Winter Karuizawa Travel Guide: Must-Visit Sights, Hot Springs & Shopping

• Table of Contents
• The charm of Karuizawa in winter
• Winter Tourist Spots in Karuizawa
• Activity Spots to Experience in Winter Karuizawa
• Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort
• Shopping Spots in Karuizawa
• Hot Spring Spots in Karuizawa
• Local Food You Should Try in Karuizawa
• Enjoy Karuizawa Even More with Tickets in Japan

The charm of Karuizawa in winter

Winter in Karuizawa is a season when you can quietly enjoy the charm of nature and the city. Located on a Takaharu at an altitude of about 900-1,000m, Karuizawa offers clear air and a calm atmosphere, allowing you to spend a special time away from everyday life.

Winter Tourist Spots in Karuizawa

Karuizawa in winter is dotted with fascinating sightseeing spots where snowy scenery and tranquility blend together. From lakes and waterfalls to observation decks and historic churches, you can experience Karuizawa's nature and culture on a deeper level by touring places that show off their unique winter side. Here we introduce some of the most popular sightseeing spots you'll want to visit during your winter stay.

Kumoba Pond

For those who enjoy a leisurely stroll in the quiet of nature, Kumoba Pond is a must-see. This small pond, also known as "Swan Lake," reflects the surrounding trees on its surface, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

There is a walking path of about 1 km around the pond, allowing you to enjoy the scenery at a comfortable distance. Kumoba Pond is particularly known for its fresh greenery in spring and autumn leaves, but it also has the charm of showing different faces with each season. It is beloved by many as one of Karuizawa's most famous scenic spots.

Shiraito Falls

Shiraito Falls is a place where you can enjoy the natural beauty and fantastical spectacle of winter at the same time. Located at the source of the Yugawa, hundreds of streams of groundwater flow down the rock face like white threads, about 3 meters high and 70 meters wide. The waterfall offers beautiful scenery in all four seasons, but winter has a special charm.

In midwinter, the "Shiraito Falls Midwinter Light-up" is held for a limited time, creating a mystical space where snow, water, and light blend together. The color and brightness of the light are designed with consideration for the natural environment, allowing you to enjoy it without losing the tranquil forest atmosphere. Shiraito Falls in winter, interwoven with nature and light, is an impressive sight unique to Karuizawa.

Usui Pass Observation Platform

Usui Pass Observation Platform is a place where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the magnificent scenery that can only be found on a Takaharu . Located at an altitude of approximately 1,200m, it is known as a lookout point on the border between Nagano Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture . The Myogi mountain range stretches out to the east, Mount Asama to the west, and on a clear day you can even see as far as the Minami Alps and the Mount Yatsugatake.

In winter, the mountains are covered in a blanket of snow, allowing you to enjoy the tranquil scenery in the clear air. From the entrance to the observation deck, the Kyu Usui Pass Sightseeing Trail is available, allowing you to walk from Kyu Karuizawa while enjoying the natural scenery. As part of the trail is a mountain path, we recommend wearing comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes.

Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary

Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary is a national forest where you can observe wild birds and plants throughout the seasons in a rich natural environment. Located at an altitude of approximately 950-1,100m, it is home to a forest of chestnut, Japanese oak, larch, and other trees. A walking trail approximately 3km long runs through about half of the park, allowing you to enjoy a comfortable stroll.

Approximately 80 species of wild birds are spotted throughout the year, and the best time for bird watching is from winter to spring, when the leaves fall and the view opens up. Walking through the quiet forest, you can experience the depth of nature that is unique to Karuizawa.

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Activity Spots to Experience in Winter Karuizawa

In winter, Karuizawa offers a variety of activities that take advantage of the snow and ice. There are plenty of spots for beginners to enjoy, including skiing, skating, and curling, allowing you to fully enjoy the charms of the cold season. By combining day trips with overnight stays, you can experience winter in Karuizawa on a deeper level.

Karuizawa Ice Park

©Karuizawa International

Karuizawa Ice Park is one of Japan's largest year-round facilities where you can experience ice sports, with a focus on curling. Major domestic and international competitions have been held here, providing a full-scale competitive environment. Curling classes are available for beginners, so even those with no experience can participate with confidence.

Shoes, slides, brushes and other equipment are available for rental, so you can come empty-handed and enjoy the experience . There is also an outdoor skating rink where you can enjoy ice skating in the winter. There is also a public hall where you can take a break and eat and drink, making this a comfortable facility.

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Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort

Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort is the only ski resort in Karuizawa town, and is easily accessible, just a 10-minute walk from Karuizawa Station . It is easily accessible by Shinkansen or car, allowing you to enjoy the snowy scenery in a short time from the city center. It is one of the earliest ski resorts in Nagano prefecture, and is unique in that it allows you to enjoy winter sports long into early spring. There are a total of 14 courses spread across the vast 30-hectare site, many of which are suitable for beginners.

Kera-Ike Skating Rink

Keraike Skating Rink is a skating rink that becomes one with nature, created when a forest pond freezes over. Located next to Karuizawa Wild Bird Sanctuary, you can enjoy an ice skating experience surrounded by a tranquil forest. From around mid-October, the artificial area opens in time for the autumn foliage season, allowing you to skate while admiring the changing colors of the maple and larch trees. Usually around late December, the entire pond freezes over, creating a highly transparent natural ice area where you can see the fallen leaves through.

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Shopping Spots in Karuizawa

Karuizawa's shopping spots allow you to enjoy shopping and dining in a natural environment. With a wide range of options, from outlet malls to unique specialty shops, they are the perfect place to stop by between sightseeing. In winter, you can enjoy leisurely shopping in a calm atmosphere.

Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza

Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza is one of Japan's largest resort-style shopping malls, directly connected to the south exit of Karuizawa Station . Located in a natural setting, it houses over 200 stores, ranging from famous brand outlets to fashion, interior design, general goods, sports and outdoor activities, and restaurants, allowing you to enjoy shopping and lodging at the same time.

Old Karuizawa Ginza Shopping Street

Kyu- Karuizawa Ginza Shopping Arcade is Karuizawa's signature 750m main street, a popular spot where you can enjoy sightseeing, gourmet food, and shopping all in one place . It is located in a historic area that flourished as a post town on the Nakayama during the Edo period, and developed into a summer resort and villa area after the Meiji period under the influence of British missionary Alexander Croft Shaw.

Harunire Terrace

Harunire Terrace, operated by Hoshino Resorts, is a small shopping area spread out in the forest, based on the concept of "everyday life in Karuizawa ." Nine buildings are lined up along the Yugawa in the Karuizawa area, making use of a grove of over 100 native Harunire (spring elm) trees, gently connected by wooden decks. The greatest attraction is being able to stroll while listening to the murmuring of the clear stream and feeling the breeze blowing through the trees, and the spatial design, which is in harmony with nature, creates an extraordinary relaxing atmosphere.

Hot Spring Spots in Karuizawa

Karuizawa is dotted with hot springs that you can stop by in between sightseeing and shopping, as well as hot springs attached to accommodation facilities. The charm of Karuizawa lies in its calming atmosphere, with open-air baths surrounded by nature and day-trip hot springs where you can relax and soothe your travel fatigue. Even during winter sightseeing, when it's easy to get chilled, you can enjoy a moment of warmth in both body and mind at a hot spring resort.

Hoshino Onsen

Tombo no Yu at Hoshino Onsen is a day-trip hot spring facility with a natural hot spring that continues the tradition of Hoshino Onsen, which opened in 1915. This famous hot spring has a long history and was popular with writers and artists such as Kitahara Hakushu and Yosano Akiko, and its soft spring water is known as "water for beautiful skin." A major attraction is that all of the baths are free from circulation or water addition, allowing you to enjoy fresh water that is changed every day.

Sengataki Onsen

Sengataki Onsen is a day-trip hot spring facility surrounded by the lush nature of Karuizawa, and its appeal lies in the fact that you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons and the soft, flowing water . You can bathe while listening to the rustling of the trees and the chirping of the birds, and the hot springs show different faces depending on the season you visit, with autumn leaves in the fall and snowy scenery in the winter.

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Local Food You Should Try in Karuizawa

In Karuizawa, you can easily sample the food culture that has been nurtured by the climate and history of the Takaharu while strolling or sightseeing. The local cuisine, which is classic yet has a deep flavor, will greatly increase the satisfaction of your trip.

■ Shinshu soba
Blessed with a cool climate and high-quality water, Nagano Prefecture, and is characterized by its strong buckwheat flavor and smooth texture. You can also enjoy authentic Shinshu soba in the Karuizawa area at restaurants that follow traditional recipes.

■ Apple pie
This classic sweet is unique to a region famous for its apples. Made with apples from Shinshu, which have an excellent balance of sweetness and sourness, and combined with a crispy pie crust, it is a popular treat at long-established hotels and cafes.

■ Sausages and ham
It is a Karuizawa specialty that has developed under the influence of foreign cultures. Many of the products incorporate authentic German recipes, and there is a wide variety, including sausages and frankfurters. Because they keep well, they are also popular as souvenirs.

■ Bread
Karuizawa has a long history as a summer resort, and its bread culture is deeply rooted there, with many long-established bakeries scattered throughout the city. The taste of its bread, including French bread, which has been passed down from the time of its founding, is still loved by many people today.

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