I recently visited Karuizawa Town in Nagano Prefecture after a long time.
Karuizawa Town always has charming shops and new discoveries to be made, and this time I visited Shigenoya, which has lines even on weekdays.
That day, after heavy rain, the mountain path was covered in mist, creating an ethereal atmosphere.
The unique weather conditions typical of mountain regions, which one doesn't usually see, felt special.
The shop is actually located right on the "prefectural border" between Nagano and Gunma prefectures.
There's a sign marking the border at the entrance, so I stepped across it.
Since neither Nagano nor Gunma Prefecture has a coast,
it's appealing to be able to enjoy mountain-specific cuisine.
Having grown up by the sea, everything felt new to me,
and I was excited to try ingredients I don't usually eat.
Many dishes in this area use "walnuts,"
and even mochi uses walnuts, which I couldn't imagine the taste of at first, but it surprisingly works well.
Since trying walnut mochi at a different shop before, it has become a favorite of mine,
and I was very satisfied with it again at this shop, as it was highly recommended.
After a delicious meal, the view from the shop's terrace,
which would normally be beautiful surrounded by trees, was
also ethereal in its own way, being covered in mist.
Karuizawa Town, with its cool temperatures even in summer, is a pleasant place to be.
I truly felt why it's a popular tourist destination.