change into swimsuits. You can change in the changing room of the public bath. It’s quite spacious like this. There are lockers with keys. From the changing room, you can get to both the pool and the baths. Showers and toilets. It seems you can also rent swimsuits. Oh, so it connects here. The sun has heated up the floors and tiles. Ah, that feels good. The pool is a decent size, but not that big. If others are playing here, it might feel a bit awkward. Right in front are the guest rooms of the main building. Let’s take a quick peek inside. Main Building Junior Suite. This is the only junior suite with a view of Mount Asama. Wow. Main Building Japanese-Style Junior Suite. Surprisingly, some rooms have tatami mat floors. The Japanese and Western styles blend together nicely. The window decorations have a Japanese touch too. Time to head to the hot spring. In Japan, baths are considered a place to wash your body, so you take off your swimsuit completely. A quick shower. Oh, they have cleansing oil. That’s nice. Natural hot springs are rare in Karuizawa. It warms my body that was cooled in the pool. And now, the open-air bath. Green trees form a natural wall. The spring is a sodium bicarbonate type, said to help with cuts and skin health. It’s almost odorless, but feels soft and smooth on the skin. With no roof, it feels very open. At night, you could probably see the stars. In the back, there’s also a sauna and a cold bath. With the pool too, I could’ve stayed here forever. The sky has completely taken on evening colors. We still have some time before dinner, so we’re heading to the CHAPEL MORIOTO. The path lined with white hydrangeas on both sides is lovely. Feels like a cute teddy bear could live here. Unlike the CHAPEL YAMANAGI we visited earlier today, this one is a wooden chapel. This place is also mainly used for weddings. Wow, it’s beautiful. It’s filled with the scent of wood and crisp fresh air. In Japan, more couples are choosing not to have a wedding these days. How about in your country? The faint sounds of nature from outside are soothing. At night, Karuizawa drops to around 20°C, so it can even feel a bit chilly. Look, you can see the moon. Tonight’s dinner will be at Restaurant Vaas in the main building. If you’re familiar with real French cuisine, I’d love to hear in the comments how authentic this looks. The space is so beautiful that I feel a little nervous. The French dish names are written in Japanese, so I have no idea what’s coming, and I’m curious to see. We ordered the drink pairing. I chose alcohol, and my husband went for non-alcoholic. The first drink is Palmer Brut Réserve champagne. It’s so delicious. Pearl barley on the bottom, topped with prosciutto made from local Himekidaira pork. The Gold Rush corn potage is so good it’s shocking!! >> Staff: Here is your hors d’oeuvre. >> Staff: his dish uses rainbow trout raised in the local Chikuma River. >> Staff: This salmon has been marinated with summer vegetables for two days. >> Staff: The sauce is made with gooseberries. A collaboration between Nagano ingredients and French cuisine. It’s topped with fruit and flowers. The seasoning is fresh and tasty. The bread has arrived. This butter is made with Calpico, a Japanese soft drink. Really milky and delicious. >> Staff: This is a salad made with oxtail and consommé jelly. >> Staff: Served with foie gras terrine and Italian summer truffles. >> Staff: Please enjoy it with the carrot sauce. It’s full of flavor but not heavy. Tender oxtail, creamy foie gras, crisp vegetables, and jiggly consommé jelly. A dish where you can enjoy the different textures. Next, a white wine to go with the fish dish. Herb-crusted baked sea bream. The fish is moist and fluffy. It’s served with molokhia sauce. The beautiful green color reminds me of Karuizawa’s nature. Its delicate, subtle flavor pairs perfectly with white wine. Now that red wine has been poured… (my husband’s is non-alcoholic)… It’s time for the meat dish. >> Staff: This is today’s main dish. >> Staff: Charcoal-grilled wagyu beef in Sugadaira Highlands, Ueda City. A crossbreed of marbled wagyu and lean beef, with the best of both. It has a fairly firm texture. The simple meat-juice-based sauce brings out the beef’s flavor. Actually, you can choose from three main dishes. My husband chose the charcoal-grilled local Yorkshire pork. I had a bite of the pork, and it was delicious too. But I’m still on team wagyu. Every dish was outstanding, and before we knew it, dinner was almost over. It’s been such a luxurious time. >> Chef: This dessert uses locally grown “Akatsuki” peaches from Nagano, which are in season now. >> Chef: Along with a fresh herb jelly made with lemon verbena. >> Chef: Inside is a cassis mousse. >> Chef: On top is milk ice cream made from Jersey milk from Japan’s oldest ranch. A beautiful dessert to look at. I personally love peaches, so I’m happy. Oh, what do I do? It’s too good. I want to eat this again tomorrow. How can I make that happen? We came to the poolside bar, open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Alcohol, soft drinks, and snacks are available for purchase. I ordered Karuizawa Beer Clear. The night pool is lit up, giving it a completely different vibe from the daytime. I’m a bit tipsy, so I’ll skip swimming. We were going to head back up to the Yamanoue. But we ended up stopping by the bar on our way out. The bar on the first floor is open until 11 p.m. He was just at the restaurant, and now he’s making us drinks here too. Martini. My husband’s is elderflower lemonade, non-alcoholic. I’m already drunk for the night. Loving this drink. We’re back at the mountain top. Pajamas, teeth, bed. Good night. Good morning. The birds are chatting. Clear blue sky. Mt. Asama is perfectly visible! Breakfast is at the same main building restaurant as yesterday. It’s helpful that they can drive us back and forth anytime by cart. Breakfast is buffet-style. It features a mix of Japanese and Western dishes using Nagano ingredients. Summer vegetables with roast beef. Smoked salmon onion salad. The corn potage at dinner was so good that I wanted corn again for breakfast. There’s also a wide variety of bread. Toasting a carrot roll. Bye. I’m starting to crave Japanese food. They even have the local specialty soba. Let’s grab some cake and fruit too. Glad to see they have Japanese sweets. The view of the courtyard gives it a completely different atmosphere from last night. Everything is delicious. I especially like the potato potage. There might be a soup chef here. The colorful dishes and cute plates lift my mood in the morning. I ended up eating quite a lot for breakfast. Thanks for the great meal. From 9 to 10 a.m., free coffee is served at the Yamanoue Lounge. I’m not a fan of bugs, so being outside is a bit tough. But the rich natural surroundings are still very appealing. Above all, the breathtaking view of Mt. Asama was unforgettable. Checkout is relaxed, until noon. Another hot spring facility is a three-minute walk from the main building. Guests can use it for free even after checkout. Lucky. Happu Onsen. It seems quite a few day-use visitors come here too. The men’s and women’s baths are separated from the entrance. Reception is outside. Show the free ticket you got at checkout to get towels. If you’re still staying at the hotel, you can just show your room key to enter. The changing room is spacious and well-equipped. And here’s the bath. The light streaming in is beautiful. The greenery outside the window is lovely too. The bath is spacious and relaxing. After a shower, it’s time to soak in the hot spring. The spring type is sodium bicarbonate. It’s a silky smooth hot spring, and it feels great. Besides the indoor bath, there’s also an open-air bath, pot baths, and a sauna. It’s a well-equipped hot spring facility. Let’s check out the open-air bath. The brown color of the water comes from the hot spring minerals. Earlier in the day, the color is so deep you can’t see the bottom. Not knowing the depth, I eased in carefully. Later the water becomes clear, but I like this color since it feels more like a hot spring. Sometimes wild deer come to visit. Enjoying this calm atmosphere and great spring water is a real highlight. Hot springs are rare in Karuizawa, making it even more special. That was a great bath. After bathing, I met my husband at Restaurant Minori next to the hot spring. Cornet pastry. I’m not hungry yet, so dessert is just right. And it’s really good. The pastry is crisp, and the cream is surprisingly light and not too sweet. My husband went for the hearty daily pasta. Pasta with beef tendon and summer vegetables. Everything we ate over these two days was delicious. Pure happiness. We enjoyed a refreshing summer vacation in Karuizawa. Thank you for watching until the end. Enjoyed this? See our other “It’s Time to Travel” videos. See you next time.

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💻Le Grand Karuizawa Hotel & Resort
Website: https://www.legrand-karuizawaresort.jp/en/?header_en
*This video was filmed with the hotel’s permission.

🗒 How to book
Booking.com: https://px.a8.net/svt/ejp?a8mat=457LFV+AAX3FE+327I+HUD03&asid=a21022353840&a8ejpredirect=https%3A%2F%2Fow.a8.net%2Fs00000014283002%2Fredirect_v2.php%3Ftype%3Ddeeplink%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.booking.com%252Fhotel%252Fjp%252Fruguranqing-jing-ze-hoteru-rizoto.html%253Faid%253D318615%2526sid%253Dc1dca4afcf05c081ca98b960e9ee4be3%2526dest_id%253D900039070%2526dest_type%253Dcity%2526dist%253D0%2526group_adults%253D2%2526group_children%253D0%2526hapos%253D1%2526hpos%253D1%2526no_rooms%253D1%2526req_adults%253D2
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Expedia: https://expedia.com/affiliate/0diKhG4
Hotels.com: https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/D8LNHyz
Official: https://www.legrand-karuizawaresort.jp/en/?header_en

🚃🚶‍♀️How to Get There
A free shuttle runs from the south exit of Karuizawa Station. Check the schedule in advance.
MAP: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zbi48mb4mfUYPesi7

💰 Price
Yamanoue Suite with dinner and breakfast for two people: 143,880 yen (978.75 USD / € 837.94).
*Prices may vary depending on the season and room type.

🚃 JAPAN RAIL PASS is an economical and convenient way to travel throughout Japan by rail!!
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⌛️ Timestamps
0:00 Opening
0:51 How to get there
2:29 About the hotel
3:14 Lobby lounge
5:01 Heading to the room by cart
6:21 Yamanoue Suite
10:30 Yamanoue Lounge
12:04 CHAPEL YAMANAGI
13:27 Gym
14:20 Pool
16:35 Main building room tour
17:44 Large public bath “KOMOREBI”
19:22 Morine Chapel
20:58 Dinner
27:03 Poolside bar
27:48 Bar Rouge
29:02 Good morning
29:43 Breakfast buffet
31:26 Coffee time in Yamanoue
32:06 Happu Onsen

#karuizawa #nagano #summer #japan #japantravel #asmr #cc_for_subtitle

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・Titles, descriptions, and subtitles are provided by automatic translation and may contain inaccuracies.
・The prices in the video are based on the exchange rate at the time of editing.
・Prices may vary with the season.
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