Karuizawa Travel Guide

Karuizawa and its surroundings offer the best of both worlds: this is a summer retreat during the hot months, and a ski resort in wintertime. In winter, you can look forward to skiing, skating, and other winter sports activities, as well as stunning winter illuminations.

If you're into skiing, head to the Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort, which is located right next to Karuizawa Station. Because of its high percentage of fair weather, the area relies almost exclusively on artificial snow, but on the plus side, that means you can enjoy skiing in any weather conditions. Curling is also popular here. In fact, Karuizawa was the venue for the curling competitions during the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. If you’re just starting out, head to Karuizawa Ice Park in Kazakoshi Park and you can take some lessons designed for beginners. Winter in Karuizawa is also famous for its stunning illuminations in the snow. Karuizawa Kogen Church and HARUNIRE Terrace are some of the best spots for seeing the lights. Karuizawa also has hot springs. If you want some refreshment for body and soul, why not take a little detour to Hoshino Onsen Tombo no Yu or Takamine Onsen Lamp no Yado?

• Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort
• Karuizawa Ice Park
• Illuminations of Karuizawa Kogen Church and HARUNIRE Terrace
• Hot springs such as Hoshino Onsen Tombo no Yu and Takamine Onsen Lamp no Yado

The easiest way to get ski equipment in Karuizawa is to use a rental service at one of the ski resorts. This means you can come and go empty-handed, so it’s a really practical choice. For a cheaper alternative, you can rent skis from ski rental shops outside the ski resorts. The catch here is that you’ll have to carry them all the way to the ski slope, but this is a good option if you’re visit Karuizawa by car. If you’re planning to stay overnight in Karuizawa, you could also look for somewhere to stay that offers free ski equipment rental to guests.

While you can buy ski lift tickets at any ski resort on the day you visit, another option is to buy in advance at a convenience store or online and you can then claim your ski lift ticket at the resort. Discounted tickets may be available at some ski resorts. You may need to pay a deposit when collecting IC cards and similar lift tickets, but this will be refunded when you return your skis.

• Skis can be rented at the ski resorts, specialist shops, and at accommodation facilities near the ski resorts.
• You can buy ski lift tickets at the ski resort on the day of your visit, or pre-order at a convenience store or online.

Five of the 10 courses at Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort are designed for beginner skiers. There's also a ski school, so this is the ideal place if you're just starting out. It’s also popular with families, as the lift fare is free for children of primary school age and younger.

There are 2-, 3-, and 4-seater lifts, so you won’t need to worry about riding the lifts alone. Simple buy an IC card lift ticket and you’ll be able to pass through the gate at the lift station. Don’t hesitate to ask for help from the lift attendant if you’re riding the lift for the first time or if you feel a bit nervous about the ride.

• Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort (ideal for beginners)
• 3 courses with an average slope of 8 degrees
• Ski school available

Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort offers 4 courses designed for intermediate skiers. Saku Ski Garden PARADA, famous for being the only ski resort in Japan that’s directly connected to a motorway, has courses for beginners and intermediate skiers. There’s also Asama 2000 Park, which has excellent powder snow and sits at an altitude of 2,050 metres, making it the highest ski resort in the Karuizawa area. As well as beginner courses, it also has a good variety of pleasant intermediate courses.

• Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort
• Saku Ski Garden PARADA (directly connected to the motorway)
• Asama 2000 Park

If you’re an advanced skiers looking for fun on the slopes of Karuizawa, the Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort has you covered with 4 expert-level courses. There’s also the Shinshu Sugadaira Kogen Pine Beak Ski Resort, about 35 km from Karuizawa, which has steep, bumpy hillsides for advanced skiers. Another choice is Oku Davos Snow Park, about 1 and a half hours away from Karuizawa by car, where you can take a snowmobile ride up to a peak 2,170 metres above sea level before skiing on a 4-kilometre downhill course.

• Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort
• Shinshu Sugadaira Kogen Pine Beak Ski Resort
• "Snow Cat Tour" at Oku-Davos Snow Park

Skiing and snowboarding aren't the only winter activities in and around Karuizawa. Ice skating is also popular. Actually, because of its inland location, cold, sunny climate, and relatively little snowfall, Karuizawa was originally known as a place more for skating than for skiing. Karuizawa was also the venue for the curling competition at the 1998 Winter Olympics held in Nagano.

At KERA-IKE Ice Rink, you can enjoy skating as soon as autumn arrives, and it’s even possible to skate on natural ice during the harshest winter months. Karuizawa Kazakoshi Park's outdoor skating rink is a 400-metre outdoor skating rink set in Karuizawa Ice Park. Karuizawa Ice Park has year-round curling facilities as well as lessons for beginners.

• Karuizawa Kazakoshi Park Outdoor Skating Rink
• KERA-IKE Ice Rink
• Karuizawa Ice Park

Except for the ski resorts, Karuizawa in winter is much quieter than it is in summertime. Some restaurants may be closed, but there are still plenty of lovely restaurants here to visit during the winter too.

Karuizawa is part of the Shinshu region, which is famous for its soba (buckwheat noodles). Karuizawa KAWAKAMI AN, located in Kyu-Karuizawa, is well-known for the quality of its soba. It’s a kappo (traditional Japanese cuisine) restaurant that doubles as a sake bar.

If you’re looking for a high-end restaurant, the main dining room at the swanky Mampei Hotel is a famous establishment where you can experience the culture of Karuizawa. Established in 1894, this celebrated hotel has a retro vibe and rich history.

Another popular spot is HARUNIRE Terrace in Nakakaruizawa. It houses a branch of KAWAKAMI AN, as well as a various restaurants and cafés.

For a winter shopping experience in Karuizawa, the Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza should be at the top of your list. It has about 240 stores and is located just south of Karuizawa Station, with a direct connection to the Prince Hotel. Try HARUNIRE Terrace in Nakakaruizawa for stylish accessories. Karuizawa Ginza Shopping Street ("Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza") is another top attraction. Some of the shops are closed during the winter because it’s an outdoor shopping area, but about half, including the famous Boulangerie Asanoya, stay open even through the wintertime.

Winter nights in Karuizawa get pretty cold. If you’re heading out for a drink, please be extra careful and watch your step. When it comes to nightlife in Karuizawa, you’ll find that bars are more common than clubs. Rokuri, a wine bar in Kyu-Karuizawa, is a great place for a meal as well. Kevin's Bar, just a 2-minute walk from the North Exit of Karuizawa Station on the main street of Karuizawa, is a wine bar with standing room only. The bar’s owner is (you guessed it) a guy called Kevin, from the States, and the bar serves wine and snacks for as little as 500 yen. If you’re looking for a bar in a hotel, try the bar at the long-established Mampei Hotel or Bar Windsor at The Prince Karuizawa.

Mount Asama is Japan's most famous active volcano, soaring 2,568 metres above sea level. This is the symbol of Karuizawa, and you can get great views of its majestic appearance from many places throughout the area.

The cone-shaped peak, capped with snow in winter, stands out against the azure blue sky. One of the best places to see Mt. Asama is at Miharashidai at the top of the Kyu-Usui Pass, 1,200 metres above sea level. From there you can enjoy the spectacular contrast of snowy mountain and blue sky. You can take the Aka Bus (red bus) to get to Miharashidai. Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort also offers a beautiful view of Mount Asama right across the ski slopes.