Café St.Maire Kumoba — Restaurant in Karuizawa

A culinary romance in Karuizawa: Cafe St Maire’s enchanting symphony of flavours:

For those in search of a dining experience that transcends the ordinary, Karuizawa’s Café St Maire offers an exquisite gastronomic retreat at the serene gateway of Kumoba Pond. Here, the art of fine dining meets the poetry of nature, creating an ambiance as breathtaking as the flavours on the plate.

Helmed by Executive Chef Yu Dagiri, Café St Maire is a temple of gourmet indulgence. The journey begins with a meticulously crafted entrée - a delicate arrangement of succulent roast pork, elegantly paired with a velvety cream soup brimming with hand-selected seasonal vegetables. A crisp garden salad completes this overture, teasing the palate for the symphony to follow.

The main course is where Chef Dagiri’s brilliance truly shines. His Italian spaghetti, infused with the earthy essence of locally foraged wild mushrooms, is a revelation. Each forkful carries the depth of Karuizawa’s landscape, elevating traditional Italian flavours to an entirely new echelon.

To conclude this culinary affair, the dessert arrives like a whispered love letter - an opulent chocolate mousse cradling delicate shards of flaky biscuit, crowned with luscious sweet plums and billows of freshly whipped chocolate cream. It is a dessert that lingers, much like the memory of an unforgettable romance.

With its enchanting lakeside setting, impeccable service, and cuisine that speaks to the soul, Café St Maire is not just a restaurant - it is an experience, a moment of indulgence where time slows, and flavours...

Café St. Maire is one of those rare spots where the setting, atmosphere, and experience come together so naturally that it feels like a well-kept secret — even though it’s right next to one of Karuizawa’s most beloved walking paths.

Tucked at the edge of Kumoba Pond, the café offers serene, picture-perfect views of the water and surrounding trees, making it an ideal rest stop after the easy and scenic 20-minute walk around the pond. The seating — both indoors and on the terrace — lets you fully absorb the tranquility of the landscape. You’ll find yourself lingering longer than you planned.

The soft serve ice cream here deserves special mention — creamy, fresh, and not overly sweet, it’s the perfect reward after a light walk. They also offer excellent coffee, seasonal sweets, and light snacks — all served with genuine warmth and without the touristy rush you sometimes find in busier spots.

What really makes Café St. Maire memorable is the quiet elegance and simplicity — the kind of place where even young kids and grandparents can relax side by side and enjoy the moment. It feels almost like stepping into a Ghibli film: peaceful, thoughtful, and perfectly in harmony with its natural surroundings.

Highly recommend making this your stop when visiting Kumoba Pond — whether for a full break or just a cone of that ice cream you’ll be thinking...

Our last day in Karuizawa, almost missed out on a scenic kumoba pond and just next to the pond was this quaint cafe.

The food is quite expensive, but it was quite worth it.

The salmon and matsutake don was amazing, the Roast beef don was super satisfying and the Pasta was fresh and just hits the right spot.

I think this is a must visit spot for those going...