Naka-Karuizawa (’†Œyˆä‘ò) 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 Resort encompasses the vacation accommodations Hoshinoya and Hotel Bleston Court, the unique Stone Church, the fashionable dining area Harunire Terrace, and a hot spring bath house Tonbo no Yu.

  • Hoshino Onsen
    Tonbo no Yu Hours: 10:00 to 22:00 (entry until 21:15)
    Tonbo no Yu Closures: No closing days
    Tonbo no Yu Admission: 1350 yen (1550 yen during peak season)
  • 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
  • Stone Church
    Hours: 10:00 to 17:00
    Closed: when used for weddings
    Admission: Free

Others

  • Hiroshi Senju Museum
    Hours: 9:30 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
    Closed: Dec 26 through February; Tuesdays (except during peak seasons)
    Admission: 1500 yen
  • Karuizawa Taliesin
    Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (from 10:00 to 16:00 in December and January)
    Closed: New Year holidays
    Admission: 800 yen (separate fees for museums and activities)
  • Sezon Museum of Modern Art
    Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (entry until 17:30)
    Closed: November to late April
    Thursdays except in August and on national holidays.
    Admission: 1500 yen

Getting there and around

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 by 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 (烖‘ꉷò“üŒû) 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-danchimae bus stop (’¹ˆäŒ´’c’n‘O, 5 minutes, 120 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.

How to get to and around Karuizawa

Hotels around Karuizawa

Top rated in Karuizawa
Budget:
    • B&B Hotel Hyochoan
      Mid-range
      Opened in August 2012, B&B Hotel Hyochoan offers simple Western-style accommodations. Free in-room WiFi is available and guests can enjoy bird watching from the propertyfs terrace. JR Karuizawa Station is a 15-minute drive away. The air-conditioned rooms feature a flat-screen TV with Apple TV, Hulu and Netflix, an iPod docking system and an electric kettle with green tea bags. Japanese Yukata robes are provided for all guests and the en suite bathroom comes with a bathtub. A washing machine can be used free of charge during specific hours, upon request, and free private parking is on site. Luggage storage is provided at the front desk. A free shuttle is available from JR Karuizawa Station, if requested in advance. The property is handicap-accessible. Japanese and Western homemade meals are available at Caf? Hyochoan. Guests can soak in the Hoshino Hot Spring just 3-minutes away via car or visit the famous Shiraito Falls with a 7-minute drive. Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza and Lake Kumoba can both be reached with a 15-minute drive.
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    • Hotel Wellies
      Mid-range
      Situated along a peaceful tree-lined street in Karuizawa, Hotel Wellies offers a British country hotel experience in the highland resort area. There is an English style garden with a lawn and gazebo and it comes with an English-language library, homemade British meals and spacious guest rooms that went through renovations every year since opening from 2013 to 2016. Free WiFi is available at public areas and all guest rooms. The whole hotel is non-smoking inside and all guest rooms include a 32-inch flat screen TV and a fridge. A hairdryer and toiletries are included in the en suite bathroom. All rooms has views of surrounding greenery, and some rooms feature great views of Mount Asama. Guests at Wellies Hotel can leave their luggage and ski/golf equipment at the property, or use a safety deposit box. Free parking and bicycle hire are available. The property's signature dish is a hearty, hot full English breakfast with homemade sausages, home-cured bacon and black pudding (included in the room rate). A 4-course meal, including authentic dishes such as fish & chips, beef stew, Yorkshire pudding and home smoked salmon is also available at a surcharge. Property staff are able to recommend local restaurants to guests who wish to eat out. The on-site bar offers local and imported beers, wines, cocktails and spirits, including many Scotch whiskies. A welcome tea is served to guests arriving before 18:00. Both Karuizawa Shinkansen (bullet train) Station, an outlet shopping mall, the Prince Ski Resort, Shiozawa Lake and the Kyu-Karuizawa area are all approximately a 10-minute drive from the property, while Naka-Karuizawa Station on the Shinano Line is a 3-minute drive. The Hoshino area with hot spring baths, the Sezon Museum of Modern Art, Harunire Terrace and Karuizawa Stone Church are a 5-minute drive away. The Yu River and local temples and shrines can also be reached within a 5-minute walk.
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    • Koya Backpackers
      Budget-friendly
      Offering views of the mountain, Koya Backpackers is located in Karuizawa, 5 km from Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza. Free private parking is available on site. Rooms have a shared bathroom. Koya Backpackers features free WiFi throughout the property. You will find a shared kitchen with complimentary coffee and tea. Harunire Terrace is 500 metres from Koya Backpackers, while Yacho No Mori wildlife conservation park is a 10-minute walk away.
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    • Eau Sol Vert Karuizawa Club
      Luxury
      Situated in Karuizawa, 20 km from Honmachi Machiyakan, Eau Sol Vert Karuizawa Club features accommodation with a garden, free private parking and a restaurant. This 4-star hotel offers luggage storage space. The hotel has a sauna, a concierge service and free WiFi. All rooms at the hotel come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a kitchen, a dining area, a safety deposit box and a private bathroom with a bidet, free toiletries and a hairdryer. All guest rooms will provide guests with a desk and a kettle. Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park is 29 km from Eau Sol Vert Karuizawa Club, while Karuizawa Station is 13 km from the property. Matsumoto Airport is 84 km away.
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    • Hotel Indigo Karuizawa
      Luxury
      Situated within ‚R km of JR Karuizawa Station, , Hotel Indigo Karuizawa in Karuizawa has a number of amenities including a restaurant, a fitness centre and a public bath. This 4-star hotel features a 24-hour front desk and room service. Guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with a coffee machine. Complete with a private bathroom fitted with a hot tub and slippers, all rooms at Hotel Indigo Karuizawa have a flat-screen TV and air conditioning, and some rooms have a seating area. The rooms have a safety deposit box. A buffet breakfast is available each morning at the accommodation. Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza is 2 km from the hotel, while Karuizawa Oga Hall is 2.6 km from the property. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 66 km from Hotel Indigo Karuizawa.
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    • Twin-Line Hotel Karuizawa Japan
      Luxury
      Featuring a restaurant and a bar, Twin-Line Hotel Karuizawa Japan is situated in Karuizawa, 700 metres from Karuizawa Station and 17 km from Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park. Located around 1.9 km from Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza, the hotel with free WiFi is also 600 metres away from Karuizawa Oga Hall. The property is less than 1 km from Kyukaruizawa Ginza and a 12-minute walk from Kumoba Pond. At the hotel, each room is fitted with a desk and a TV. The private bathroom is equipped with a bidet, a hairdryer and free toiletries. A ? la carte breakfast is served every morning at the property, while Spanish cuisine is available. Staff speak English and Japanese at the reception. Yukawa Furusato Park is 5 km from Twin-Line Hotel Karuizawa Japan. The nearest airport is Matsumoto Airport, 89 km from the accommodation.
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    • Karuizawa Asama Prince Hotel
      Luxury
      Offering a magnificent view of Mount Asama, Karuizawa Asama Prince Hotel features an 18-hole golf course and a spa. JR Karuizawa Station and Karuizawa Shopping Plaza are a 12-minute drive from the resort. All rooms are air conditioned and equipped with a refrigerator and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Each features a balcony, where guests can enjoy the view of Mount Asama. The private bathroom comes with a bath and a hairdryer. At Karuizawa Asama Prince Hotel, guests can get soothing spa treatments or play a round of golf. The bar offers a variety of cocktails for a relaxing evening. The Hiroshi Senju Museum is a 10-minute drive away, while Lake Kumobaike is a 15-minute drive from the property. Yukawa Furusato Park can be accessed within a 12-minute drive from the hotel.
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    • Bellscabin Guesthouse
      Budget-friendly
      Situated around a 15-minute stroll away, or 900 metres from Naka-Karuizawa Station, the completely non-smoking Bellscabin Guesthouse provides cosy rooms in bold colours and free WiFi throughout. Skiing and summer outdoor activities can be found nearby. Looking out on the natural surroundings, rooms at Cafe & Guesthouse Bellscabin are air-conditioned. Bed linen is provided. Showers and toilets are shared with the other guests. The shared bath is open 24/7. Karuizawa Prince Ski Resort and Kyu Karuizawa Golf Club are both about a 15-minute drive away. Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza is 4 km away. Parking is free, and bicycles and cars can be hired on site. Tonbu-no-yu hot-spring bath and Ishino Church are both a 20-minute walk away. There are hiking opportunities in the area. A free-use internet PC is provided. A Western breakfast is served daily from 07:30-09:00 at the property's cafe.
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    • Kyukaruizawa Kikyo, Curio Collection by Hilton
      Luxury
      Located in Karuizawa, Kyukaruizawa Kikyo, Curio Collection by Hilton is situated a 6-minute walk from Kyu Karuizawa Ginza Dori shopping street. Complimentary shuttle service is available to/from JR Karuizawa Station, 1.2 km from the property. Featuring a local artwork, the contemporary rooms come with a 50-inch flat-screen TV and Nespresso Coffee Machine. Selected rooms feature a patio or balcony with courtyard views. The property offers private parking on site. Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza is a 6-minute drive from the property. Haneda International Airport is 2-hour by train from the property.
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    • SHISHI-IWA-HOUSE Karuizawa
      Luxury
      Situated in Karuizawa, 20 km from Honmachi Machiyakan, SHISHI-IWA-HOUSE Karuizawa features accommodation with a terrace, free private parking and a bar. This 5-star hotel offers a concierge service and luggage storage space. The air-conditioned rooms provide a garden view and come with a wardrobe and free WiFi. The rooms include a private bathroom fitted with a bath and a hairdryer, while some rooms are fitted with a kitchenette equipped with a fridge. At the hotel rooms include bed linen and towels. Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park is 23 km from SHISHI-IWA-HOUSE Karuizawa, while Karuizawa Station is 6.7 km from the property. Matsumoto Airport is 84 km away.
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