Kumanokōtai Shrine (熊野皇大神社), close to the Usui Pass Observation Platform, is a rare shrine you will want to visit. Not only does it sit on a prefectural borderline, but the central watershed (中央分水嶺) can also be found in the precinct! Because the shrine’s precinct is across two prefectures, the shrine consists of two religious institutions
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Opposite Bon Okawa Karuizawa Chocolate Factory, on the other side of the bullet train track, there is a cafe you must visit if you are a coffee person. In fact, you might have already visited one of the coffee chain’s stores in Tokyo! Opened in 1991, Maruyama Coffee (丸山珈琲) is infamous for its high-quality coffee,
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A scenic spot to visit in Karuizawa is Karuizawa Lake Garden (軽井沢レイクガーデン). The spacious ground of around 33,000㎡ is divided into 8 areas. Each of them is skillfully designed so that while the plants grow freely with minimal human touches, the gardens still appear to be picturesque. So as you stroll around Karuizawa Lake Garden,
Karuizawa’s Best Flower-Adoring Spot: Karuizawa Lake Garden Read More »
As you walk around Karuizawa, you will notice the town has many jam stores. Why? Because Karuizawa is jam’s birthplace in Japan. As the town received many foreign visitors, especially in summer, the method of making delicious jams was passed to the locals. But many shops and cafes in Karuizawa sell homemade jams, so deciding
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When you walk on Old Karuizawa Ginza Street (軽井沢銀座通り), you will notice that there are several bakeries on this 750-meter-long street. Some of them even have a cafe serving light meals! Because each of them has its charm, if you are unsure which one to visit, read on for an introduction to the most popular
A Guide to the Top Bakeries on Old Karuizawa Ginza Street Read More »
Karuizawa is surely a top-class scenic summer resort close to Tokyo. But spending an entire day exploring the town can be tiring for many. So how about visiting a cafe with a nice ambiance on Old Karuizawa Gina Street for a break and enjoying a plate of nice dessert with a cup of coffee or
A Guide to the Best Cafes on Old Karuizawa Ginza Street Read More »
As one of Japan’s best highland resorts, Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture has many charms, and one of them is the delicious food and drinks served in the lovely town. The spots with a nice ambiance are the perfect places to stop by after spending a couple of hours exploring. Because cafés and restaurants are almost
The Recommended Cafés and Restaurants in Karuizawa Read More »
Walking around Karuizawa, you might start to imagine a life of owning a villa in this wonderful town. While this isn’t practical for most of us, you can visit Café Susu no Ne (旧軽井沢Cafe涼の音). This national tangible cultural property was a private villa of an American diplomat, Edwin O. Reischauer. Because the furnishings were left
Café Susu no Ne and Murō Saisei Commemorative House Read More »
If you like curry or spices, visit Sajilo Cafe Forest (サジロカフェ・フォレスト), close to Karuizawa’s best gelato shop, L’ibisco! Following the alley from Old Karuizawa Ginza Street, you will soon see a cute white house in the leafy area. Sajilo means cozy in Nepalese. While it doesn’t have a typical curry house look, you will surely
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HARUNIRE Terrace (ハルニレテラス) is a commercial complex in Karuizawa operated by the famous Hoshino Resort. The traditional-look terrace has the Yu River (湯川) flowing on its right and is surrounded by a Japanese elm forest. With many trendy restaurants and boutique shops, the terrace is one of the most popular spots in Naka-Karuizawa for those
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