From September 1 to November 30, 2026, Hoshinoya Karuizawa — in Nagano Prefecture, the original property in the Hoshinoya collection — is presenting five ways to spend time surrounded by vivid autumn foliage while gently restoring body and mind. The lineup includes an in-room dining breakfast that takes in the contrast between the red-tinted village and the golden forest, an evening at the "Forest-Side Cafe & Bar" warmed by firelight and moonlight, a "Shinshu Fermented Seiro Steamer" lunch served at the terraced rice paddy lounge, and a morning stretch done in the crisp autumn air — a set of experiences available only during this season.
As autumn arrives, the maples on the property turn a vivid red while the larch trees of the adjacent Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest turn a golden yellow, creating a striking contrast of colors. The clear air and the bounty of Shinshu's harvest season awaken the senses and help gently restore body and mind. Alongside the scenery that captures the subtle beauty of the changing seasons, the resort has prepared a range of experiences for guests to quietly reconnect with their own senses.
Autumn-Hued Foliage Sketch
This experience invites guests to capture a single moment of the deepening autumn village on paper. With a sketchbook and a set of colored pencils in delicate traditional Japanese hues, guests wander through the vividly colored forest and waterside areas. Facing the ever-changing colors of the foliage and immersing themselves in the act of creating helps sharpen the senses.
- Period: September 1 – November 30
- Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Price: Free
- Reservations: Not required
Shinshu Fermented Seiro Steamer
At the terraced rice paddy lounge, guests can enjoy a special occasion to savor Shinshu's fermentation culture and autumn flavors while taking in the sweeping view of the fall foliage. The dish generously combines the fermentation wisdom cultivated in Shinshu with seasonal ingredients such as matsutake mushrooms, venison, chestnuts, and persimmons. Surrounded by a carpet of autumn leaves, this special seat offers an elegant lunchtime that gently restores body and mind.
- Period: September 1 – November 30
- Time: From 1:00 PM
- Price: ¥15,000 per person (tax and service charge included)
- Reservations: Required — accepted via the official website up to 5 days in advance
- Note: Ingredients and menu content may change depending on availability.
Forest-Side Cafe & Bar
Surrounded by forest and set within nature, the Forest-Side Cafe & Bar sits beside a quiet pond waiting for winter's first ice. Guests can relax by the warmth of a wood-burning stove and enjoy the lengthening autumn nights. As autumn deepens, the night sky grows clearer, with the moon and stars shining vividly — the bar offers cocktails and a selection of drinks inspired by that scenery.
- Period: September 1 – November 30
- Time: 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Price: Paid
- Reservations: Required — accepted via the official website until 8:00 PM on the day of the visit
In-Room Dining Breakfast Amid Autumn Colors
On the room's terrace seating, guests can enjoy breakfast while taking in the vivid colors created by the red-tinted foliage of the surrounding village and the golden larch trees of the adjacent Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest. Savoring dishes that incorporate seasonal autumn ingredients in the crisp morning air awakens the body from within and helps settle both body and mind. It is a luxurious morning spent in a private space, taking in the autumn scenery all to oneself.
- Period: October 25 – November 10
- Time: 7:15 AM to 10:30 AM
- Price: ¥4,235 per person (tax and service charge included)
- Reservations: Required — accepted via the official website until the day before
- Note: The timing of peak foliage may shift earlier or later depending on weather conditions.
Morning Stretch: Nobinobi Shinkokyu
This original Hoshinoya Karuizawa stretch incorporates abdominal breathing. Guests slowly breathe in the crisp autumn air and carefully stretch the whole body, quietly reconnecting with a body they don't usually pay attention to. Feeling the autumn foliage up close while adjusting the breath and body naturally calms the mind, offering a comfortable sense of awakening for both body and mind.
- Period: September 1 – November 30
- Time: 8:00 AM and 8:45 AM (two sessions)
- Price: Free
- Reservations: Required — accepted via the official website until 7:00 PM the day before
About Hoshinoya Karuizawa
Guests stay in a village nestled in a valley. The detached guest rooms surround the water's edge, and the terraces let visitors feel the changing of the seasons. Facing the Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest, this stay-type property sits in a rich natural environment where visitors can fully enjoy time to rest.
- Address: 389-0194 Hoshino, Karuizawa-machi, Nagano Prefecture
- Phone: 050-3134-8091 (Hoshinoya Reservation Center)
- Rooms: 77 rooms / Check-in: 3:00 PM / Check-out: 12:00 PM
- Price: From ¥170,000 per night (per room, tax and service charge included; meals separate)
- Access: About 15 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station; about 40 minutes by car from Usui-Karuizawa IC
- Opened: July 20, 2005
