Kyu-Karuizawa
Central town with nice shops and restaurants
Kyu-Karuizawa
Kyu-Karuizawa (旧軽井沢, Kyū-Karuizawa) was formerly a post town along the Nakasendo Route, one of two major road connections that connected the imperial capital Kyoto with the shogunal capital Edo (present-day Tokyo) during the Edo Period. Today, Kyu-Karuizawa is the main center of the Karuizawa resort area.
The town has a pleasant atmosphere with chic restaurants and cafes aiming at affording patrons and with forested residential districts made up of holiday villas. Kyu-Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities as well, notably at the Prince Shopping Plaza and the Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza. Visitors can also indulge in some of the many leisure activities available, such as bowling, golf and cycling around town.
Shopping
Karuizawa Ginza
Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (Varying hours for shops, restaurants typically open till later)
Closed: Varying closing days for shops
Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza
Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza
Hours: 10:00 to 19:00 (varies according to season)
Closed: Few unscheduled closing days
Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza
Nature
Kumobaike Pond
Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza
Usui Pass Observation Platform
Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza
Karuizawa Prince Ski Resort
Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza
History
Former Mikasa Hotel
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
Closed: New Year holidays
Admission: 400 yen
Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza
Access
Kyu-Karuizawa Town can be explored comfortably by bicycle. Rental shops close to Karuizawa Station and the Karuizawa Ginza offer bicycles at around 1000 yen per day. For good walkers, exploring the town on foot is also pleasant; the walk from Karuizawa Station to the Former Mikasa Hotel takes just under an hour one way, and stops can be made at various attractions along the way.
Various buses travel between Karuizawa Station and the Karuizawa Ginza multiple times per hour (5-10 minutes, 150-160 yen one way), in the direction of Kusatsu Onsen and Seibu buses that continue to Naka-Karuizawa.