Nagano Prefecture

The Best Guide to Naka-Karuizawa’s Vegan-Friendly Restaurants

Compared to the neighborhood around Karuizawa Station, the Naka-Karuizawa area is less commercialized, so you might be worried about not being able to find vegetarian/vegan food there. Surprisingly, there are a couple of good options in Naka-Karuizawa. Although getting to them requires a degree of effort as they aren’t located close to the train station, the food …

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The Recommended Destinations Around Kusatsu Onsen

Kusatsu Onsen is undoubtedly one of Japan’s most famous hot spring towns. But it would be a waste if your trip to Gunma Prefecture ended at Kusatsu Onsen only, as there are many amazing destinations in the surrounding areas that may interest you!

Karuizawa’s Best Flower-Adoring Spot: Karuizawa Lake Garden

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, …

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Rokumon: The Sightseeing Train Connecting Karuizawa & Nagano

You might already be aware that to the Japanese, trains are sometimes more than just vehicles that carry you from A to B. Unlike most countries in the world, Japan’s Sightseeing Trains don’t just run between the tourist attractions in the rural areas. They operate on normal train tracks between cities and prefectures, and compared …

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The Ultimate Guide to Karuizawa; Japan’s Top Highland Resort

Karuizawa, one of Japan’s leading highland resorts, is a great place to stay for a day or overnight trip from Tokyo. Since the Meiji period, the post town, Karuizawa-Shuku, has received many foreign visitors, which is why the traditional township now has several Western-style villas and churches. The town, filled with delicious cafes and restaurants, …

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The Recommended Cafes and Restaurants in Karuizawa

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 …

Oiwake-Shuku, the 20th Post Town On the Old Nakasendōndo

Remaining unknown to many, the old post town, Oiwake-Shuku (追分宿), is just two stations away from Karuizawa Station. The area is filled with many historical buildings, so it is a perfect spot to escape from the crowd in Karuizawa‘s town center for a calm and traditional ambiance.

The Ultimate Guide to Karuizawa’s Best Hotel – Mampei Hotel

Important: Mampei Hotel is closed for renovations and repair work until 2024’s summer. 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 …

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Maruyama Coffee: The Must-Visit Cafe in Karuizawa

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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The Ultimate Guide to the Former Mikasa Hotel

If you are a history and architecture buff, visit the Former Mikasa Hotel (旧三笠ホテル) when you travel to Karuizawa. It is a purely Western-style wooden hotel designed and completed in 1905 by only the Japanese. The hotel, equipped with the finest facility and furniture at the time, was loved by those with high social status …

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