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

Home / Karuizawa

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.

Start here

Plan your day

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

FAQ · 7 min read

Best Time to Visit Karuizawa: What the Visitor Data Actually Says

On the ground

Live local map

Open

Photo spots · cafés · experiences · shop coupons.

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

Is Karuizawa Worth Visiting? What the Numbers Actually Say

Karuizawa with Kids: Beat 8.4 Million Visitors to the Morning

Karuizawa Food: Duck Soba, Century-Old Bakeries, and the 11:00 Rule

Things to Do in Karuizawa: What 8.4 Million Visitors a Year Get Wrong

Karuizawa in the Rain: Don't Cancel — Reroute

Karuizawa Itinerary: One Day, 5 Stops, Timed to Dodge the Crowd

Karuizawa from Tokyo in 64 Minutes: The Right Train and the Pass Math

Karuizawa Day Trip from Tokyo: 64 Minutes, Skip the Crowd

Best Time to Visit Karuizawa: What the Visitor Data Actually Says