Naka-Karuizawa

Central town with nice shops and restaurants

Naka-Karuizawa

Naka-Karuizawa (中軽井沢) is a secondary town center four kilometers west of Kyu-Karuizawa. It has fewer shops and restaurants than Kyu-Karuizawa, but offers several other sites of interest. In particular, the Hoshino Resort area has an elegant atmosphere integrated into the woods, offering chic restaurants, shops and a hot spring bath. Naka-Karuizawa further offers some museums and attractive parks with recreation space.

Hoshino Resort

Hoshino Onsen

Tonbo no Yu Hours: 10:00 to 23:00 (from 9:00 in August; entry until 22:00)
Tonbo no Yu Closures: No closing days
Tonbo no Yu Admission: 1300 yen (1500 yen during peak season)

Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza

Harunire Terrace

Shops hours: Varies by establishment but typically from 10:00 to 18:00
Restaurant hours: Varies by establishment but typically from 11:00 to 22:00

Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza

Stone Church

Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 (Mon-Thu, except public holidays) 7:30 to 8:30 (Fri-Sun)
Closed: when used for weddings
Admission: Free

Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza

Others

Hiroshi Senju Museum

Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (longer hours during summer)
Closed: Dec 26 through February; Tuesdays (except during peak seasons)
Admission: 1200 yen

Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza

Karuizawa Taliesin Usui Pass Observation Platform

Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Closed: New Year holidays & from January 18 through February
Admission: 800 yen (separate fees for museums and activities)

Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza

Sezon Museum of Modern Art

Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 in Nov, entry ends 30 mins before closing)
Closed: Late November to late April
Thursdays except in August & on national holidays.
Admission: 1500 yen

Karuizawa offers a wide range of shopping opportunities, including a local version of Ginza

Access

Naka-Karuizawa Station is the transport hub of the Naka-Karuizawa area. It is connected to Karuizawa Station by trains on the Shinano Railway line (5 minutes, 230 yen, 1-2 departures per hour), town loop buses (15 minutes, 200 yen, one departure every 1-2 hours), and hourly Seibu buses (290 yen, 15 minutes) that continue from Naka-Karuizawa Station in the direction of the Hoshino Resort, Onioshidashi Park and Manza Onsen.

The Sezon Museum is a ten minute walk from the "Sengataki Onsen Iriguchi" bus stop along the Seibu bus line. To get to the Hiroshi Senju Museum, take the town loop bus from Naka-Karuizawa Station and get off at the Toriihara-chuo bus stop (5 minutes, 190 yen), from where it is a ten minute walk to the museum. The same bus makes a detour to Shiozawa Lake at Karuizawa Taliesin twice a day (10-15 minutes, 200 yen).

Naka-Karuizawa Town can also be explored on on bicycles. Rental shops can be found close to Naka-Karuizawa Station, charging around 1000 yen per day.