Karuizawa

Karuizawa is widely known as a summer resort at the foot of Mount Asama in Nagano. It takes only 1.5 hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo and 30 minutes from Nagano to Karuizawa. From the Western missionaries at first to the later urban elites, they all regard it as the first choice for escaping the hustle and bustle of the city. That is why Karuizawa is called “The Back Garden of Tokoyo,” “Swiss-like Town in Japan,” and “Natural Sanatorium.” 

With the Karuizawa Station as the center, various attractions are scattered in multiple areas. You may need at least one day to visit them by location.

Best Places to Visit near the Karuizawa Station 

Kumoba Pond

Kumoba Pond in Winter

Kumoba Pond is praised as “Swan Lake.” In spring and summer, the lake reflects the vibrant green of trees; in autumn, the lake turns red by maple leaves; and in winter, it becomes a pure white world. 

Old Karuizawa Ginza Street

It is the oldest and the most local street in Karuizawa. Scattered with various local specialty shops and cafés, Old Karuizawa Ginza can meet all your needs for regional specialties such as jam, miso, beer, tea, or dessert.
Opening Time: All day, most stores are open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza

It has complex landscapes and modern high-end outlets, and it is more fashionable than Old Karuizawa Ginza.

Opening Time: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

Unmissable Places to Go in Naka-Karuizawa

Naka-Karuizawa is to the west of Karuizawa Station, most regions of which belong to Hoshino Resort, a famous Japanese resort operator originally established in Karuizawa.

Stone Church

It is an arced church built of giant rocks and glass. The creative design of the stones and glassy skylights lining up in interphase rows introduces the light from all different angles. The structure and materials of Stone Church deliver the thought that “only nature is the true place for prayers.”

Opening Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Admission fee: Free

Karuizawa Kogen Church

The enormous triangular shape and all-wood structure make it like the one in fairy tales. The Summer Candle Night celebration held every summer brings a more romantic atmosphere. The church welcomes couples to hold weddings here.

Tips: 
1. No photography inside.
2. At 4:00 pm - 4:10 pm and 4:15 pm - 4:25 pm every Sunday, there is a harp playing performance. 

Opening Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Mass time: 8:00 am - 8:30 am on every Sunday 
Admission fee: Free

Harunire Terrace

In this leisure area, surrounded by over 100 naturally growing elm trees, you can taste many local seasonal cuisines, including the famous Maruyama coffee. During the plum rainy season in early summer, an “umbrella sky” made up of 100 umbrellas will surprise you a lot.

Most restaurants open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and stores usually open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary

Hiking in the Forest

Many people may miss this greenery national nature reserve. That makes it less crowded, and you can indulge in the forest.

Tonbo-no-yu: Hoshino Hot Springs

It has both open-air and indoor hot springs. Whether you stay overnight or not, you can enjoy the premium services of Hoshino Resorts, which is ideal for short breaks on your tour. 

Opening Time: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Cost: JPY1350, which temporarily increases in peak season

Southwestward Tour to Appreciate Art

Hiroshi Senju Museum Karuizawa

Visit Plants in the Museum

You will be surprised not only by the 50 paintings of Hiroshi Senju, a famous Japanese painting master but also by the museum’s architecture. Beyond the open and bright exhibition hall, it owns a grand garden planting about 60,000 plants and over 150 flowers.

Karuizawa Taliesin: A Leisure Park

Relying on the Shizawa Lake, this leisure park combines natural scenery and art. For art lovers, the Peynet Museum, the Literary Museum of Karuizawa, and many other artsy places are all worth visiting.

Opening Time: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Karuizawa Picturebook Museum

There are about 6,000 picture books, some of which are the first editions of classic works of children's literature, such as Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Peter Rabbit.

Northernmost Tour to Shiraito Waterfall

Shiraito Waterfall is the furthest attraction in Karuizawa. It is 3 meters (10 feet) high and 70 meters (230 feet) wide. Despite the relatively small water volume, the stream of silk-like water hanging down is impressive, and the meaning of its name is the silk-like waterfall. In autumn, it is ideal for viewing red maple leaves, and in summer and winter, it holds lighting-up events at night.

Admission fee: Free

Two Ways to Travel Around in Karuizawa

Cycling Route: 

Cycling in Karuizawa

There are plenty of bike-renting stores around Karuizawa Station, and it takes about JPY1,000 to rent a whole day.

Start from Karuizawa Station → Ride west for about 30 to 50 minutes to Stone Church and Karuizawa Kogen Church → Ride for about 5 to 10 minutes to Harunire Terrace → Ride for about 20 minutes following the direction you came to Kumoba Pond → Ride for about 10 to 20 minutes back to Karuizawa Station and visit the Old Karuizawa Ginza Street nearby.

Bus Route: 

1. Take the Karuizawa Shuttle Bus from Karuizawa Station North Exit to Shiraito Waterfall. It takes about 25 minutes and JPY720 for a single-way. The first bus is at 9:40 am, and the departure frequency is about one hour. 

2. After visiting Shiraito Waterfall, go back to Karuizawa Station and relax on Old Karuizawa Ginza Street. The last returning bus is at 4:40 pm.

3. Take the Seibu Tourist Bus to Hoshino Onsen Station and visit the mentioned attractions in Naka-Karuizawa. It takes about 20 minutes and costs JPY500 per trip.

Operating Time of Seibu Tourist Bus:

	Usual Day	Weekend
First Bus	8:30 am	9:10 am
Last Bus	6:55 pm	7:00 pm

How to Get to Karuizawa

The best and most convenient way is by Hakuriku Shinkansen.

1. Nagano Station → Hakuriku Shinkansen → Karuizawa Station: 30min; JPY4,500 for non-reserved seat
2. Tokoyo Station → Hakuriku Shinkansen → Karuizawa Station: 1 hour; JPY6,780 for non-reserved seat