2026-07-01 Slow Living Stroll in Karuizawa: Light and Shadows at Hiroshi Senju Museum and Kumoba Pond#

Karuizawa is an ideal resort destination for slow living. The hotel we stayed at this time not only had spacious rooms (especially compared to the two nights in Ueno), but also featured an elegant garden. Despite the comfortable environment, we didn’t want to just spend our time at the hotel. On the morning of July 1st, after enjoying our breakfast, we set off for the Hiroshi Senju Museum Karuizawa.

Unconventional Geometry and Symbiotic Architecture#

Before even stepping into the main building, the adjacent annex immediately caught our eyes. It is a contemporary design full of deconstructivist elements, with sharp geometric lines, metallic outer walls radiating a cold luster, and large areas of triangular tilted glass that cut and reconstruct the surrounding lush tree shadows and ever-changing skylight like a kaleidoscope. This seemingly avant-garde and cold design miraculously blends into the natural woodlands of Karuizawa, like a modern sculpture growing out of the earth.

Stepping into the main museum building designed by renowned architect Ryue Nishizawa, a completely different scene unfolds. It breaks the traditional closed, square “white box” framework of museums. The entire building follows the natural terrain of Karuizawa, with subtle undulations and gentle slopes on the floor. Large wraparound transparent glass walls and green courtyard gardens scattered throughout allow sunlight, tree shadows, and the visual imagery of the breeze to flow freely within the exhibition halls. Wandering here is like getting lost in a forest; every corner is a harmonious dance of light, shadow, and art.

Photography is prohibited inside. That’s fine, as it allowed me to concentrate better and fully appreciate the moment.

The Ethereal Cascade: The Rhythm of the Waterfall#

“Water flowing downwards is the materialization of Earth’s gravity, and the silent trajectory of time and nature.”

What my wife and I appreciated the most was Master Hiroshi Senju’s “Waterfall” series. The master took the traditional Japanese painting material “Iwa-enogu” (pigments made from ground natural minerals) to the extreme. He abandoned traditional brushstrokes, instead letting the paint flow naturally from top to bottom, carving out white splashes and cascades on the canvas like ten thousand galloping horses.

Standing in front of these massive paintings, one can almost hear the roar of the water and even feel the mist blowing against the face.

Guardian of the Woods: The Realm of the Divine Deer#

Besides the majestic waterfalls, the museum also features series like “Forest,” themed around “deer.” In Japanese culture, deer are often seen as guardians of the forest and messengers of nature’s deities.

However, to be honest, compared to the awe-inspiring “Waterfall” series, both my wife and I felt this series was relatively ordinary.

An Unexpected Harvest#

We originally didn’t expect to visit a museum in Karuizawa. This art journey was indeed an excellent and unexpected harvest.

Kyu-Karuizawa#

After finishing the museum tour, we took a taxi back to the Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza Street, completing our unfinished itinerary from earlier. For lunch, we enjoyed a tofu set meal, which was delicious and had a great variety. For my wife and me, both vegetarians, finding such delightful food in a scenic area was a rare stroke of luck.

Kumoba Pond#

After lunch, we walked to Kumoba Pond. The pond isn’t very large; one might even jokingly call it a big “puddle,” as it only takes about ten minutes to walk around it. But as the saying goes, “An elegant room needs not be large.” I’ve heard the autumn leaves here are incredibly beautiful. Although it’s midsummer now and we missed the autumn colors, the lush green scenery has its own unique charm. The water is very calm, and it’s said the reflections in the early morning are the most enchanting; it even has the reputation of a “Swan Lake.” Even though we didn’t see any swans, taking a stroll around the pond was still exceptionally refreshing.

On our way back, we walked to the train station. Seeing we still had time, we found a massage parlor to rest for a while. Fortunately, even without an advance reservation, we only waited about ten minutes.

Just like that, we spent a fulfilling day in a slow-living pace.