Karuizawa

A cool, forested highland retreat about an hour from Tokyo by bullet train, long favoured by Tokyo's elite for summer villas.

Character: An upscale resort town with a mainly domestic crowd: Tokyo families, second-home owners and wedding parties. It has forest walks, churches, cafés, an outlet mall and onsen. It gets busy on summer weekends and holidays.
Why it stands out: Weekdays and the winter or early-spring off-season are much quieter, and the Naka-Karuizawa forest area connects Harunire Terrace, Tombo-no-Yu and the Wild Bird Sanctuary on walking trails.
Getting there: Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Karuizawa: about 65–75 minutes (about ¥5,910 one way). A bus takes about 3 hours. From Osaka, take the Shinkansen via Tokyo or the Hokuriku route via Kanazawa (about 4 hours). Nearest airports: Haneda/Narita.
Seasons: Peak in summer (July–August), when it is a cool escape from Tokyo's heat, and during autumn foliage (mid-October to early November). Winter (November–March) is quieter, with a small beginner ski area. Cool summers and cold, fairly dry winters.
Watch-outs: Summer weekend and holiday crowds and traffic can be heavy. Winter brings snow and icy roads, so a car is useful for outlying spots.
Neighbourhoods: Kyu-Karuizawa: Old town: Ginza street, churches and Kumoba Pond. / Naka-Karuizawa: The Hoshino area: Harunire Terrace, Tombo-no-Yu and forest trails.
Nearby: Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza / Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza / Harunire Terrace / Hoshino Onsen Tombo-no-Yu / Shiraito Falls / Kumoba Pond / Shaw Memorial Church / Karuizawa Kogen Church / Stone Church / Former Mikasa Hotel

Karuizawa

Hotel condos and memberships in this area

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