Tabelog ratingJosé Luis Karuizawa (Jose Luis Karuizawa) is the first branch outside Spain of Madrid's José Luis. It sits in the TWIN-LINE HOTEL and cooks Spanish classics with produce from Shinshu, the old name for Nagano. It has been named in Tabelog's Spanish "Tabelog 100" in 2024 and 2026. The signature is the fideuà, a paella made with short pasta, cooked in a concentrated shrimp broth until crisp and charred on top and soft underneath. The soufflé tortilla is a Spanish omelette under an airy, meringue-like crown.
About half of all reviewers praise the shrimp-broth paella or fideuà, and the soufflé tortilla comes up almost as often. Other recurring favourites are the Basque cheesecake with cheese ice cream, gazpacho, the jamón and mushroom salad, beef-tendon tapas and a seasonal fruit sangria. Diners also note warmed plates, a stylish room of concrete and wood, a welcome for children and small touches for birthdays. Dessert is often served in the fireplace lounge beside the hotel lobby.
The main complaint is portion size, which Japanese reviewers raise politely but often. Service is uneven: some guests felt rushed, dishes were not always explained, and drinks could be slow. Two diners found the paella rice underdone, and others thought some dishes were salty or the Shinshu beef at dinner was heavy.
Typical spend is ¥4,000–5,000 at lunch and ¥8,000–10,000 at dinner. Reviewers in 2024–2026 paid around ¥2,800 for the weekday Ligero lunch (pinchos, gazpacho, salad, fideuà, cheesecake and coffee) and ¥4,500 for the Estandar lunch. Dinner courses ran from ¥9,000 to ¥13,000, and the Jose Upgrade with wine pairing came to about ¥32,000 for two. Sangria cost around ¥1,300 and soft drinks about ¥900.
Lunch is good value, especially the weekday ¥2,800 course, which reviewers repeatedly call a bargain. Weekend lunch courses cost more. Dinner divides opinion: most Japanese diners are happy with it, but some foreign visitors felt the small portions did not justify the price.
- Access: 7 minutes' walk (about 700 m) from Karuizawa Station, North Exit.
- Booking: Book ahead, because walking in without a reservation is not reliable. Same-day booking on weekdays is often possible. If the Tabelog booking fails, phone 050-5597-8561. Online dinner bookings may be set-menu only. Tell the restaurant about any allergies when you book.
- Payment: Cards accepted (VISA, Mastercard, JCB, AMEX, Diners). Electronic money (Suica and other transport IC cards, Rakuten Edy, nanaco, WAON, iD) and PayPay are also accepted. Reviewers say split bills are not allowed.
- Children: Welcome at all ages, with a kids' menu and space for strollers.
- Seating: 56 seats, including counter and sofa seating. No private rooms and no private hire. Wheelchair accessible.
- Smoking: Non-smoking, with a designated smoking space.
- Parking: Available. A second lot for 26 cars, 3 minutes' walk away, is for hotel guests only.
- Language: Reviewers report an English menu and English-speaking staff.
- Drinks: Wine-focused list, cocktails and a sommelier.
