Karuizawa, Japan’s famous summer resort, is one of the most popular destinations close to Tokyo. In addition to the spots close to Karuizawa Station, such as Old Karuizawa Ginza Street, Karuizawa Hoshino Area in Naka-Karuizawa is gaining popularity. While the area north of Shinano Railway’s Naka-Karuizawa Station requires some walking to get to, the good […]
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Karuizawa has many churches. While not locating in the town center, Uchimura Kanzō Memorial Stone Church in Karuizawa Hoshino Area is the one you have to visit, even if you don’t believe in god. The church is just like an artwork. Whether you understand architecture or not, the building will manage to amaze you.
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Living up to its fame as the best summer resort close to Tokyo, Karuizawa has a wealth of nature. And if you love exploring nature or are seeking a spot to cool yourself further down, there are two waterfalls in Karuizawa that you will want to visit. In fact, both spots are stunning throughout all
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Whether you are after an accommodation facility or not, Mampei Hotel (万平ホテル), close to Old Karuizawa Ginza Street, is worth a visit. With its top-quality hospitality, the well-kept hotel, partially Westernized and re-opened in 1894, is still one of the best hotels in Karuizawa. In addition, it is the hotel that John Lennon loved!
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While not as famous as Kappa Bridge or Taishō Pond, Tashiro Marsh (田代湿原) and Tashiro Pond (田代池) located between the two scenic spots are picturesque throughout the year. Especially in the morning of the colder months, you will find these two spots extra stunning because the plants are covered by a thin layer of frost!
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A unique place to visit in Nakamachi Shopping Street (中町商店街) is the Matsumoto City Hakari Museum (松本市はかり資料館), which is full of measuring instruments. It is one of the best places to learn about various scales and weights used across the globe from various eras.
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On a hot summer day, the best spot to visit on Nakamachi Street is Nakamachi Hyouka Ten (中町氷菓店). You will find phenomenal shaved ice made from natural ice made in Yamanashi Prefecture. We were a little bit hesitant to make an order because 1,500 yen isn’t exactly cheap. However, after taking the first bite, we
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The beckoning cat temple, Gōtokuji, is so famous among international tourists that the spot is already probably on your itinerary for Tokyo! If you are not in a hurry, we recommend stopping by one of the cafes or shops near Gōtokuji. Quite a few of them have cutely designed maneki-neko products too! The sweets created
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If you are a coffee lover, Chouette Torréfacteur Laboratoire (梟焙煎研究所) is the place to go close to Gōtokuji. You will find the locally rumored “ultimate espresso (究極のエスプレッソ)” there. Apparently, the owner, Takayama-san (髙山さん), previously worked at a Michelin three-star restaurant in France, hence the French café name and the delicious food and coffee served! Not
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You might have come across the beckoning cat, maneki-neko (招き猫). The cat figurine is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. Leaving the figurine’s ability to bring good fortune aside, the maneki-neko is a cute decor and might cheer you up when feeling down. If you are smitten by maneki-neko, the must-visit spot
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