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Snow-capped Mount Asama beyond the streets of Karuizawa

Nagano, Japan

KaruizawaKARUIZAWA

A summer retreat in the forest, at the foot of Mount Asama.

36°21'N 138°36'E

01IntroductionIntroduction

A summer retreat in the forest, at the foot of Mount Asama.

Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture. A highland summer retreat on the southeastern foot of Mount Asama (2,568 m). Developed as a villa area since the Meiji era, it is surrounded by quiet nature, from forest paths to Shiraito Falls.

Summer retreatMount AsamaShiraito FallsVilla areaForest paths

02Key InformationKey information

Key information about Karuizawa

Only information confirmed in the sources (listed at the bottom of the page) is shown. Please check the latest official information before your visit.

PrefecturePrefecture
Nagano
RegionRegion
Koshinetsu
MunicipalityMunicipality
Karuizawa Town
CategoryScenery
HighlandsForestsWaterfallsSnowscapes
Access overviewAccess
From Tokyo, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa Station.
LocationCoordinates
36°21'N 138°36'E
Shiraito Falls surrounded by autumn leaves

Karuizawa — Nagano

Photo: Hiroaki Kaneko / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

03StoryStory

The Story of
Karuizawa

Summer in Karuizawa passes as if dissolving into the forest. Woods of larch and broadleaf trees, mossy paths, old villas appearing here and there. The air of a summer retreat that dates back to the Meiji era still lingers.

To the north stands Mount Asama, an active volcano that sometimes sends up plumes of smoke. Its great form can be seen from anywhere in town.

Shiraito Falls is a wide waterfall where groundwater spills in many strands from the rock face. In autumn the surrounding trees change colour, and the whiteness of the falls stands out.

04GalleryGallery

4 photographs

—FilmTravel through film

Karuizawa on film

All films →

【TRIP KARUIZAWA】雲場池

Source: 一般社団法人 軽井沢観光協会／Karuizawa Tourism Association / Watch on YouTube ↗

The films shown here are published on YouTube by official channels such as the Ministry of the Environment, local governments and tourism associations, and are presented using YouTube's embed feature. Copyright remains with each publisher. No connection is made to YouTube until you press play.

05SeasonsThrough the seasons

The four seasons of Karuizawa

  1. SpringSpring

    A late spring. Fresh greenery bursts out all at once around May.

    Recommended

  2. SummerSummer

    A summer retreat at its best. People come for the coolness of the forest.

    Recommended

  3. AutumnAutumn

    Autumn leaves around Shiraito Falls and Kumoba Pond reach their peak.

    Recommended

  4. WinterWinter

    Snow-dusted Mount Asama and a quiet forest with few visitors. Skating and skiing, too.

    Recommended

06LocationLocation

36°21'N 138°36'E

Nagano, Karuizawa Town (Koshinetsu)

OpenStreetMap ↗Google Maps ↗

An interactive map is in preparation. For now, the location is shown among all destinations.

26°N30°N34°N38°N42°NKARUIZAWA

07NearbyNearby scenic spots

Another landscape, close by.

The Yubatake of Kusatsu Onsen wrapped in steam

Kusatsu Onsen

KUSATSU

About 31 km (straight-line distance)

The Northern Alps glowing at sunset, reflected in the paddies

Hakuba

HAKUBA

About 76 km (straight-line distance)

Taisho Pond reflecting autumn forest and the Hotaka range

Kamikochi

KAMIKOCHI

About 87 km (straight-line distance)

08RelatedSimilar landscapes

If you love this landscape.

The Shiretoko range reflected in the first of the Shiretoko Five Lakes

SHIRETOKO

Shiretoko

Hokkaido

A peninsula where sea, forest and mountains remain unbroken.

The Oirase Stream flowing through fresh green forest

OIRASE

Oirase StreamAomori · Tohoku

Towada City, Aomori Prefecture. A mountain stream running from Nenokuchi on Lake Towada to Yakeyama, where clear water flows between mossy rocks and forest in a succession of waterfalls and rapids. A walking trail follows the river.

Gorges / Forests / Waterfalls

Kegon Falls dropping down a cliff in fresh greenery

NIKKO

Nikko & Kegon FallsTochigi · Kanto

Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture. At Kegon Falls, water flowing out of Lake Chuzenji plunges straight down a 97 m cliff. Counted with Nachi Falls and Fukuroda Falls among Japan's three great waterfalls, it is a signature landscape of Nikko National Park.

Waterfalls / Lakes / Forests

09SourcesSources

Sources

10Photo CreditsPhoto credits

PhotoTitle / PhotographerSourceLicence
Snow-capped Mount Asama beyond the streets of Karuizawa北陸新幹線から浅間山くろふねWikimedia Commons ↗CC BY-SA 4.0
Shiraito Falls surrounded by autumn leaves紅葉の白糸の滝 (Shiraito falls in autumn) 26 Oct, 2014 - panoramioHiroaki KanekoWikimedia Commons ↗CC BY-SA 3.0
Shiraito Falls spilling in many strands from the rock face白糸の滝 - panoramio (2)くろふねWikimedia Commons ↗CC BY 3.0
Mount Asama beyond a snowfieldPrince Snow Resort KaruizawaSki ManiaWikimedia Commons ↗Public domain
Shiraito Falls amid fresh greeneryShiraito Falls (Nagano) 03Σ64Wikimedia Commons ↗CC BY 4.0
A forest path in dappled sunlightKyuuu Sui Togeyu Land Road - panoramioSoul of JapanWikimedia Commons ↗CC BY-SA 3.0
All photo credits →