A cool highland retreat, about an hour from Tokyo by Shinkansen.

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Karuizawa is Tokyo's classic summer escape: a forested resort town at around 1,000 meters, noticeably cooler than the city and about an hour away by Shinkansen. Come for old bakeries and soba, a pond that mirrors the autumn color, and a town best covered by bicycle — with indoor fallbacks for the fast-changing mountain weather.

Before you go

Door to door: ~70 min
Cost: ~¥5,500
Route: Hokuriku Shinkansen

Everything we have written about this place

Wooden facade of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Karuizawa

FAQ · 7 min read

A cool highland retreat, about an hour from Tokyo by Shinkansen.

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