From A Good Day Karuizawa Riverside, you can easily begin your journey to explore Karuizawa — a place where nature, light, and a slow rhythm of life blend together naturally.
EXPLORE AT YOUR OWN PACE
Karuizawa is not a destination for rushing through experiences, but a place to feel every moment through walking, cycling, and observing the subtle seasonal changes of nature. Below are carefully selected experiences that let you explore Karuizawa in harmony with its natural pace of life.
In Karuizawa, water sets the pace. At first light, Kumoba Pond lies perfectly still, holding the forest and the sky on its surface. Follow the cool air into the trees and Shiraito Falls appears, a wide veil of fine white threads over moss-dark rock. The mood turns elemental at Onioshidashi, beneath Mount Asama, then softens by the calm lake at Taliesin — places to walk slowly, and let the light do the rest.
Walking around Kumoba Pond is one of the most iconic experiences in Karuizawa. The path takes you through a serene environment where the water reflects the surrounding forest and the light changes beautifully throughout the day — the perfect place to feel the slow rhythm of Karuizawa.
Shiraito Falls features thin streams of water cascading like white silk through the forest, creating a refreshing and pure atmosphere. Short walking paths nearby make it ideal for a relaxing half-day nature visit.
A slender ten-metre fall reached by a gentle forest trail beyond Shiraito. The quiet walk through the woods is as much a part of the experience as the water itself.
A unique volcanic landscape formed by the eruption of Mount Asama, featuring dramatic lava rock formations.
A lakeside park around the calm waters of Shiozawa Lake, gathering small museums, historic villas, gardens, and cafés — an unhurried afternoon spent by the water.
A ridgeline platform northeast of Old Karuizawa where Mt. Asama unfolds across the horizon — its volcanic crown smoking softly above quiet forest.
A still mountain lake mirrored by historic villas and quiet walking paths — Karuizawa's gentlest afternoon, where the water holds the sky in place.
Central Karuizawa's open meadow with a reflecting pond — Mt. Asama framed in the water, swans cutting slow lines across summer mornings.
Old Karuizawa carries its history gently. Along the Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza, bakeries and small shops open onto a street where locals and holidaymakers share the same unhurried afternoons. A few steps away the noise falls into silence: the timber chapel of St. Paul's, the Shaw Memorial Church — the oldest in Karuizawa — and the Stone Church, where rock, water, and light meet. A corner of town best discovered on foot.
Karuizawa Ginza is a nostalgic street filled with local shops, bakeries, and cafés. The atmosphere is relaxed and unhurried, where everyday life and tourism coexist naturally.
A small wooden church quietly located among the trees, featuring simple architecture and a peaceful atmosphere. It is often visited during walking tours around Old Karuizawa.
The oldest church in Karuizawa, built in 1895 by the Canadian missionary A. C. Shaw — often called the father of Karuizawa. A humble timber chapel set quietly among the trees of Old Karuizawa.
A church of flowing stone arches built in memory of Uchimura Kanzo, where rock, water, greenery, and an open sky meet — one of Karuizawa's most serene and quietly moving spaces.
A quiet shrine wrapped in towering sacred trees. Even on busy days, its grounds hold a still, grounding calm just a few steps from the Ginza street.
A refined art gallery set in the forest, showing modern and contemporary works in a calm, light-filled space — a quiet pause between walks.
An 1894 wooden hotel where John Lennon once spent his summers — dark beams, painted tiles, and a stillness that has outlasted a century of guests.
A quiet glass pavilion near the station — contemporary Japanese art behind clear walls that catch the surrounding light without raising their voice.
A pentagon-shaped concert hall donated by Sony's Norio Ohga in 2005 — beech-lined acoustics tuned by a stillness that makes every note land cleanly in the forest air. A 3-minute walk from Karuizawa Station.
Beyond the streets, Karuizawa is forest almost without end. Walk the woods of Hoshino and Naka-Karuizawa with a guide, or arrive with Picchio at dawn, when the trees fill with birdsong you would otherwise pass by. Cycle or wander along soft, shaded paths — out to the cold fall of Sengataki, or up to the Former Usui Pass and its wide sweep of mountains. The surest way to know the forest is simply to be within it. Karuizawa is also one of Japan's finest golf destinations — its courses built deep into the highland forest, where the trees define the fairways as much as the flags.
Guided walks in the Karuizawa forests (Hoshino / Naka-Karuizawa), birdwatching, and seasonal nature tours help you understand the forest ecosystem. Walking and cycling routes also allow for independent exploration at a slow pace.
A wildlife observation tour focusing on birds and forest animals in Karuizawa's natural environment.
Rent a bicycle and ride through tree-lined roads, historic wooden villas, and quiet forest paths in Old Karuizawa and Naka-Karuizawa — a gentle way to experience the area.
One of Karuizawa's tallest falls, reached on a forest trail of boardwalks and quiet pools. Far from the crowds, the valley is often left entirely to you.
A historic mountain pass and lookout above Karuizawa, where the old Nakasendo road meets wide forest views — at its best in the clear light of morning.
A protected forest of streams and shadow where flying squirrels glide at dusk — Picchio guides lead quiet walks beneath the canopy.
Open-air ice in the heart of winter — skates whispering across the rink as breath turns visible against Asama's white slopes.
A wooden boardwalk threading the Yukawa river beneath century-old elms — light through leaves, water over stone, the forest doing its quiet work.
108 holes across Karuizawa's forested highlands — four courses built in the Robert Trent Jones Jr. tradition. The North Course hosts the professional women's tour each summer. Cool even in August, quiet in the early morning.
An 18-hole course adjacent to Mount Asama and the Prince Hotel, with open fairways framed by highland forest. Easy to book, accessible to guests of all levels.
A resort course within walking distance of Naka-Karuizawa Station — wide fairways shaded by trees throughout. A natural choice for a relaxed afternoon between the forest and the greens.
MORE TO DISCOVER
Beyond the walking tours, a few more ways to spend your days in Karuizawa — from slow dining to forest terraces and local shopping.
RESTAURANTS & LOCAL CUISINE
Karuizawa's culinary scene embodies the spirit of "slow dining," where every meal is connected to forest landscapes, old town streets, and the gentle rhythm of the highlands.
One of Karuizawa's iconic destinations, combining bakery and restaurant in a warm wooden space. Handmade bread, light soups, and Western-style dishes create a signature brunch experience surrounded by nature.
A European-style café-restaurant with an open forest-facing setting, offering brunch, coffee, and pastries in a slow-paced Karuizawa atmosphere.
A café near Kumoba Pond, ideal for a break after a lakeside walk, offering handcrafted coffee and a calm natural view.
A cluster of small bakeries and cafés near Karuizawa Station, perfect for a light breakfast before starting the day's journey.
Another branch of Sawamura located in Old Karuizawa, offering a quieter bakery experience surrounded by streets and forest atmosphere.
A Karuizawa institution since 1982 — artisan cheese aged on local milk, sliced thin and paired with crusty bread and a quiet glass of wine.
Soft caramel custard set in a small glass jar — the Karuizawa pudding locals queue for, served chilled by the station.
A traditional soba restaurant known for handmade buckwheat noodles, served in a minimalist Japanese setting with a calm local atmosphere.
A small soba shop often regarded as a hidden gem, offering an intimate and authentic local dining experience.
A popular local tonkatsu restaurant known for crispy yet tender pork cutlets — a classic comfort food choice after outdoor activities.
A simple local eatery serving traditional home-style Japanese dishes at affordable prices, loved by locals.
A long-established Japanese restaurant serving traditional dishes in a warm, nostalgic setting.
Karuizawa's century-old German-style sausage shop — smoked sausages and pâtés sliced behind the counter, served simply with mustard and a cold local beer.
Charcoal-grilled eel lacquered with sweet soy tare, rested over warm rice — the kind of unhurried meal Karuizawa has served for generations.
A riverside dining complex in the Hoshino area where food, wooden architecture, and nature blend seamlessly.
An Italian-style pizzeria located in a forest setting, offering a relaxed European dining experience in nature.
A popular gelato shop using local milk and seasonal fruits, perfect as a light dessert after meals.
A Nepal–Japan fusion café surrounded by greenery in the Hoshino area, ideal for a relaxed mid-day break.
French haute cuisine at the edge of the Hoshino forest — Shinshu venison, mountain herbs, a single candle and the river audible through the open window.
A nostalgic street lined with local bakeries, cafés, and small eateries, perfect for casual walking and light food exploration.
A historic sweets shop famous for natural shaved ice — a signature summer dessert in Karuizawa.
A soba restaurant near Old Karuizawa, combining traditional cuisine with a relaxed modern atmosphere.
A small shop serving traditional mochi and snacks, perfect for a quick stop while walking around the old town.
A classic retro-style coffee shop offering a warm, nostalgic atmosphere ideal for a short break.
Italian-style apple pie warm from the oven on Old Karuizawa Rotary — buttery lattice, cinnamon steam, the kind of afternoon stop that defines a Ginza street walk.
Skewers turning over charcoal in a low-lit room near Old Karuizawa — chicken thigh, leek, the smell of binchotan threading through the evening crowd.
A refined Japanese restaurant focusing on seasonal ingredients and minimalist presentation.
A European-style roast chicken restaurant with a warm forest-lodge atmosphere.
A high-end French–Japanese fine dining experience with an intimate and seasonal menu.
Craft beer brewed on Asama spring water — amber lager poured slow at the long wooden bar, the kind of evening that lingers without hurry.
French dining along the Yukawa river — a tasting menu paced with the rhythm of running water, the night closing in slowly through cedar trees.
RELAXATION & LIFESTYLE
Resting spaces and lifestyle experiences that reflect Karuizawa's slow rhythm.
Harunire Terrace in the Hoshino area is a riverside space filled with cafés, small shops, and open-air seating surrounded by nature — a perfect stop for a slow afternoon.
A natural hot spring located in the forest, offering a deep relaxation experience — often enjoyed after walking or cycling.
A forest hot spring on the quieter edge of Karuizawa — a deep, restful soak after a day of walking or cycling.
A serene forest spa in the Nagakura area, offering quiet treatments and deep rest among the trees — an unhurried way to unwind after a day outdoors.
A large open-air bath at the heart of Hoshino Onsen — steam rising into beech leaves, the only sound the slow movement of warm water against stone.
A luxury onsen retreat built along a mountain river — cedar villas, private baths, and an entire valley kept deliberately still for guests who came to disappear.
SHOPPING & LOCAL LIFESTYLE
A large open-air shopping complex and local lifestyle spaces, surrounded by the nature of Karuizawa.
A large open-air shopping complex near Karuizawa Station, surrounded by nature. It features over 200 stores combining shopping, dining, and green spaces unique to Karuizawa.
A relaxed food-and-gift hall near Karuizawa Station, gathering local produce, sweets, and specialty shops under one roof — an easy place to taste and take a little of Karuizawa home.
A working dairy farm on the edge of Karuizawa, with a farm shop and café offering fresh milk, gelato, and seasonal produce — a gentle taste of the highland's local life.
A coffee shop founded on Old Karuizawa Ginza in 1952 — the original mocha soft-serve, hand-roasted beans by the jar, the smell of dark coffee on the wooden floor.
