Karuizawa

Karuizawa’s cool mountain climate makes onsen a natural part of the experience, particularly after a day of walking, cycling, or exploring the surrounding forest. Soak in mineral-rich waters at one of the area’s hot spring baths, with options ranging from refined hotel facilities to day-use baths in the Hoshino area. A visit is best enjoyed as a quiet pause in the afternoon or evening.

Karuizawa’s cafe scene reflects its history as a summer retreat, with old coffeehouses, hotel lounges, bakeries, and forest-side terraces spread between Old Karuizawa and the Hoshino Area. Stop for coffee and sweets along Old Karuizawa Ginza, where Mikado Coffee has operated since 1952, or pause at a hotel cafe such as Mampei Hotel’s Cafe Terrace, known for its long-running apple pie recipe. In the Hoshino Area, Harunire Terrace offers a more contemporary setting, with shops and cafes arranged along wooden decks beside a stream. 

 Follow Karuizawa’s forest trails through a landscape of larch, maple, and mountain streams. Walks can be tailored by season, from fresh summer greenery to autumn foliage, with routes leading toward waterfalls, viewpoints, and quieter wooded paths. The appeal lies in Karuizawa’s easy access to nature, set within one of Japan’s most established resort towns.

Explore Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary, a protected forest area known for its seasonal birdlife and native wildlife. Guided nature walks offer insight into the ecology of the region, from forest habitats to conservation efforts, making the visit rewarding for travelers interested in more than birdwatching alone. 

Walk through Old Karuizawa, where the town’s identity as a mountain resort first took shape. Old Karuizawa Ginza Street still functions as the main historic shopping street, lined with long-established bakeries, coffee shops, small eateries, and souvenir stores. Nearby Shaw Memorial Chapel recalls Alexander Croft Shaw, who helped introduce Karuizawa as a summer retreat in the 1880s. 

Visit Shiraito Falls, located at the source of the Yugawa River. The waterfall is modest in height but unusually wide, with hundreds of thin streams of underground water falling across a 70-meter span, creating the “white threads” that give the falls their name. It is particularly atmospheric in summer and during autumn foliage.