On some mornings, the moment you open your eyes, you don’t have to decide how to spend the day. The light filtering through the gaps in the curtains does not rush you, nor does it lead you; it simply exists. In this town, morning is not a “beginning,” but a period of gradual alignment.
A day starting from a Rentavilla cottage— whether to brew coffee, or to step out for a stroll, needs no decision in this moment.
At OHK E-20, gazing at the majestic Mt. Asama from the wood deck. At Courthouse 950, walking toward the shimmering surface of the Mikage Waterway. As you wander the forest trails, your breath naturally deepens. The quiet passage of time slowly unravels yesterday’s thoughts.
Simply, to be here. To fully feel nothing more than that. A thing so easily forgotten, yet so precious. Just being is enough. The moment you touch that realization, your day has already begun, in its fullest sense.
Following your intuition— the scent of wood, the smell of earth, the presence of living things. Once healed by these unfamiliar elements, step out for a fine cup of coffee. In this small, beautiful town, wonderful coffee shops are everywhere.
One of them, Mz COFFEE LABORATORY. A small hideaway, always lively with guests from around the world. Captivated by the sparkle of sunlight through leaves on a terrace bench, soothed by the drifting aroma of coffee, the sound of the wind, the pleasant rhythm of beans being ground, and the owner’s gentle voice… A tuning of the self, happening quietly beyond consciousness.
As your heart desires— the scenery viewed from the car window is rich with change. Change is not always something dynamic. This town grants us even those subtle, vital truths as a matter of course. A town where such time flows.
To confirm the state of simply being, even more slowly, even more quietly, where you can capture even the sound of the drifting air— head to the Karuizawa Hiroshi Senju Museum. The history of how this town grew is perhaps why it embraces so many museums.
After selecting tomorrow’s breakfast at the renowned Boulangerie Asanoya next door, return to the scenery of the morning. The same landscape, now wearing a different expression, awaits you.
