It's a weekend off. While a girls' get-together at the usual cafe or bar is nice, sometimes it's nice to let loose a little and go on a two-day, one-night girls' trip. This article is the second part of a relaxed girls' trip with a photographer friend, based at Hoshino Resorts BEB5 Karuizawa, which has been steadily gaining repeat guests since its opening in February last year. Click here for Part 1.
At BEB5 Karuizawa, the afternoon cafe only serves light meals, so tonight I'll be eating at the restaurant inside Harunire Terrace.


This time, I went to "Il Sogno," where you can enjoy delicious Italian food in a casual setting. Apparently, they offer a menu using vegetables grown in Karuizawa, which attracted me.


This restaurant, which reopened after renovations in July last year, serves a variety of dishes, including bagna cauda made with highland vegetables, Roman-style pizza baked in a stone oven, pasta made with the chef's special selection, and grilled dishes. There is also a wide selection of desserts and drinks, so we recommend stopping by the cafe as well.

In the foreground is Il Sogno's special Sicilian lemonade (500 yen)
Shinshu pork and guanciale Amatriciana with arugula (fresh pasta made from Shinshu flour) ¥1,680
Eating local cuisine is one of the joys of traveling.
The photo shows a portion of the menu we ordered. Being an Italian restaurant, they had a wide selection of wines, but I still had work to do that day, so I went for Il Sogno's special Sicilian lemonade. My photographer friend ordered fresh pasta made with local Shinshu flour. Looks delicious, doesn't it? Hehe, it's delicious.

It was delicious! Thank you for the meal, I said, heading to the register to pay, when I spotted some cute shichimi peppers.
On my way out, I spotted this "Famous Shichimi." Upon closer inspection, I realized it was from Il Sogno. My friend, who loves spices, had this on his souvenir list as well.

After this, I returned to my base of operations, BEB5 Karuizawa, and headed to Hoshino Onsen Tombo no Yu with my hot spring set, including cosmetics and towels. I was also happy to find a free limousine bus from Harunire Terrace to BEB5 Karuizawa. I used this limousine bus again on my way to the hot springs. The roads in the mountains are dark at night, so this kind of service is truly appreciated. As you'd expect from Hoshino Resorts.




Hoshino Onsen opened in 1915. Tombo no Yu is a hot spring facility that draws on the history of Hoshino Onsen, offering a "direct flow" hot spring. Day-trip bathing is also available, making it popular with tourists and locals alike. On this day, there were some familiar faces.


All of the baths at Tombo no Yu are directly fed by the hot spring. Apparently, the water is changed daily without circulating or adding water. While it's difficult to report on the baths because photos aren't allowed, the spacious washing areas are a big plus for me! Each bath is also relatively spacious, making it easy for families with children to use. There's also a drinking faucet in the changing room, so be sure to try it. The fact that the water is drinkable is proof that Tombo no Yu's hot springs are fresh.



After returning from the hot springs, there was one place I really wanted to experience: BEB5 Karuizawa's popular courtyard, "TAMARIBA." It has a great atmosphere at night! Since it's outdoors, it's cold in the middle of winter (I visited in December), but I dressed warmly to avoid catching a chill from the bath, and headed out with a brown blanket and a hot drink. The clear night sky was beautiful.

After that, I returned to my room, chatted, and had a few snacks. I thought it would be nice to stay up late drinking, but before I knew it, I had fallen asleep. Good night. zzz





Good morning, Karuizawa morning. This morning, I woke up to the light streaming in through the window. The fluffy futon felt so nice. I quickly got ready and left my room for the lobby lounge. The scenery was completely different from night. The pale blue light was beautiful. On a winter morning filled with crisp air, it felt like my soul was being cleansed.


Breakfast is ordered at the cafe lounge. The morning menu offers three options: French toast with wings, American breakfast, and fruit French toast. There's no extra charge, and you can order portions in small, medium, or large sizes. This time, I chose the most popular item: French toast with wings.


And there you have it! This is the "French Toast with Wings." It's apparently the most popular breakfast menu item at BEB5 Karuizawa. When you order, it's made in the lounge kitchen, so you can enjoy freshly made French toast. The salty, cheesy, and slightly sweet French toast goes perfectly with the accompanying salad and bacon! It also came with soup and one drink (I chose hot tea).


Order matching menu items and "eat together." You can have breakfast at a table in the lobby lounge, at "TAMARIBA" in the courtyard, or in your own room! The greatest charm of BEB5 Karuizawa is that you can enjoy it in your own way. A relaxed and enjoyable trip.


BEB5 Karuizawa's original apple and cinnamon jam, a souvenir.
After breakfast, I took another short break. The lounge was so comfortable that I ended up staying longer than I'd expected. The lounge not only offered a selection of snacks, but also sold original items that make perfect souvenirs, which was a nice touch. All the souvenirs were stylish and cute.

Although this was just one night, I was extremely satisfied with how fulfilling and refreshing my stay was. As soon as we checked out, we said, "Let's make another reservation!" and hopped in a taxi while checking availability. Karuizawa is fun all year round, spring, summer, fall, and winter. Be sure to visit Hoshino Resorts BEB5 Karuizawa.

《Bonus》After checking out, we also went to the Terra Pond Skating Rink near BEB5 Karuizawa. (Coming soon)