Karuizawa – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. Thu, 28 Mar 2024 01:02:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://soranews24.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/05/en_rocket_1024.png?w=32 Karuizawa – SoraNews24 —Japan News— https://soranews24.com 32 32 176746664 Japan Travel: What it’s like to go on a solo journey on a Japanese restaurant train https://soranews24.com/2019/10/02/japan-travel-what-its-like-to-go-on-a-solo-journey-on-a-japanese-restaurant-train/ https://soranews24.com/2019/10/02/japan-travel-what-its-like-to-go-on-a-solo-journey-on-a-japanese-restaurant-train/#comments Wed, 02 Oct 2019 05:00:04 +0000 http://soranews24.com/?p=468387

Who needs company when you’ve got a Japanese kaiseki feast laid out in front of you? 

One of the best things about travelling on the bullet train in Japan is the chance to enjoy a bento boxed meal at your seat as you watch the scenery whizz by. Sometimes, though, the slow life beckons, and a more leisurely train ride with your meal is in order. For those occasions, Japan has a number of stunning trains to choose from, and one of them is a restaurant train called Rokumon, which runs between Nagano and Karuizawa on the Shinano Railway Line in Nagano Prefecture.

Our Japanese-language reporter Momo Momomura decided to book a meal on the restaurant train, and given that she’s a seasoned solo traveller, she was pleased to find that Rokumon is one of the few trains to accept solo diners. They have a number of plans to choose from as well, with all meals made by local chefs at high-class restaurants in the area. Momo decided to opt for the kaiseki course, and after making a booking online for the Nagano to Karuizawa trip, she received her ticket in the mail a few days later, and arrived at the station to see this.

Rokumon (which literally means “six coins” and refers to the coins on the family crest of Nagano’s Sanada Clan) looked resplendent in red, and Momo couldn’t wait to get on board. Peering in through the windows, she could see some fancy tables and place settings, but nothing could prepare her for the gorgeous space she would find herself in once she stepped inside.

▼ There were booths and window seats…

▼ And even a play area for children.

With warm wood panels, high-class furnishings and stylish light fittings, this was no ordinary train. In fact, it was so fancy that Momo began to wonder if maybe she should’ve dressed better for the occasion.

She needn’t have worried, though, because everyone else was dressed as casually as she was, and when the staff led her to her seat, she found she would be sheltered from prying eyes anyway, in a private room of her own!

The shoji paper sliding doors were open when she arrived, but once she was in, they were closed for complete privacy. Passengers are free to open them as they like, though, which is especially handy for those who want to hear the onboard sightseeing announcements as the train rolls through the countryside.

Momo was already grinning as she walked through the train, but now her smile stretched from ear to ear as she laid her gaze upon the kaiseki meal laid out in front of her.

Filled with local produce, the meal contained meat, fish and vegetable dishes, all presented beautifully in tiered boxes.

The meal glistened before her, and with attentive staff on hand to explain each dish to her and top up her drinks when necessary, Momo imagined this must be what first class would be like on a flight.

She started off by sipping her welcome drink, and when she lifted the morsels of food to her mouth, she squealed with delight each time as they were filled with the same sublime flavours you’d find at a high-class restaurant.

The food tasted even better as she gazed out at the scenery as well. While the trip from Nagano to Karuizawa on the Shinkansen bullet train takes 25 minutes, on the restaurant train the journey takes two-and-a-half hours, giving her plenty of time to relax and enjoy every moment of the meal and the train ride.

Every time the train stopped at a station, there was lots to do as well, as they offered some type of sightseeing spot or event for passengers to enjoy. At Komoro Station, for instance, there was a garden for visitors to stroll through, and at Ueda Station they had costumes on hand for people to wear and take commemorative photos with, as a nod to the 2016 taiga drama Sanada Maru, a historical drama TV series that told the story of Nobushige Sanada, a Japanese samurai warrior from Nagano.

▼ The six coins of the Sanada Clan can be seen on the costumes and on the side of the train as well.

Passengers are free to take part in these events as they like, which means you have the option to go out and stretch your legs or stay in with a cookie and a cup of tea.

With so much to do, eat, and see, Momo didn’t even have time to feel lonely on her solo journey. In fact, the ride was so enjoyable that it ended sooner than she’d hoped, and before she knew it, it was time for her to alight at Karuizawa Station.

She received some Shinshu soba, a specialty of the region, as a present to take home, and she also received a free drink ticket for her to use at a cafe at Karuizawa Station.

Sipping her free coffee and reminiscing over the train ride she’d just enjoyed, Momo suddenly realised that now she wished she had a companion by her side. It wasn’t so much to keep her from feeling lonely, though, but more because she wished she could have someone to gush over the amazing train ride with!

If you’re looking for a bit of an adventure, or want to get away from it all on a short trip, Rokumon is definitely for you. While prices may fluctuate from season to season, Momo paid a total of 14,800 yen (US$137.36) for her one-way journey, which is incredibly reasonable, considering all the freebies you get along with a fancy meal and the actual cost of the train fare included.

Considering that Momo grew up in Nagano Prefecture, she was surprised to find that she learned a lot more about her hometown during the journey, which made it even more enjoyable as well. And now that she’s travelled on Rokumon, she can’t wait to go for another ride on the big red restaurant train, and maybe take some friends and family with her next time too.

Related: Rokumon
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]]> https://soranews24.com/2019/10/02/japan-travel-what-its-like-to-go-on-a-solo-journey-on-a-japanese-restaurant-train/feed/ 0 468387 Japan Travel Restaurant Train Japanese food solo trips and tips reviews photos Karuizawa Nagano 1 Bill Gates Building a Mansion in Japan!? We Investigate! https://soranews24.com/2012/08/18/bill-gates-building-a-mansion-in-japan-we-investigate/ https://soranews24.com/2012/08/18/bill-gates-building-a-mansion-in-japan-we-investigate/#comments Sat, 18 Aug 2012 12:09:01 +0000 http://en.rocketnews24.com/?p=16222

Rumor has it that the world-famous Bill Gates has started building a vacation home in Japan’s premier mountain resort town Karuizawa, Nagano!

After it was substantiated in an article in Shinken Shinbun, a local construction periodical, the Bill Gates Mansion became the talk of the town. The land for it includes an area of 19,979 square meters. It will be one-storied and go down two stories into a basement.  There will be a heliport and a private underground road accessing the grounds where a 2000 square metered garden is planned.

In 1888, a Canadian missionary became the first foreigner to acquire a summer retreat in Karuizawa.  In the mid seventies John Lennon brought his family to Karuizawa every summer! Karuizawa is soothingly cool in the hot summer with plenty of fresh air and abundant greenery.  Bill Gates shows excellent taste in choosing Karuizawa for his hideaway!

Still, the details of this Bill Gates endeavor are clouded in mystery. Rumors surrounding the mansion abound on the internet, such as:

Whatever the case, the fact that he picked Karuizawa as a place for rest and recreation is exciting news!  That someone like Bill Gates prefers Karuizawa as a place to build (whatever it is) is a matter of pride.  In this day and age you can’t help but feel grateful for what feels like Bill Gates’ support.  Warm feelings of gratitude to Bill Gates and Karuizawa bubble up in the soul.

We went on a trip to Karuizawa to see if we could find more on the situation.

On arrival, we found what appears to be a huge construction site! 

   What could this be?  It looks like they might be building an outdoor concert stadium!  There were none of the usual signboards advertising the official tenderer or their plans anywhere in sight.  Is this really the place where Bill Gates is building?  It suddenly became doubtful.  This might not  be the right place.After comparing the navigational data from the map to where the newspaper article said it was, it looks like this is the right place after all.  It is definitely out in the sticks, along a narrow winding road where there is no parking.   The tall fence provides such poor visibility!  Too bad that the camera can’t even catch the enormity of this structure.

There is virtually nobody around to confirm anything.  But wait!  There is bound to be a security guard somewhere on these premises.  Perhaps going around to the back will pay off!

There was a security guard!  Finally someone!

In being asked:  “So is this going to be an Art Museum or something?”

Replied:  “This is a private vacation house, there is no trespassing beyond this point!”

Ah Ha!  It is to be a Private Vacation House!  Got that right!  We all know Bill Gates is rich.  Wouldn’t we love to know what wonders will appear on this land in Karuizawa!

But there was nobody around to ask for the latest gossip on what Bill Gates intends to do, not even a dog-walker.  Nothing to do but wander this lovely neighborhood of villas and vacation houses.

Many famous corporations have resorts and vacation houses in this area.  Imagine the people staying here when Bill Gates’ mansion is completed.  They’ll be able to tell when he arrives and leaves by the sound of his chopper in the heliport!  Unless of course he decides to use the underground private passage…

Amidst all the mystery of what it will be like, we can say we welcome Bill Gates and his plans with open arms!

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