Spending time alone…
There is no need to be strong,
nor any need to pretend to be fulfilled.
It is a time to gently set down the roles we carry,
often unconsciously, when we are with others.
In this town, being alone is never seen as something out of the ordinary. The pace at which you walk, the reasons you choose to stop— there is a quiet, shared understanding that both are entirely up to you.
Stepping into Courthouse 950, all the familiar sounds of daily life fade away. A rhythm of time begins to flow, solely for yourself. Without a glance at the clock, you walk slowly, leisurely toward gaflo café. Below, you watch the irrigation stream that once ran beside your cottage as it transforms its flow. A shift in perspective— this is one of the hidden sensations found within the special moments of solitude.
When you are alone, boundaries begin to dissolve. The things you don’t have to think about increase; the things you don’t have to decide grow in number. The need for words to explain yourself simply vanishes. Nature does not treat solitude as a “state of lack.” The forest, the wind, and the light— they exist there, at the same distance for everyone.
Just like time spent with someone else,
the value of time spent alone remains unchanged.
Being alone and being lonely
may seem similar, but they are entirely different things.
Here,
the time you spend alone is never severed from who you are.
You are alone, yet you are not lonely.
With a heart full of richness, stop by the onsite GATE Flowerfield to pick a single flower before heading back. And tomorrow—what shall you do for yourself? This place is the “BASE” for everything.
Perhaps you’ll venture into the Karuizawa area to feel the comfortable air of Natural Cafeina, a place that feels blissfully detached from reality. Or perhaps spend time on the beautiful garden terrace of the Karuizawa Le Vent Museum, far from the bustle. Since you’re here, why not visit Hotchi Ichiba to pick out some fresh vegetables? Or even take an hour’s trip to Tomi City for a leisurely tour of the wineries.
Let your mood upon waking decide. Savor the freedom that solitude grants you, to your heart’s content. It is special because it isn’t a “special” sight—it is simply life, lived deeply.
