Ruze Villa

The atmosphere is so lovely and authentic that you can almost imagine you're in Europe, maybe because of the location. Surrounded by antique furniture, it feels like a blissful escape. Visit during rose season and you might just feel like you've gone to heaven, lol.

It was my first stay, and I loved the atmosphere, the room, and the food. I'd like to come back next year. After dinner, hotel guests wait to be called, but I couldn't tell how long the wait would be or whether I should leave or stay put. Next time, I'd like to eat in my room.

Luze Villa is a tucked-away hotel in Karuizawa that seems known only to people in the know, and it's a hidden gem for afternoon tea too. Tea is served in the classic lounge of the stylish Western-style building beside the English garden, with views over the garden. The setting feels elegant, almost like being invited to an English country house. In the quiet space, surrounded by seasonal flowers, you can take your time over carefully brewed tea, homemade scones, and desserts. It makes for a wonderfully luxurious, secluded break. Afternoon tea is offered on an irregular schedule, so it's best to check before you visit.

I planned our Karuizawa trip because I wanted to stay here. It's a small place with just five rooms, but so incredibly lovely. Everything inside, including the European antique furniture, felt perfect. I was happy just to be in that space ✨ Even casual snapshots looked like paintings because everything was so beautiful. I kept saying how amazing it was the whole stay. There aren't any nearby shops, so we booked in-room dining for dinner. They brought all the food to our room between 5 and 6 pm, then we could eat at our own pace. That suited us since we wanted to enjoy the room. The taste, portions, and presentation all made us happy. After 6 pm, the staff leave and the hotel switches to fully automatic locks. So it's important to ask for anything you need, like drinks, before then. Getting settled in with everything you need makes it fun to stay in. Apparently, staying here gets you free entry to the Lake Garden right in front, so it's a good deal if you visit outside its closure period. You can also visit just for afternoon tea. If staying overnight feels like a bit much, that's a nice way to enjoy the atmosphere. Even seeing the lobby makes a visit worthwhile. The lobby was my favorite part, and I even went there alone at night, haha. We were there around Christmas, and the big tree was beautiful. It was lit differently in the morning and at night, so it felt like two different experiences. Getting there is a little inconvenient, but maybe that's why it's so quiet and peaceful. If you want to experience something out of the ordinary, give it a try ❣️ More about Luze Villa after yesterday ✨ Time flew by. We checked in around 3 pm, and breakfast seemed to come around almost immediately. We could choose our breakfast time at check-in, and I picked the latest available slot, but still slept in a little. Maybe having too much to drink played a part, but I really should work on being so bad in the mornings. I was still half asleep and zoning out, but the lovely breakfast dishes kept arriving and gradually woke me up (still sleepy...