Karuizawa Life
I've lived in some remarkable cities.
San Francisco. Los Angeles. Hong Kong. Shanghai. Tokyo.
Cities that never really sleep. Places where calendars are packed, inboxes are overflowing, and somehow everyone is always in a hurry to get somewhere.
For years, I thought that was simply life.
Then we found Karuizawa.
Or perhaps, more accurately, Karuizawa found us.
Perched roughly 1,000 meters above sea level in the highlands of Nagano, this quiet mountain town has long been known as a place of retreat. Japanese writers, artists, diplomats, and even the royal family have escaped here for generations, drawn by its clean water, cool summers, crisp air, and something increasingly rare in modern life—peace.
People often describe Karuizawa as a place that heals the mind, body, and soul.
At first, I thought that sounded a little too fiction.
But after living here, I understand.
Because some things are difficult to explain until you've experienced them yourself.
What exactly is Karuizawa Life?
I'm not entirely sure there's a perfect answer.
Ask ten people, and you'll probably get ten different answers.
But for Tomoko and me, it meant learning how to slow down.
Not slowing down out of laziness.
Slowing down with intention.
It meant waking up to birds instead of sirens.
Trading skyscrapers for forests.
Measuring the seasons not by quarterly reports, but by the changing colors of the trees.
It meant rediscovering simple pleasures that somehow became luxuries along the way.
Morning walks with our dog beneath towering larch trees and waterfalls.
Quiet strolls through nature trails.
Cycling with no destination in mind.
Sneaking in a weekday round of golf.
Playing tennis almost every morning at Karuizawa Kai Club.
And gathering with our tribe for pickleball on evenings and weekends—laughing, competing, and building friendships that somehow feel more meaningful when everyone isn't rushing to the next thing.
Life here moves differently.
Not slower.
Just differently.
Cafés spill onto quiet streets.
Chefs from Tokyo, Osaka, France, and Italy quietly practice their craft, turning humble kitchens into extraordinary dining experiences.
Tiny family-owned boutiques sit beside bakeries that have been perfecting the same recipes for decades.
There are no flashing signs demanding your attention.
No race to keep up.
Just people choosing, in their own way, to live deliberately.
And perhaps that's what makes Karuizawa so special.
It's not trying to be anything.
It simply is.
Which is probably why so many people who come here for a weekend eventually find themselves wondering what life would be like if they stayed.
Some do.
Many don't.
But almost everyone leaves carrying a small piece of the place with them.
Maybe it's the mountain air.
Maybe it's the water.
Maybe it's the silence.
Or maybe it's simply the reminder that life doesn't always have to be lived at full speed.
Because somewhere between the forests, the tennis courts, the cafés, and evenings spent with friends, we discovered something we didn't even know we were looking for.
A different rhythm.
A deeper appreciation.
A life lived a little more intentionally.
That's Karuizawa Life.
And unless you've experienced this hidden corner of Japan yourself, it may be impossible to fully explain.
You'll just have to come and see.
—
From the forests of Karuizawa.
Ivan & Tomoko
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