Moeginomura Village

Moegi no Mura is a nature-rich highland resort village in Kiyosato at the foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains, where you can enjoy “eat,” “shop,” “stay,” and “play” all in one place. Highlights include the restaurant “ROCK,” famous for curry with about 150,000 orders per year; the “Merry-Go-Round Café,” featuring a one-of-a-kind carousel and (rare in this area) open-terrace seating where you can dine with pets; and “Bar & Lounge Perch,” where you can enjoy rare whiskies that impress even serious whisky fans. “Restaurant Nest” offers Italian for lunch and a full-course French dinner by a chef who is also a vegetable sommelier. For shopping, there are many unique stores: “Le Chat des Bois,” filled with cat goods from Japan and abroad; the paper craft shop “Paper Bug”; “GIA MARIA,” serving delicious homemade sweets using local fruits; the denim shop “Marutenbou,” where everything is handmade; “Essengarten,” with a strong selection of Yamanashi wines; and the ham/sausage specialty shop “Chouzume-ya,” among many others. The village’s only accommodation is “Hut Walden,” a chic mountain-lodge-style hotel opened in 1976—simple yet imaginative, stimulating the senses through forest living. Access: by train, get off at JR Koumi Line “Kiyosato Station” and walk about 8–10 minutes. By car, exit at Chuo Expressway “Sudama IC” and take Route 141; or exit at “Kobuchizawa IC” and take the Yatsugatake Crossing Road; or exit at “Nagaoka IC” and take the Kiyosato Highland Road. From the Joshinetsu Expressway, exit at “Saku IC” and take Route 141.