KARUIZAWA HARVEST (軽井沢ハーベスト)
Whole-food toppers for dogs
Whole food, made from wild Nagano venison, Shinshu apples and carefully chosen vegetables.
Our first recipe, VENISON + APPLE, launches winter 2026/27.
Our Story
When we moved from Tokyo to Karuizawa, we started cooking for our dog Umi. Wild venison from the forests here, apples from Shinshu orchards, and farm vegetables. We couldn't find anything like it on a shelf, so we kept making it. Karuizawa Harvest is what that became.
VENISON + APPLE, Our First Topper Recipe
VENISON + APPLE is a premium, whole-food topper for dogs: wild Nagano venison, apples, sweet potato, carrot and broccoli.
What is a topper?
In the US and UK, the practice of adding to a dog’s base food has a name: a topper. Whether it comes as freeze-dried meat, a gravy, a powdered mix, or something you've cooked yourself, a topper goes on top of the regular meal rather than replacing it.
Our Favourite Spots in Karuizawa
01BAKERY, the Naka-Karuizawa bakery with a terrace for your dog
A bakery in a quiet part of Naka-Karuizawa that opens at seven in the morning. House yeast cultured from amazake, domestic wheat, three days for the hard loaves, and a garden terrace where dogs are...
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KARUIZAWA BIRDIE: A Dog Store Loved by Locals
Between Kyu-Karuizawa and Nakakaruizawa sits a shop with thirty years of local history. KARUIZAWA BIRDIE has built a loyal community over three decades; walk in on any given day and you will likely...
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Mona's Kitchen — Proper Sandwiches in Old Karuizawa
Just off Ginza-dori in the heart of old Karuizawa, Mona's Kitchen is run by Rob, a Canadian owner-chef. He makes his own pastrami and stocks plenty of ingredients rarely found in Japan.
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