Discover Karuizawa

Karuizawa brings together striking natural scenery, literary sites and a history visible along old trade routes. You can discover the character of this destination in tranquil pond landscapes, waterfalls and forest trails, as well as in museums and historic town centers. When choosing a holiday rental, it is therefore worth first considering which of these sides of Karuizawa you would most like to experience on your trip.

Historic Roads and Lively Kyu-Karuizawa

The main street of Kyu-Karuizawa was once a route for merchants traveling between the former capitals of Kyoto and Edo, now Tokyo. Today, boutiques, cafés and restaurants line the historic center. This gives a stroll a different character from an outing focused on nature or the forest. You can explore Kyu-Karuizawa on foot, by bicycle or by local bus. This lets you plan your visit around your preferred way of getting around without losing sight of the area’s historical background.

Oiwakejuku also tells the story of Karuizawa’s role along old transport routes: the town developed as a post station at the crossroads of the Nakasendō and Hokkoku Kaidō. The Masugata teahouse has retained its original form. The exhibition at the Oiwakejuku Museum of Local History spans materials from prehistoric times through to the modern era, with a focus on Oiwakejuku’s early modern history. Those interested in the town’s development will find a different perspective here from the historic street route of Kyu-Karuizawa.

Ponds, Waterfalls and Seasonal Nature

Kumobaike Pond reflects the changing seasons: fresh greenery stands out in spring, while autumn brings colorful foliage. A walking path about one kilometer long runs around the pond, giving you the chance to enjoy the landscape at a leisurely pace. Kumobaike Pond is a five-minute taxi ride from Karuizawa Station, whether you start at the Shinano Railway station or the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen station. The combination of a short waterside walk and a well-known autumn landscape makes the pond a specific option for a nature outing.

Shiraito Falls, the source area of the Yukawa River, offers a very different natural scene. Hundreds of underground streams cascade over a curved rock face, resembling white silk threads. The autumn foliage is impressive here, too. To get there from Karuizawa Station, plan on a 25-minute bus ride followed by a five-minute walk. If a waterfall is part of your plans, you can factor these travel segments into your day.

Plants and Forest Trails

The Karuizawa Town Botanical Garden focuses on plants native to the Karuizawa Highlands. More than 1,600 species of trees and flowering plants from around 145 families grow across some 20,000 square meters. Observation trails run throughout the grounds. Next to the garden is a two-story exhibition house with information about Karuizawa’s seasonal changes, notable plants and the garden’s conservation work. This lets you focus your visit on both the outdoor plants and the additional information in the exhibition house.

The National Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest lies at an elevation of about 1,000 meters and covers around 100 hectares of woodland. Its network of observation trails is about three kilometers long. Picchio’s “Wild Bird Forest Nature Watching” tour takes visitors through the forest, where they can observe wildlife that varies by season. A pond walk, garden trails and forest observation each offer a different focus. When choosing a holiday rental, you can therefore consider which destinations will take up the most space in your itinerary, rather than treating every nature experience as the same kind of outing.

Literature, Views and Distinctive Local Scenery

Karuizawa Kogen Bunko opened on the shore of Lake Shiozawa in August 1985 so that visitors could experience a diverse literary world; it also offers a striking view of Mount Asama. Inside, you can also see the interior of a villa loved by Tatsuo Hori, which was relocated here from Old Karuizawa. Harunire Terrace, meanwhile, consists of nine buildings connected by wooden decks and set among more than 100 naturally growing Japanese zelkova trees along a clear stream. It has a total of 16 independent shops and restaurants. These places offer different kinds of discovery: literature and a relocated house interior on the one hand, and an ensemble of trees, stream and shops on the other.

The observation platform at Old Usui Pass, on the border between Nagano and Gunma, offers expansive views. From there you can see the Jōmō Three Mountains, the Nikkō mountain range, Mount Asama and Yatsugatake; you can also take in the broad sweep of autumn foliage descending from the mountains. Whether you would like to focus your stay on historic townscapes, plants and forests, literature or mountain panoramas gives your search for a suitable holiday rental in Karuizawa a clear direction.

If you would like to discover more destinations, also visit Tateshina and Miyota.

For the overview of the wider region, see: Kitasaku District.