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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Karuizawa
軽井沢
Go for one night, or as a Shinkansen stop between Tokyo and Nagano: cool air, outlet mall, Old Karuizawa street and Shiraito Falls.
Karuizawa sits at about 1,000 m in eastern Nagano and runs roughly 5°C cooler than Tokyo in summer, which is why it became a resort town in the late 1800s and still fills with second homes, cafés and boutiques. The Shinkansen from Tokyo takes about 70 minutes, so it works as one night on the way to Nagano or as a long day trip. Sights are spread out along a valley: the station and outlet mall at one end, Old Karuizawa and the churches in the middle, waterfalls and onsen to the north and west.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 軽井沢
- Best months
- May–Jun, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug weekends (crowded, wet), Jan–Feb (cold, icy roads)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥6,000–10,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥10,000–18,000 excl. bed · High ¥18,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English) 050-3816-2787
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or café set on Old Karuizawa | ¥500–900 |
| Soba (Oiwake area) | ¥1,000–2,000 |
| Onsen entry | ¥1,200–1,550 |
| Bus ride in town | ¥200–710 |
| Taxi Karuizawa Station → Old Karuizawa | ¥1,500–2,000 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ¥2,000–4,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HND · Tokyo Haneda
- Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, about 70 min to Karuizawa; allow 1 h from Haneda to Tokyo Station.
- NRT · Tokyo Narita
- About 1 h to Tokyo Station, then the Hokuriku Shinkansen; 3 h door to door or more.
Typical fares
- Shinkansen Tokyo → Karuizawa
- about ¥5,250, 70 min
- Shinkansen Karuizawa → Nagano
- about ¥3,070, 30 min
- Bus Karuizawa Station → Shiraito Falls
- about ¥710, 25 min
Get around
The town is a long strip, not a walkable grid. Buses (Kusakaru Kotsu and Seibu Kanko) run from Karuizawa Station to Old Karuizawa, Hoshino and Shiraito Falls; taxis are easy to find at the station but thin elsewhere. The Shinano line links Karuizawa and Naka-Karuizawa. A car or taxi is the practical way to reach the falls and Mount Asama trailheads.
See and do
Known for
- Old Karuizawa Main Street
- Shaw Memorial Church
- Shiraito Falls
- Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza outlet
- Summer resort climate and onsen
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nagano | Hokuriku Shinkansen from Karuizawa | About 30 min |
| Ueda | Hokuriku Shinkansen from Karuizawa | About 15 min |
| Matsumoto | Shinano line to Nagano, then JR to Matsumoto; or bus via Nagano | 2.5–3 h |
| Chikuma and Togura | Shinano railway from Karuizawa | About 1 h 10 min |
| Hakuba | Shinkansen to Nagano, then bus or train | 3 h+ |
| Azumino | Shinano line to Matsumoto area, then local lines | 3 h+ |
Sleep
- Karuizawa Station and outlet area
- Walk to the Shinkansen, the outlet mall and bus stops; best for one night with bags.
- Old Karuizawa (Kyū-Karuizawa)
- Cafés, shops and the churches on foot; 20–30 min walk or a short taxi from the station.
- Naka-Karuizawa and Hoshino area
- Quieter, near Tombo no yu onsen and Hoshino; one Shinano line stop from Karuizawa, then walk or taxi.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| This one, please | これをくださいkore o kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Buses to Shiraito Falls and Hoshino are infrequent and stop early; check the last return bus before you set out.
- Many shops and restaurants on Old Karuizawa close by 17:00–18:00, and some shut in winter.
- Mount Asama is an active volcano: check the current alert level and trail closures before hiking.
- Winter roads and pavements ice over; bring shoes with grip.
- The outlet mall and Old Karuizawa are 2–3 km apart: do not plan to walk both in one hour.
Karuizawa is a low-crime resort town; the real risks are icy winter pavements, thin bus service after dark, and volcanic activity on Mount Asama. Check the alert level before hiking.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Karuizawa yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Old Karuizawa Main Street
- Shaw Memorial Church
- Shiraito Falls
- Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza outlet
- Summer resort climate and onsen
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Karuizawa Tourism Association: karuizawa-kankokyokai.jp/en/
- Visit Karuizawa: visitkaruizawa.com/en/
- JR East — Karuizawa Station: www.jreast.co.jp/estation/station/info.aspx?StationCd=518
- Shinano Railway — Naka-Karuizawa: www.shinanorailway.co.jp/area/nakakaruizawa.php
- Hoshino Onsen Tombo no yu: www.hoshino-area.jp/tombo-no-yu/
- Karuizawa Sengataki Onsen: www.princehotels.co.jp/sengataki/
- Wikivoyage: Karuizawa, revision 5234964 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5234964
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Karuizawa軽井沢
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
No embassies in Karuizawa: most are in Tokyo. The US embassy is in Tokyo (check the address).
Tourism Hall near the station, 9:00–17:00, 18:00 in summer.Tourism Hall near the station, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, 6:00 PM in summer.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/karuizawa). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.