Last Updated on January 2, 2026
A walk in the rain
In case you missed it, here’s Part 2.
Following lunch, we spent some time wandering through Karuizawa Taliesin in the rain.
As we made our way to the rose garden, we noticed a small hut, likely for keeping the gardening equipment. The scenery was so unexpected, with mountains in the background, that I found myself wondering if this was really Japan. It might have been a good thing that we came here on a rainy day.
Visiting on a quiet weekday made it feel as if we had stepped into a storybook.
This is near the entrance to the rose garden. It’s small and hard to see, but there were two chairs placed under the tree. If it hadn’t been raining, it would have been a lovely spot to sit, enjoy the view, and rest under the tree.
Thinking that someone had placed them there for someone else made me feel warm inside.
The rose garden seemed past its peak, but a few roses still brought us joy. The fine raindrops clinging to the petals made them look even more beautiful.
Having soaked in the enchanting atmosphere, we made our way to Harunire Terrace to pick up some souvenirs. Harunire Terrace is a stylish mall operated by Hoshino Resorts. With hot spring accommodations nearby, it’s a popular spot to stop by. I’ll share the souvenirs we picked up a little later.
Akaneya Coffee
Akaneya CoffeeWith some time to spare after returning the rental car, we went to a nearby café. One unique feature of this café is that, in addition to carefully hand-dripped coffee, you can choose your own cup from a wide selection of coffee cups.
There seem to be other traditional cafés where you can choose your cup or have the barista select one for you. In Tokyo, however, many of these cafés allow smoking, so those sensitive to smoke should be aware.
I chose a Herend cup, while my mother picked one by Okura Touen. Both were beautiful cup-and-saucer sets. With its slight acidity and fragrant aroma, the coffee tasted wonderful, and enjoying it in such beautiful cups made for a perfect moment.
This café originally started in Kobe, but later opened a location in Karuizawa. It now has several branches in Tokyo as well. Kobe is said to be famous for its coffee because it was introduced along with Western culture after the port opened. As a port city, Kobe welcomed many foreign visitors, which helped Western food culture take root early on.
I haven’t actually traveled much in western Japan, so I’d love to visit once my children are older and I have more free time.
Local sweets
Local sweetsThese are the sweets I bought at Harunire Terrace. These baked sweets are from Izumiyadenbei. They are manju filled with nuts and fruits, with a hint of cinnamon, and go well with both green tea and coffee.
I first learned about this sweet, called Korokoro Kurumi, when an old friend gave it to me as a souvenir. Since it’s usually only available in Karuizawa, I had decided to buy some when I visited.
This shop also offers sweets and dango made with local specialties like Hana-mame beans and fruits from Nagano, so I’d love to try them if I visit again!
I thought the basket packaging was so cute that I decided to display it by my entrance.
Check out the related posts below!
Karuizawa Taliesin
Price:
5.75 USD / 4.88 EUR
(approximate conversion from JPY)
Access:
4.6 Km / 2.86 mi from Karuizawa station
Akaneya Coffee
Price:
– 6.42 USD / 5.45 EUR
(approximate conversion from JPY)
Access:
120 m / 394 ft from Karuizawa station
Shop Info
Harunire Terrace
– English website
Korokoro Kurumi
– Izumi-ya Denbei
All info is current as of my visit.
