若女将と軽井沢へデート Going on a Date with Mari to Karuizawa

Mari celebrating her birthday at maggio da A'dagio, Karuizawa's secret lobster restaurant

１０月３日は若女将の誕生日という事で、気に入りの軽井沢へドライブで行きました。我が亀清旅館にお泊りになるお客様から軽井沢の事をよく聞かれます。答えれるように、私達もある程度詳しくないと…　という事で、下見を込めて、二人で軽井沢へデート。

October 3rd was Mari's birthday, so we went for a drive to her favorite destination, Karuizawa. Many of our guests here at Kamesei Ryokan ask about that resort town, so we like to go there ourselves to get good ideas to pass on to our guests. So with that in mind, we went on a little date to Karuizawa.

まずは昼ごはん。軽井沢の特徴は沢山の小さな、個性的なお店が多いです。今回の隠れレストランはＭａｇｇｉｏ　ｄａ　Ａ’ｄａｇｉｏでした。旧軽銀座通りと聖パウロ教会の近辺のお洒落なお店。オマール海老料理が特徴。詳しくはＨＰを見てください。ここはお勧めが出来るお店。

First things first: Lunch. Karuizawa is fortunate to have so many small, out-of-the-way dining establishments. The hidden treasure we found this time was Maggio da A'dagio, a stylish restaurant that features lobster cuisine. Check out their website for details, but we can whole-heartedly recommend them.

maggio da A'dagio

maggio da A'dagio's woodsy setting

moss-covered Asama volcanic rocks -- an indelible Karuizawa image.

昼御飯を食べたから、お散歩。軽井沢の別荘地は別な世界です。林の中の細い小路、涼しい影、苔で被されている浅間石の塀。ゆっくりした散策もしくは自転車乗りに向いています。（なおかつ、食べてからは少しでも運動しないと…）
After lunch, we went for a walk. Karuizawa's summer cabin neighborhoods are a separate world. Narrow lanes in a woodsy setting, lined by moss-covered volcanic rock from nearby Asama Mountain. The neighborhoods are perfect for a leisurely stroll or bike ride. (Plus, it's great to get exercise after a meal.)

Mari's favorite boutique, Ohara Shoten

軽井沢のデートで絶対に外せないのは、買い物。広々したアウトレットモールとお洒落のハルニレテラスは今の人気スポットですが、元となる旧軽井沢「銀座」は私と若女将の気に入り。ここでしか買えない主背が沢山ある。その中で、若女将の特に好きなのは小原商店というブティックです。いつも亀清旅館で来ている服はここで見付けている。
No trip to Karuizawa would be complete without a bit of shopping. The massive outlet mall and the upscale Harunire Terrace are the popular spots at the present. But the shopping district that started it all, the Kyu- (Old-) Karuizawa "Ginza". Here you can find items that you can't find anywhere else. Mari's favorite is a boutique called Ohara Shoten. This is where she shops for the unique tops she wears here at Kamesei Ryokan.
小原商店Ohara Shoten

Mampei Hotel's elegant facade

食事、散歩、買い物、
軽井沢のデートで次は御茶タイム。
歴史的な万平ホテルのラウンジにお茶しに行きました。
John Lennon, Henry Kissinger, 三島由紀夫さん、田中角栄さん、等などが泊まった立派なお宿です。
軽井沢のもう一つの伝説ホテル、三笠ホテルはもう、歴史観になりました。万平ホテルの皆様がホテルとして継続なされて、頭を下げます。
軽井沢の魅力を更に感じました。
Lunch, a walk, and shopping.
How to top off a date to Kariuzawa? With taking time for tea, of course.
Mari took me to the historical Mampei Hotel for tea in their lounge. People the likes of John Lennon, Henry Kissinger and Yukio Mishima have stayed here. Quite an amazing hotel. And to think it is still in full operation. Another hotel on the other side of Karuizawa, Mikasa Hotel, has been turned into a museum. Running the Mampei must take an extraordinary amount of energy. I tip my hat to the owner and staff.

万平ホテルMampei Hotel