Karuizawa

Tucked into the foothills of Mount Asama in eastern Nagano Prefecture, Karuizawa is a town whose character is shaped by its cool highland climate. The active volcano rises just north of the resort, while forests and ponds give the area a strongly seasonal rhythm. Karuizawa-shuku was an Edo-period post station on the Nakasendō, the historic road linking Kyoto and Edo. In 1886, Canadian missionary Alexander Croft Shaw established a summer villa here, helping set the course for Karuizawa’s enduring role as a summer retreat. Old Karuizawa combines the former post-town setting with shops and cafés, and the surrounding area is well suited to walks and cycling. Continue through nearby webcams to explore different parts of Karuizawa and eastern Nagano.

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