A former summer retreat for foreign missionaries and Tokyo's elite, now a shinkansen-accessible resort town of cool-climate forest, outlet shopping and old-fashioned villa streets. It's an easy day trip from Takasaki given the short Shinkansen hop, and works well as a slower-paced contrast to Gunma's onsen towns since the appeal here is walking and browsing rather than bathing.
| Distance | 75km from Takasaki |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 20–25 minutes by Hokuriku Shinkansen from Takasaki |
| Getting there | JR Hokuriku Shinkansen from Takasaki to Karuizawa Station: 20–25 min, ¥1,910 ($12.80); local Shinano Tetsudo line within Karuizawa; rental bicycle at Karuizawa Station (¥500/hr / $3.35) |
| Address | Karuizawa, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano 389-0102 |
How to get there
- Hokuriku Shinkansen (fastest; 20 min from Takasaki; ¥1,910 / $12.80)
- Highway bus (1 hour, ¥1,500 / $10.05)
Location
Karuizawa, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano 389-0102
36.3468, 138.5947 View on map
Highlights
- Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza - the old main street of the resort town, lined with bakeries, jam shops and cafes from its early 20th-century heyday
- Shiraito Falls - a wide, low curtain waterfall a short bus or taxi ride from the town centre, notable for its shape rather than its height
- Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza - a large outlet mall directly by the station, one of the biggest draws for same-day Shinkansen visitors
- Kumoba Pond - a small forested pond with a walking path, known locally as 'Swan Lake' for its reflections
- Usui Pass Megane-bashi - a brick double-arch bridge from the old railway line, a short drive from town