Karuizawa with Kids: End the Day Near the Station

Add the pond, the forest and the hot spring, and a day with children turns into a day of travelling. Pick one place to play and put the meals and the breaks right next to it — that alone makes the day work. The anchor here is the Prince Shopping Plaza at the south exit of Karuizawa station, with Kumoba Pond as the alternative for families who would rather walk. The prices and hours below are the current published figures, and some are set for a limited period, so check before you go.

Give the morning to one place near the station

Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza is about a 3-minute walk from the south exit of Karuizawa station. The site is large, though, so allow extra time to walk from the entrance to wherever you are heading. [Getting to the plaza](https://www.karuizawa-psp.jp/access/another)

If the weather allows outdoor play, the Kids Park on the lawn at Tree Mall is the option. It is for children aged 0 to 12 and a guardian must come in with them; nobody aged 13 or over may use it, and children cannot go in alone. Guardians enter free. [Kids Park prices and rules](https://www.karuizawa-psp.jp/kidspark/)

It costs ¥700 for 30 minutes, ¥500 for each extra 30 minutes, and ¥1,500 for a day pass with same-day re-entry. Those are the prices published for the period up to 31 October 2026, so check the current figure before you go. It runs 10:00 to 16:30, with changes or closures depending on weather and daylight. Payment is cashless only.

Keep the food and the toilets beside the playground

The Kids Park itself has no toilets and no nursing or nappy-changing facilities; you use the plaza's. Nursing rooms are in New West, New East, Garden Mall, the Food Court and the Souvenir Court. Finding them before you start playing shortens the walk back with a child in your arms. [Family facilities map](https://www.karuizawa-psp.jp/kidsnavi)

Pushchairs are lent to children aged 2 to 48 months, up to 103 cm and 18 kg. You need a ¥100 coin, returned when you bring it back. They cannot be reserved and are lent on the day only, so do not pack on the assumption that you will get one.

After lunch, do a little shopping or head straight for the station. You do not need to schedule a move to the next sight for the hour when a small child gets sleepy.

If it rains, move to the indoor Asobi Park

The outdoor Kids Park and the indoor Asobi Park in New West are different places. On a wet day, the indoor one is the option. [Indoor play prices](https://www.karuizawa-psp.jp/shopguide/detail/242)

The base rate is ¥400 for a child and ¥250 for an adult per 15 minutes. The one-hour pack is ¥1,350 for a child and ¥700 for an adult — ¥2,050 for one adult and one child. Child pricing covers ages 1 to the 6th year of elementary school, adult pricing starts at 20, and children cannot use it alone.

Moving around the plaza still means some time outdoors. A wet day does not stay entirely under cover here, so bring rain gear.

If you would rather walk, let Kumoba Pond lead

On a day for walking rather than shopping, you can build it around Kumoba Pond instead. The Karuizawa tourism association puts the path around the pond at about 1 km, and rates the fresh green and the autumn colour as the best times. [Kumoba Pond information](https://karuizawa-kankokyokai.jp/spot/23234)

Getting there and back from the station is on top of that 1 km. Decide based on how far your child will actually walk. In autumn the crowds arrive, so a loop with a pushchair is not always easy.

Walk the pond, take lunch and a break, and do not add an afternoon excursion. Harunire Terrace, the waterfall and the hot spring do not all have to happen on the same day.