Karuizawa
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Karuizawa is a laid back resort town at the base of Mount Asama near Nagano, Japan. It’s known for having nice summers for enjoying outdoor activities like golf and cycling. In the winter, skiing and hot springs draw visitors.
Travel tip #1: Karuizawa is easily accessible from Tokyo, making it a popular destination for weekend getaways. It can be quite crowded on holiday weekends, so definitely plan ahead if you plan to visit during peak times.
Places of Interest
Kyu-Karuizawa: This is the central area of Karuizawa. It was formerly a stop along the historic Nakasendo Route, one of two major roads in central Japan that connected Kyoto and Tokyo (formerly Edo). Now, you can find quaint local shops and tasty food spots along the main shopping street.
Prince Shopping Plaza: Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza is an outlet mall that has an extensive collection of sports, outdoor, and active wear shops in addition to typical outlet stores. The entire shopping plaza is quite large and is a nice place for walking around even if shopping isn’t your thing.
Karuizawa Ski Resort: The ski resort is not specifically known for its snow quality or size, but is one of the most easily accessible from Tokyo. It’s right next to Karuizawa Station, making it a short walk to the slopes after taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) into town.
Travel tip #2: Karuizawa Shiraito Falls and Kumoba Pond are two natural spots that can be admired while in Karuizawa. Both can be accessed using public transportation.
Food
Mikado Coffee: Mikado Coffee shops are not only in Karuizawa, but the brand has become a recognizable shop in town due to its coffee flavored soft serve ice cream. The ice cream is also used in their famous coffee float, which is garnished with a dried Californian prune.
Honey: Honey is produced in Nagano due to the prefecture’s ideal climate and geography. Much of the honey is pure and natural. There are various flavors sold in the different shops based on the flowers the bees frequent: acacia, chestnut, buckwheat, apples, blueberry, cherry, and more. If you stop into one of the many shops, you can sample some of them.
Nakayama’s Jam: Nakayama’s Jam is located in the Old Karuizawa area along the main shopping street. Their blueberry jam is the most popular while their strawberry jam is a close second. In addition, there are more than 30 types of jam made from local ingredients such as kyoho grapes and apricots to try.
Boulangerie Asanoya: Another spot off of Karuizawa’s shopping street to stop by is Boulangerie Asanoya. Its various crusty and fluffy breads are made with local ingredients, giving the bakery’s products fresh flavors. My personal favorite was their chocolate bread, but everything looked delectable.
Cafe Saku G: This is a cute little dessert cafe that adds local ingredients to their creations. The milk soft serve ice cream with black honey and matcha in a waffle bowl was really yummy! It’s a little difficult to share, but is a good size for one person.
Binmugi: Located in the Prince Shopping Plaza’s food court, Binmugi serves delicious udon noodles in a variety of dishes. Their nabeyaki was prepared to order and was quite delicious. In winter, enjoying something from here is the perfect way to warm up after walking around the outlet stores.
Karuizawa Beer: Karuizawa’s proximity to Mount Asama makes it a great place to source fresh water for beer making. There are several craft breweries around the area, and their beers can be found in many of the stores.
Travel tip #3: Shopping local is the perfect way to support the community while finding special gifts to bring home. Karuizawa shopping street is a nice place to pick up food souvenirs, as you can sample many of the products and buy small sizes of most items.
Transportation and Accommodation
You can access Karuizawa either by car, bus, or by getting to Karuizawa Station from Tokyo, Kanazawa, or Nagano using the JR East Hokuriku Shinkansen train. The shinkansen is the fastest and most convenient way to get to the resort town. However, driving is nice because of the accessibility to places further from the station. If possible, rent a car while in the area to make life easier. In addition to the shinkansen, the Shinano Railway runs through Karuizawa Station.
Sundance Resort Karuizawa is a beautiful place to stay which is close to Karuizawa Station. Their rooms are modern with a mix of cabin-flare and many feature forest views. You can order either Japanese or Western breakfast ahead of time for about 1,000 JPY (~$9 USD), or enjoy their continental breakfast. Their restaurant serves European cuisine and the hotel features local products that can be purchased at the front desk.
Climate
Karuizawa is generally more mild in climate compared to other parts of Japan, but definitely experiences all four seasons. The best time to visit is in early spring due to the comfortable temperatures and predictable weather. Late spring and early fall see a high amount of rainfall while winter can be quite chilly. Checking the weather beforehand to ensure you pack proper clothing is suggested, as temperatures can shift throughout the day and night during all times of the year.
