Trattoria Primo
A beloved Italian trattoria nestled in a Karuizawa forest grove, famous for its crispy pizzas and unique pasta dishes.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
Trattoria Primo
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A beloved Italian trattoria nestled in a Karuizawa forest grove, famous for its crispy pizzas and unique pasta dishes.
"A hidden gem with amazing food and friendly staff, offering a satisfying meal."
Avoid Peak Times
Visit during off-peak hours to minimize wait times, as lines can form.
Must-Try Dishes
Don't miss the uni cream gnocchi or omar shrimp creamy spaghetti.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Italian
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+81 267-42-1129
Address
330-8 Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0102, Japan
Website
primo-karuizawa.com/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Thin & Crispy Pizzas
Indulge in delicious, thin, and crispy pizzas. Customize your pie with a request for extra crispiness!
Creamy Uni Spaghetti
Experience unique pasta dishes like the highly recommended creamy uni spaghetti.
Forest Ambiance
Enjoy the cozy, forest-like ambiance that makes dining here a unique experience.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Avoid Peak Times
Visit during off-peak hours to minimize wait times, as lines can form.
Must-Try Dishes
Don't miss the uni cream gnocchi or omar shrimp creamy spaghetti.
Pizza Crispiness
Ask for extra crispiness on your pizza for an even better bite.
Dietary Menus
English and Vegan menus are available for those with dietary preferences.
Tips
from all over the internet
Avoid Peak Times
Visit during off-peak hours to minimize wait times, as lines can form.
Must-Try Dishes
Don't miss the uni cream gnocchi or omar shrimp creamy spaghetti.
Pizza Crispiness
Ask for extra crispiness on your pizza for an even better bite.
Dietary Menus
English and Vegan menus are available for those with dietary preferences.
Generous Portions
Expect good portion sizes, which are often larger than typical Japanese standards.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Trattoria Primo is celebrated for its delicious Italian fare, particularly its thin-crust pizzas and perfectly cooked pastas like the uni cream gnocchi and uni spaghetti. The ambiance is noted as forest-like and cozy. While generally praised for good food and friendly service, some reviews mention it can be bright and not as cozy at night, and waits can be long during peak times.
"super good italian food at reasonable price. we visited on weekend night, waited <20min for a table. just get a number at the door and wait to be called!
for food we ordered snow crab pizza, vongole, uni pasta, tiramisu. all were GREATTT! seasoning, texture all done right! such a satisfying meal, a hidden gem! 10/10 will recommend and will come back for another meal!"
shelly
"Passed by this restaurant around lunch time and there were waiting lines. Phoned in to make dinner reservations but they don’t take reservations and said that we wouldn’t need them for dinner.
We went soon after opening time.
The food was quite good. Recommend that 4 cheese pizza. The crust is crispy around the sides and is quite tasty throughout. They provided honey which wasn’t too sweet and went well with the cheese.
Also recommend the lobster and snow crab tagliatelle. Guessing they make their own pasta or have a very good source of premade.
Dessert was pretty straight forward.
Will probably stop by again to try other dishes.
Recommend this restaurant for it’s pasta and pizza."
CuppyRider
"This restaurant is impressive then I came back again in the next day. 😉 If u love thin and crispy pizza , you should. Anyway, u can request more crispy and the pasta is al dante.
Recommended!!"
Paula L
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Many diners rave about the thin and crispy pizzas, as well as unique pasta dishes like the creamy uni spaghetti and uni cream gnocchi.
No, reservations are not typically taken. It's recommended to visit during off-peak hours or be prepared for a wait.
Yes, you can ask for extra crispiness on your pizza to enhance the texture.
Yes, Trattoria Primo offers English and Vegan menus to accommodate dietary preferences.
Diners often find the portion sizes to be good and generous, especially compared to typical Japanese standards.
The restaurant has a forest-like ambiance, often described as cozy. Some note it can be a bit bright at night.
Mentioned in
Featured in these publications
Dining in Karuizawa (Nagano): Best Restaurants for Yakiniku, Sushi, Cafes & More
Popular places include Kawakamian, a well-known soba restaurant; Chozumeya, a shop specializing in sausages and ham made from domestic Japanese beef and pork; Boulangerie Asanoya, a historic bakery with over 80 years of tradition; and Trattoria Primo, an Italian restaurant nestled in a grove of trees.
An introduction to truly delicious Karuizawa cuisine, carefully selected by food lovers!
Trattoria Primo is a famous Italian restaurant in Karuizawa. It’s a super-popular restaurant that people line up for every day. The Trattoria Primo menu items use freshly prepared highland vegetables.
Karuizawa Town's Best 26 Restaurants in Japan 2024
Italian330-8 Karuizawa, Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture. Provided by Autoreserve. This stylish Italian restaurant is set amidst the woods of Kyu-Karuizawa.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit