Karuizawa Winter Festival
By Lynda Hogan
Manpei Hotel is one of the few remaining elegant classic hotels in Japan. John Lennon stayed at this hotel with his family as a summer retreat. Starting in 1976, he enjoyed summer vacations here for four consecutive years. Their room was always #128. The hotel museum exhibits a hotel piano he played during his stays.
By the way, Manpei Hotel is the first hotel that offered the Western style service in Karuizawa. In 1886 A.C. Shaw (a British Missionary), stopped by Karuizawa by chance. He really loved this place and asked for a room to the owner of an inn. The owner, Sato Manpei, thought it might be a good chance to start a new business for foreign customers. He studied Western customs and eventually opened this hotel in 1894. The hotel museum also displays various items that show the hotel's history.
Autumn leaves in Karuizawa are at their best in late October to early November. I enjoyed a bike ride and stopped by Manpei Hotel, going through a beautiful forest colored with autumn tints.
