1
Tsuchiya Photo Shop

Long-established photo store where you can buy retro photos of Karuizawa

Located on the Ginza Street of Old Karuizawa, this long-established photo store with an eye-catching Japanese-style exterior was established in 1906 and boasts a history of nearly 120 years. Karuizawa prospered as a post town along the Nakasendo Highway during the Edo period. The Tsuchiya Photo Shop, which was located along the main street, originally ran an inn and was owned by a haiku poet and a photographer. It is said to have been a regular inn of haiku poet Kobayashi Issa. The shop was originally owned by a haiku poet and a photographer. In the Meiji period (1868-1912), the founder established a photo store and took pictures of the streets of Karuizawa and Mount Asama, which frequently erupted. Today, the store is still adorned with a massive wooden signboard from the inn's days.

The third generation shopkeeper will tell you about episodes of Karuizawa in the Showa period.

Lining the store are numerous black-and-white photographs of Karuizawa taken during the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras. Some of the photos are over 100 years old and show people in kimono walking along the Old Karuizawa Ginza Street. It would be interesting to compare them with the current Ginza Street. There are also photos of the Emperor and Empress who met in Karuizawa. The third-generation owner, who was born in 1937, will tell you about episodes from the past and immerse you in the history of Karuizawa.

Tsuchiya Photo Shop

• 619 Karuizawa, Karuizawa-cho, Nagano MAP
• 5 min. drive from JR Karuizawa Station
• From the North Exit of JR Karuizawa Station, take the Seibu Kanko Bus bound for Kusatsu Hot Spring. 5 minutes on foot from the "Kyu Karuizawa" stop.
• 9:00-18:00 (summer - 20:00)
• Open daily (closed mid-November to mid-April)
• 0267-42-2167
• No parking (use nearby toll parking)

2
Wakita Art Museum

Enter the world of gentle colors of Wakita Kazu, one of the leading contemporary Western-style painters.

This museum exhibits the works of Kazu Wakita, one of Japan's leading contemporary Western-style painters, who moved to Berlin, Germany, in 1923 at the young age of 15 and entered the National Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin at 17. After returning to Japan, he continued to be active internationally, exhibiting his works at the Venice Biennale and the Pittsburgh International Art Exhibition. At the museum, visitors can view more than 100 works at any given time, including mainly oil paintings, prints, and drawings. The works of Wakita Kazu, who loved classical music and jazz, are characterized by bold forms and gentle colors. It is best to take your time to appreciate them.

Don't miss the Wakita Wa Atelier Villa designed by architect Junzo Yoshimura.

Within the museum grounds, the Wakita Wa Atelier Villa, which the artist used as his studio and residence, has been preserved as it was in its original state. It was designed by architect Junzo Yoshimura, who taught at Tokyo University of the Arts with Wakita Kazu. Its unique appearance captivates architecture fans. The interior is open to the public four times a month in July and August every year. Architectural workshops and other events are also held in the atelier.

In addition, the museum also holds events to enjoy music while looking at art. Event information can be found on the official website.

Wakita Art Museum

• 1570-4 Old Road, Karuizawa-cho, Nagano MAP
• 3 minutes drive from JR Karuizawa Station, 10 minutes walk from JR Karuizawa Station
• From JR Karuizawa Station, take the Seibu Kanko Bus bound for Kusatsu Hot Spring. 1 minute ride, get off at "Shindo" stop, 4 to 5 minute walk.
• 10:00-17:00 (Entry until 30 minutes before closing)
  *Hours may be extended during the summer; please check the website.
• Open every day during the exhibition period. However, the museum may be closed temporarily for events, exhibition changes, etc. Closed in winter (late November through May)
• Adults 1,100 yen (1,000 yen), college and high school students 700 yen (600 yen), junior high school students and younger free
  Prices in parentheses are for groups of 20 or more. Please inquire for other discounts.
• 0267-42-2639
• Free of charge

3
Karuizawa Tagliacen

Karuizawa Taliacen is located around Lake Shiozawa in the south of Karuizawa Town, where there are Museums, Leisure Facilities, Restaurants, and Shops. It is a place where visitors can encounter Karuizawa's typical scenery even on rainy days.

Suikyuso, which stands by the lake, is one of the finest Karuizawa villa buildings built in the early Showa period.

The "Paine Museum" exhibits original paintings and lithographs by the French artist Paine, the "Beniko Fukasawa Wild Flower Museum" exhibits mainly watercolor paintings of wild flowers, and the "Karuizawa Kogen Bunko" houses manuscripts and letters of famous writers and poets associated with Karuizawa, including Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Yasunari Kawabata, and Tatsuo Hori. The Karuizawa Kogen Bunko (Karuizawa Highland Library) houses manuscripts and letters of famous writers and poets associated with Karuizawa, including Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Yasunari Kawabata, and Tatsuo Hori, and is recommended for visitors to view and enjoy on rainy days.

Activities even on rainy days

Archery is a rare opportunity for visitors to experience. The Taliassen has a covered archery range, which can be enjoyed even on a light rainy day.
Restaurants and library cafes scattered throughout the grounds allow visitors to enjoy the scenery and the sound of rain in the trees.

Karuizawa Tagliassen

• 217 Nagakura, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• 10 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station
• From JR Karuizawa Station, take the Karuizawa town circulation bus (eastbound or southbound line), approximately 25 minutes on the outbound route, and a 15-minute walk from the Kazakoshi Koen bus stop.
• 9:00-17:00 (Mon. 10:00-16:00 in December and January)
• Closed on non-scheduled holidays
  *For more information, please click here.
• Adults 900 yen, children (elementary and junior high school students) 400 yen
  Peine Museum (including admission fee): Adults 1,100 yen, children 500 yen
  Karuizawa Kogen Bunko: Adult 800 yen, Child 400 yen *Park entrance fee not included
  Beniko Fukasawa Wild Flower Museum Adult 600 yen, Child 300 yen *Admission fee is not included.
  Museum set ticket (including admission fee, Peine Art Museum, Karuizawa Kogen Bunko, and Beniko Fukasawa Wild Flower Museum): Adults 1,600 yen, Children 800 yen
  Infants (0-5 years old) are free of charge.
• 0267-46-6161
• Charged

4
Karuizawa Garden Farm

Karuizawa Garden Farm is a 10-minute drive from Nakakaruizawa Station. Visitors can experience "summer-autumn strawberry picking" from July to November and "winter-spring strawberry picking" from January to June, taking advantage of Karuizawa's cool climate at an altitude of 1,000 meters. The strawberries are grown in plastic greenhouses, so there is no need to worry even on rainy or snowy days, and the greenhouses are kept at a comfortable temperature of 20-25℃, making it easy for children to enjoy the experience.

The winter/spring strawberries grown here, "Kaorino" and "Yotsuboshi," are varieties that have won prizes at the National Strawberry Championships. About 30,000 other rare strawberry plants are also grown here, offering a variety of tastes.
About 10,000 summer and autumn strawberries are available, including "Summer Queen," which was born in Nagano Prefecture. Summer strawberries, of which domestic strawberry production is low, are rare because they can be grown only in cool Karuizawa. This is a spot where visitors can fully enjoy themselves even on rainy days.

Different courses in summer and winter

During the "Winter/Spring Strawberry Picking" period, there is a 30-minute all-you-can-eat course (3,800 yen) for one variety of strawberries and a premium all-you-can-eat course for an additional 500 yen to enjoy a comparison of three varieties.
During the summer and fall strawberry picking season, visitors can pick and sell strawberries by weight.

Karuizawa Garden Farm

• 2062-1 Hatsuji, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• Approximately 15 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station. Approximately 20 minutes by car from Usui Karuizawa I.C.
• Approximately 20 minutes from JR Karuizawa Station by Karuizawa town circulation bus (eastbound and southbound lines), 8 minutes walk from Shimo Hatsuji bus stop.
• Winter/spring strawberry picking 10:00-15:00 (last admission)
  Summer/fall strawberry picking 9:00-14:00 (last admission)
• Tuesdays
• Entrance fee: 500 yen (free for children under 3 years old), picking experience course: 2,000 yen (including entrance fee and 250g of strawberries)
• 0267-48-3620
• Free of charge
• For strawberry picking, call or make a reservation online.

5
Karuizawa Agricultural Products Direct Sales Facility: Hochi Ichiba, Karuizawa

A large direct-sale shop selling vegetables directly from Karuizawa, where you can find natural Karuizawa souvenirs.

This direct sales shop for agricultural products in the Minami-Karuizawa area opened in 2016. Inside the large building resembling a roadside station, in addition to the direct sales shop, there are also restaurants serving handmade soba noodles and natural cheese, allowing visitors to spend a relaxing time even on rainy days. The direct sales shop sells fresh produce and processed products, mainly the local brand "Karuizawa Kirishita Yasai ®" (vegetables under the mist). Even on weekdays, the store is so popular that customers line up even before it opens at 9:00 a.m. The main attractions are fresh vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, and tomatoes. In the summer, many fans come to the store for the corn grown in Karuizawa.

On-site Karuizawa soba noodle specialty store and soba noodle making experience class.

In addition to vegetables and fruits at the direct sales counter, there is also a full lineup of processed products such as jams, honey, and dressings. Particularly popular is the jyuwari soba (buckwheat noodles) made from the precious Karuizawa buckwheat flour, which many tourists purchase as souvenirs. The premises also include "Teuchi-soba Aroma-ya," a specialty store selling Karuizawa-grown buckwheat flour, so it is a good idea to visit at lunch time. On the first and third Sundays of each month, a hands-on soba noodle making class is held. Parents and children of elementary school age and older can participate in the Experience, which includes soba making and tasting (extra charge).

Karuizawa Agricultural Products Direct Sales Property, Karuizawa Hatchi Ichiba

• 2564-1 Hatsuji, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• Approximately 20 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station
• From JR Karuizawa Station, take the Karuizawa town circulation bus (eastbound or southbound line), approximately 20 minutes on the outbound route, and alight at "Karuizawa Hatsuji Ichiniwa" bus stop.
• 9:00-17:00 (9:00-16:00 from January to March)
• Wednesdays (only from November to March), year-end and New Year's holidays *There are maintenance closures twice a year.
• 0267-45-0037
• Free of charge

6
Levant Museum of Art

An art museum that carries on the philosophy of Isaku Nishimura, who loved Karuizawa.

The museum inherits the ideas of Nishimura Isaku, one of the leading cultural figures of the Taisho Democracy period and a lover of Karuizawa. In addition to works by Isaku Nishimura himself and his relatives who are active as artists, the museum also exhibits works by Tekkan Yosano and his wife Akiko, with whom he was in contact. On a rainy day, it is a good idea to take your time and tour the museum.

There is also a café terrace overlooking the garden and a museum store. The English-style garden, where visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers and grasses, is also popular, and the "Rose Festival," held annually from late June to early July, attracts many repeat visitors.

Woodworking and dyeing workshops for parents and children are also popular.

The museum building is a replica of the Bunka Gakuin (now closed) school building opened by Isaku Nishimura in 1921 in Tokyo. Bunka Gakuin was a school that embodied Nishimura's ideal of education, which was based on his familiarity with Western art and culture, and the contents of the exhibits provide a glimpse into the liberal educational policies of the bygone era.

During the period the museum is open from early June to early November each year, art workshops and other events are held. Among the most popular are woodworking workshops, experimental dyeing workshops, and pottery workshops. This is a great place for families with children to enjoy leisure activities even on rainy days.

Levant Museum of Art

• 957-10 Nagakura, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• Approx. 15 min. from JR Karuizawa Station by car
• From JR Karuizawa Station, take the Karuizawa town circulation bus (eastbound or southbound line), approximately 30 minutes on the inside route, and alight at Sugiuri-iriguchi bus stop. 2 minutes walk from Sugiuri-iriguchi bus stop.
• Mid-June to early November, 10:00 - 17:00 (admission until 30 minutes before closing)
• Wednesdays (open on national holidays, closed the following day; open Aug. 1-Sept. 15), closed seasonally from November to the following May
• Adults 800 yen, high school and university students 600 yen, elementary and junior high school students 400 yen, children under elementary school age free
• 0267-46-1911
• Free of charge

7
Karuizawa Picture Book Forest Art Museum

A museum specializing in exhibiting original pictures of European and American picture books dating back more than 300 years

Shiozawa area's "Moose Forest". Located in the This is a picture book-themed art museum. It consists of the first permanent exhibition hall, the second exhibition hall for special exhibitions, and the third exhibition hall for the Peter Rabbit permanent exhibition, and has a collection of approximately 6,600 items, including original illustrations of European and American picture books dating back more than 300 years. Of particular note is the "World Picture Book" on permanent display in the first exhibition hall. It is a textbook published in 1658 by the Czech educator Comenius, and is considered to be the origin of picture books. Other exhibits include picture books by Randolph Caldecott, a 19th century English author known as the father of the modern picture book.

Enjoy the unique look of the "Picturesque Garden" on rainy days

A "picture book library" is also located on the premises. Visitors can spend a leisurely time while freely reading over 1,500 picture books, mostly Western books.

In between art exhibitions, we recommend visitors to enjoy the "Picturesque Garden" that connects the exhibition halls. This beautiful garden, created by a British landscape designer, depicts nature in each of the four seasons, and is perfect on a sunny day, but it also has a different look on a rainy day.

Karuizawa Picture Book Forest Museum

• 182 Nagakura, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• 15 minutes drive from JR Karuizawa Station
• From JR Karuizawa Station, take the Seibu Kanko Bus bound for "Express Shiozawako Line Kazakoshi Koen" (18 min.), and get off at "Karuizawa Museum of Picture Book Art" (a short walk).
• May-October: 9:30-17:00
  March, April, November-January: 10:00-16:00
  Last admission 30 minutes before closing
• Closed on Tuesdays (open daily during G.W. and July-September), during exhibition changeover, and during winter (mid-January to mid-March).
• Adults 1,000 yen, junior high and high school students 700 yen, elementary school students 500 yen, children under elementary school age free
• 0267-48-3340
• Free for visitors to Moose Forest

8
Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza

Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza, located near the south exit of Karuizawa Station, is a resort-style shopping mall surrounded by rich nature.
It consists of eight shopping zones with approximately 240 stores. The sidewalks in front of the stores are covered, so you can enjoy shopping without getting wet if it rains lightly.

Underground parking (P6) in the "New East" on the southeast side of the building makes it convenient to get around without getting wet on rainy days.
With a reputation for a wide variety of stores and a good selection of goods, as well as a Taste of Famous Stores district and a food court, this is a place where you can fully enjoy shopping and dining.

Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza

• Karuizawa, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• 3 min. walk from JR Karuizawa Station
• 10:00-19:00 (varies according to season)
• Closed on weekends and holidays
• 0267-42-5211
• Free of charge for up to 2 hours after entry. 100 yen per hour thereafter. Free all day with purchase of 30,000 yen or more.

9
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

10
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

11
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