Karuizawa, where hotels are continuously sprouting up. As a novel vacation objective, many individuals are looking forward to dining in hotel restaurants. At "Shishiiwa House," a remarkable building designed by Shigeru Ban, the much-awaited "The Restaurant" will make its debut in July 2022. We conducted interviews with the hotels and eateries we planned to visit.
A restaurant opens at Karuizawa's famous architectural hotel.
"Shishiiwa House No. 1" by Shigeru Ban opened in 2019, while "Shishiiwa House No. 2" and "The Restaurant" followed in July 2022. "Shishiiwa House No. 3" by Ryue Nishizawa will be added in the spring of 2023.
Shishiiwa House No. 1 by Mr. Ban was constructed in 2019 using the least amount of tree cutting feasible to prevent harm to the forest and surrounding area. In order to avoid cutting down the trees, Mr. Ban initially drew the trees that were already present. Then, using a panel building technique that does not require scaffolding, he produced a plan and weaved it through the trees. The curves of the outer wall, which undulate like a living creature, harmonize perfectly with the surrounding beautiful forest, creating a unique landscape.
The organic curve also links with nature in the communal living area, resulting in a peaceful atmosphere that blends with the surroundings. As soon as you arrive, you will lose track of time and remain there for as long as you have been invited to someone's house.
The wonderful forest that is in front of Shishi Iwa House numbers 1 and 2 has been protected because of a statute protecting the environment. You can hear birds chirping and smell the dirt and plants while you are in the room.
The terrace is separated from the indoor space by a large glass window, which can be opened on sunny days to create the atmosphere of a large treehouse in the forest.
Architecture lovers will also appreciate the arrangement of paper tube tables and chairs, a signature feature of Shigeru Ban's work.
Natural cuisine that echoes the architecture of Shigeru Ban
The chef is Mr. Masashi Okamoto. He was the head chef of "Trunk House," the hotel's primary dining establishment in Kagurazaka.
“When I initially arrived here, Shigeru Ban's architecture, space, wind, and light really caught my attention. Experiencing all of this, the direction of my cuisine naturally came to me. I honestly felt that I should pay homage to the blessings nurtured by the land of Karuizawa and capture the vivid colors of the four seasons, without having to put it into words, as if in sync with this space," he says.
"The herbs harvested from the pesticide-free fields have a slightly unique flavor and scent every morning. In my cuisine, I wish to include the learnings I get from my everyday excursions. In order to represent that day's field itself, I gathered about 20 different varieties of herbs that were plucked every morning and blended them with roasted almonds and rice crackers.”
You'll be astonished when you bite into a little cracker because of the strong herbal aroma that immediately fills your nose. It appears as though you are eating directly from Karuizawa's soil.
By the way, the snack on the left is created with Hotaru Tofu Shop's fried tofu, lardo, and perilla. No matter the genre, combining regional characteristics is part of Okamoto's approach.
The hand-pulled agnolotti is simple with a sauce of broccoli and 24-month aged Comte cheese, but the key is the foams that are softly topped at the end.
This taste was taken from the bacon of the popular "Karuizawa Delicatessen" in Karuizawa. The smoky and rich scent of bacon accentuates the simple pasta.
Integrated cuisine and architecture in the Karuizawa region I feel as though I have merged with nature when I spend time with that worldview.
One of the excitements is receiving treasured wine sent directly from France.
Owner and director Fay Huang buys the wines straight from Bordeaux and Burgundy.
For this year's house wine, they chose Pinot Noir from Jane Eyre, a rising star who received the Best Negociant Award in 2021, and wine from Michel Lafarge, which is grown in a field close to Chateau Petrus.
At "The Wine & Whiskey Bar" on the same floor, you can also find Madeira wine from the 1850s that was hidden behind the wall of the American museum, which Fay dropped at auction directly.
Your Karuizawa night will take on even more color thanks to the famous sake that is exclusively available here.
Although staying and eating there is advised, it is also feasible to use "The Restaurant" solely for meals. We also suggest the Kamo Soba for lunch because it serves excellent “Gin No Kamo” silver duck bone soup. What about taking a lavish vacation that departs from Tokyo in just one hour and enjoying the architecture, exquisite dining, and nature-inspired sake of Karuizawa?