Spending time in Karuizawa.
That alone might be enough to put you in a different frame of mind than usual.
And yet, the area around Karuizawa offers an environment that never fails to live up to the expectation that there is something a little different, just a little more, waiting to be discovered.
Try shifting your gaze just a little from where it usually falls.
Even though you’re staying in Karuizawa, you’ll feel as if you’ve ventured out somewhere else.
You don’t have to travel far or make special plans; just by shifting your location slightly, the temperature of the air and the flow of time quietly change their character.
This land is dotted with such subtle shifts, as if they were the most natural thing in the world.
Whether you stop by a shop or choose a different path, it leaves you with the sensation of having touched a different place.
A winery is set to open in Karuizawa soon, but this unique area—so dotted with wineries that it’s known as the Chikuma River Wine Valley—is a place where you can truly get a sense of that atmosphere.
Tomi City, in particular, blessed with ideal elevation, temperature fluctuations, and soil conditions, offers a rich tapestry of wineries of all sizes.
It’s not just about wine grapes; the region is also highly regarded among Japan’s grape-growing areas, and the craft beer produced by its favorable climate is a major draw.
Small, locally rooted businesses dot the landscape, and the time spent experiencing each one adds to the value of your stay here.
Touring wineries with completely different personalities… that is the concentrated luxury you’ll find here.
Led by the scenery, into a time I have yet to discover
Driving through Karuizawa along this scenic mountain route gives you a sense of exhilaration, as if you were heading somewhere entirely different.
As you enjoy the distant mountain ranges and the astonishingly vast sky, you arrive at
Villa Dest Garden Farm & Winery.
A meticulously tended farm and a restaurant that blends seamlessly into the landscape.
Here, rather than simply savoring the food and wine individually, the entire space comes together as a single, unified experience.
“Where you spend your time” directly shapes the quality of that time…
With scenery so beautiful it feels almost otherworldly despite being in Japan, this is a special place that enriches everyday life.
Here, you’ll find scenery that leaves a deep, lasting impression on every visitor.
A small, charming winery:
Ruedvin.
If your timing is right during the bountiful autumn harvest, you can volunteer to help pick grapes.
The value of that experience will remain vivid, never fading, no matter how many years pass.
After touching the soil, picking the grapes by hand, and feeling their weight, that first bite is truly exceptional.
It’s a winery where everything feels gentle—the pace of the work done by hand rather than machines, the presence of insects, the gentle breeze, and everything in between.
And then, the winery on the windy hill:
Geo Hills Winery.
“Standing alone on a small hill”—
I never imagined that description could be so real! Along with that surprise, the panoramic view from the café, which offers a 360-degree vista, reveals a winery of indescribable beauty.
It’s hard to believe this space is so close to the city; it feels both near and far from everyday life… a special place that envelops you in that sense of distance.
Before you know it, you’ll find yourself longing to see that view again—it leaves you with memories that linger.
True richness begins with the joy of choosing
Still feeling relaxed from the winery, stop by a nearby hot spring.
Or savor the rustic flavors of farm-fresh products.
“HARVEST NAGAI FARM”
“Atelier de Fromage Main Store”
What was supposed to be a one-time sightseeing trip gradually turns into a journey through places you’ll want to visit again.
The area around Karuizawa is brimming with an irresistible charm that naturally sparks this kind of chain reaction.
Let’s head back to the villa with your favorite bottle selected at the winery and some fresh cheese, available only at a farm-direct shop.
Karuizawa leaves a lingering impression that goes beyond that of a mere travel destination.
As you spend time here, it begins to take on the contours of a “place to return to.”
Though you are away, it doesn’t feel far.
Though you are on the move, you find yourself settling down.
Amidst these sensations, your stay quietly transforms into something closer to your own home base.
The shop featured on this blog
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Villa Dest Garden Farm & Winery
6027 Wa, Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture 389-0505
[Business Hours]
10:00 AM–5:00 PM (Lunch: 11:30 AM–3:00 PM; Dinner: 5:00 PM–)
[Closed]
Wednesdays
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Ryudovan
405 Nezu, Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture 389-0506
[Business Hours]
10:00 AM–5:00 PM (Lunch: 11:00 AM–2:00 PM)
[Closed]
Tuesdays
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Geo Hills Winery
1210 Otsu, Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture 384-0802
[Business Hours]
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Lunch: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM)
[Days Open]
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
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HARVEST NAGAI FARM
8406-2 Wa, Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture 389-0505
[Business Hours]
10:00 AM–6:00 PM
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Atelier de Fromage Main Store
504-6 Shinbari, Tomi City, Nagano Prefecture 389-0501
[Business Hours]
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
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