I would like to write about my summer vacation to Karuizawa, a famous summer resort in Japan.

Karuizawa is fairly close to Tokyo, little more than an hour in bullet train and 2 hours drive by car. I head to Karuizawa by Nagano bullet train Asama from Tokyo station.

I arrived in an hour from Tokyo station. As soon as I got off the train, I felt that I have reached Karuizawa because the air is different. Since Karuizawa is located about 1000 meter above sea level, even though its summer, the weather is chilly. It if hot if it gets sunny but usually it gets cold in the morning and night.

I had time to kill until my family come and pick me up so I strolled around Karuizawa station.

As you go out of the south exit, located on the right side going out the ticket gate, there is Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza. It opened 15 years ago and is increasing its number of stores annually. Since there are many outlets of expensive, casual, and sports brand, there are even people visiting Karuizawa for the purpose of shopping. There are many people come and play tennis and gulf at Karuizawa so there are shops providing sports related products in reasonable price.

During the summer or Golden Week, there will be a huge traffic jam around the outlet to get a parking lot. If you want a spot, you should go as soon as the store opens or around the evening. Also, there will be a greater chance in getting a spot at New East or East parking lot.

The story got off the subject but looking at the outlet from the station, I realized the mass crowed once again. Then I headed toward the north exit.

The building standing next to the rotary is the Memorial Hall of Karuizawa station.
This is the reconstruction of the former Karuizawa Station, which was pulled down due to the opening of the Nagano Shinkansen. The station was rebuilt exactly how it was in 1910. The exhibition room on the 1st floor shows historical records about train lines in Nagano such as Shin’etsu Honsen, and the guest room on the 2nd floor is exhibited as a history memorial room.

This locomotive is called EF-63. This train played its role as an assistant train especially for Usui Touge mountain pass between Yokogawa station and Karuizawa station. A regular train could not run between these two stations because of many hills. So they needed assistance. Back in the days, there was 5 minutes stop at both Yokogawa and Karuizawa station to disconnect and reconnect the train. People used this time to buy box lunch called Touge no Kamameshi. Even after the bullet train replaced the locomotive, this box lunch is still popular among the visitors. You can buy it at Karuizawa station or in the bullet train.
Yet, you can actually drive the EF-63 at Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park near Yokogawa station at the foot of the mountain. However, you need to take a class first.

I went a little further away from the station. Yagasaki Park is located within 5 minutes walk from the north exit. There is a big lake and have a wooden bridge across it. You can see Mt. Asama and Mt. Hanare from here. It is a great place to relax and have a rest.

Next to Yagasaki Park is Karuizawa Ohga Hall. This concert hall was built with donation from the honorary president of SONY, Norio Ohga. The inside of the hall is in a shape of and pentagon, being particular about sound. You can enjoy various types of music such as classical music and jazz.

These are about all the tourist spot around Karuizawa station. Within 25 minutes walk to the north from the station, you will reach Karuizawa Main Street, the Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza.

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*Karuizawa Traveling Note -Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza-