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Harunire Terrace

Harunire Terrace is a small town with 16 stores and restaurants based on the concept of the lifestyle of Karuizawa, a holiday resort. Harunire trees stretch their branches, and terraces stretch around the large trees. There are napping decks and riverside benches that offer a sense of nature typical of Karuizawa, perfect for taking a break from shopping and strolling.

A promenade continues along the Yugawa River that runs beside the building, and the Hoshino Onsen Tombo-no-yu is about a five-minute walk away. The promenade is paved with woodchips, making it comfortable to walk on, and is recommended for visitors with children or pets. There is also a point along the way where you can touch the river water, so you can enjoy a walk while experiencing the coolness of the grove.

Easy walking promenade

The Karuizawa Hoshino Area, where Harunire Terrace is located, has a historical background as a place where nature and culture lovers gather. Literary monuments and song monuments have been erected in connection with the area, making it a great place to stop and walk.

At dusk, lights are turned on along the promenade, and the faint glow of the lights illuminates your feet. The lawn in front of "Hoshino Onsen Tombo-no-yu" is filled with a star-filled sky that cannot be seen in the city.

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National Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest

Located at an elevation of around 1,000 meters, the National Wild Bird Sanctuary Karuizawa covers an area of approximately 100 hectares. There is a 3-km walking path in the forest, where visitors can encounter about 80 species of wild birds per year, as well as many other wild plants and animals.
Picchio, located at the entrance to the forest, offers nature tours and binocular rental services. A recommended spot in the Wild Bird Forest is the Akagera Resting Area, located at the end of a gentle uphill trail of less than 1 km. On clear days, this is a good spot for taking pictures with a view of Mt.

Winter and spring are the best seasons for bird watching. In particular, the breeding season from late April to mid-May is the best time to watch colorful migratory birds with beautiful chirps. From spring to summer, you can observe tadpoles and aquatic insects at "Acorn Pond," which is a great place to enjoy yourself as a child. Visitors can see a variety of plants and animals depending on the season, so there is always something new to discover.

Icalu Cafe for a break

After a walk, take a break at the Icaru Café in Picchio. Icons are wild birds characterized by their large yellow beaks. The Iqalu in Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest makes an audible call, "A cup of coffee, please. You can hear it inside the restaurant.
When ordering a drink, it is said that saying "Please, a cup of coffee" will bring you good luck.

3
Shiraito Falls

Heal yourself with the fantastic sight of silky water pouring down.

Shiraito Falls is located at the source of the Yugawa River and is a beautiful waterfall with hundreds of strands of underground water flowing down like white threads from a rock face 3 meters high and 70 meters wide. Visitors can enjoy the refreshing fresh greenery in spring, the spray and cool breeze in summer, and the dazzling autumn leaves in fall.

Light up to enjoy a different view of the waterfalls than during the daytime

In recent years, the falls have been lit up in summer and winter, using Shiraito Falls as a natural screen for a moment of magical scenery.

Shiraito Falls (Karuizawa)

• Nagakura (Oze), Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• Approximately 25 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station
• From JR Karuizawa Station, take the Kusakarikotsu Bus bound for Kusatsu Hot Spring (approx. 25 min.), alight at Shiraito no Taki Waterfall (3 min. walk)
• 24 hours
• No holidays
• Free of charge
• Free of charge

4
Old Karuizawa Ginza Street

The old Karuizawa Ginza, formerly the Karuizawa inn on the Nakasendo highway, began as a summer resort for foreign missionaries and others in the Meiji era (1868-1912), and flourished as the number of vacation homes increased. The 500-meter main street is lined with Karuizawa's unique products and famous restaurants recommended for lunch. There are also many general stores and souvenir stores, so you can wander around and enjoy shopping at your leisure.

Old Karuizawa with its historic churches

A short distance off the main street, there are four historic churches related to missionaries, including Karuizawa Shaw Memorial Chapel, the oldest church in Karuizawa. Some of the churches were designed by famous architects, so it is recommended to visit them.

Old Karuizawa Ginza Street

• 634 Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• Approx. 3 min. from JR Karuizawa Station by car
• From JR Karuizawa Station North Exit, take Seibu Kanko Bus bound for "Kusatsu Hot Spring" (approx. 3 min. ride), and get off at "Kyu Karuizawa" stop.
• Varies depending on the store.
• Varies depending on the store
• 0267-42-5538
• Pay parking (use nearby Parking)

5
Unba Pond

In the days when swans used to fly here, foreign vacationers nicknamed the area "Swan Lake," and it is still familiar today as "Kumoba Pond. Located about a 15-minute walk from Karuizawa Station, it is a popular strolling spot for tourists. The pond is fed by a spring called "Gozensui," which means "water of the table" in Japanese because it was used by the lords of the feudal lords and the imperial family for their meals.

The view from the south entrance of the pond is spectacular, with the trees reflected in the clear water and the blue sky. The view of fresh green, deep green, autumn leaves, and snow is also popular as a photo spot.

The promenade changes its appearance depending on the season.

There is a 20-minute walking trail that circles the pond, allowing visitors to enjoy forest bathing while walking among the lush flowers, grasses, and trees. The trail continues along the pond, allowing visitors to get a close-up look at the ducks swimming leisurely.
Since it is crowded in summer and during the foliage season, early morning is recommended for a quiet stroll. The scenery changes with the seasons, weather, and time of day, so no matter how many times you visit, you will see a different view.

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HOSHINOYA Karuizawa

A day off from the modern world, staying in a village in the valley

HOSHINOYA Karuizawa, 70 minutes from Tokyo, is an ideal mountain retreat surrounded by clean air. Guest rooms are set around a waterfront garden, with terraces offering views of the changing seasons. The hotel offers hot springs that have been known since ancient times for their beautiful skin and loved by literary giants, cuisine for rest and relaxation that features ingredients from the mountains and rivers, spa programs that lead to relaxation of body and soul, and various activities that allow you to experience the four seasons with all your body and soul. Guests can fully enjoy their time resting from the modern world in the rich natural environment facing the "Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest."

HOSHINOYA Karuizawa

• 2148 Nagakura, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• 15 min. by free shuttle bus from Karuizawa Station/Nakakaruizawa Station
• Available

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Karuizawa Hotel Bleston Court

A cosy hotel in Karuizawa loved by vacationers

Karuizawa Hotel Bleston Court is a hotel where you can relax in body and soul, where you will be welcomed with the spirit of hospitality cultivated in Karuizawa's guest culture and food that enjoys rich nature and the seasons. In the main dining room, Bleston Court Yukawatan, you can enjoy French cuisine that expresses the uniquely Japanese world, using ingredients nurtured by the richness of nature and valuing the spirit of appreciating the seasons and nature. Breakfast at Restaurant No One's Recipe is a "French Breakfast" of course, featuring a Brittany-style crepe made with buckwheat flour. Enjoy it with a glass of cider in the authentic Brittany style.

Karuizawa Hotel Bleston Court

• Hoshino, Karuizawa-cho, Nagano MAP
• 30 minutes from Karuizawa Station by free shuttle bus
• 0267-46-6200
• Available
• Click here for reservations
  Hoshino Resorts Karuizawa Hotel Bleston Court Reservation Site

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BEB5 Karuizawa by Hoshino Resorts

More than an izakaya, less than a trip, a loose hotel

This is a loose hotel with loose rules and time constraints. Guests can freely arrange how to spend their time, playing board games or card games in the open space "TAMARIBA," which is available 24 hours a day, or simply enjoying being in the same space while reading a book of their choice.
Within walking distance are "Harunire Terrace" with its lifestyle stores, cafes, and restaurants, "Hoshino Onsen Tombo-no-yu," a hot spring with free-flowing spring water, and "Picchio," where you can enjoy "Musasabi Watching," a 90% sighting rate.

BEB Karuizawa BEB Hoshino Resorts

• Hoshino, Karuizawa-cho, Nagano MAP
• 10 minutes drive from Nakakaruizawa Station
• Available