The Karuizawa Area with Kids

Karuizawa, Nagano is our favorite mountain resort getaway. Best part? It`s only a 1 hr Shinkansen ride from Tokyo. Step off the train, take in the gorgeous mountain views, and enjoy the numerous activities Karuizawa has to offer from outdoor sports, onsens, shopping, play areas, food and more.

*** The Karuizawa Area with Kids ***

For early risers we recommend visiting Sawamura Bakery & Restaurant. They have two locations and open from 7:00. Relax in their spacious restaurant and dine on their large selection of breads and coffee. They offer a seasonal morning set (usually till late Autumn) with toast, sausage, bacon and egg / french toast / salmon marinade sandwich / or butter toast that costs less than 2000 JPY. If you`re in Karuizawa off season they have great breads and coffee that will satisfy your morning cravings till brunch. Indoor and outdoor seating available.

There are two locations in Karuizawa and four in Tokyo (Hiro0 & Hiroo Plaza, Marunochi & Shinjuku)

Sawamura Old Karuizawa
Address: 12-18 Karuizawa Karuizawa-machi Nagano-ken (〒389-0103 長野県軽井沢町軽井沢12-18)
Phone: 0267-41-3777
Hours: Bakery 7:00-21:00; Restaurant 7:00-10:00; 11:00-21:00

Sawamura Karuizawa Harnere Terrace
Address: Hoshino, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano (〒389-0194 長野県軽井沢町星野)
Phone: 0267-31-0144
Hours: Bakery 7:00-21:00; Restaurant 7:00-10:00; 11:00-21:00
Website: http://www.b-sawamura.com/shops/kyukaru.php

*** The Karuizawa Area with Kids ***

Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Resort is one of the easiest accessible resorts from Tokyo. The ski resort offers beginner and intermediate trails as well as snow parks and the ski season starts early from November – April. A huge resort area lies at the bottom of the ski resort including Prince Hotels and a large shopping complex.

Karuizawa has ski schools with private lessons in English. Lessons are available twice a day at 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and 1:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. Advance bookings are highly recommended.

Season: Friday, November 3, 2017 – April 1, 2018
Hours: 8:00 – 17:00 Daily.
Access: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen (via Nagano) to Karuizawa Station (1 hr 10 min). The Karuizawa Prince Hotel Ski Area is 1 min by taxi or 10 min on foot from the South Exit. There is a free Shuttle Bus between the Ski Area and Karuizawa Station. Daily service from Saturday, December 9th, 2017 to April 1, 2018.
Website: http://princehotels.co.jp/ski/karuizawa/

*** The Karuizawa Area with Kids ***

Shopping is concentrated at the Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza (3 min by foot by the station) and the famed shopping street, Karuizawa Ginza. The Prince Shopping Plaza is an outlet mall for popular brands, sporting goods and local souvenirs. Their great lawn is filled with child-friendly attractions in summer and during long holidays. Perfect for parents to take turns watching kids while the other shops. On rainy days we recommend the Amusement Garden located in the Outlet`s west area. The shopping street, a couple of kilometers north of the station, is where you`ll find various shops, restaurants, wines, honey and jams produced from locally grown fruit.

*** The Karuizawa Area with Kids ***

For lunch we like Kawakami An Soba (located across the street from Sawamura Bakery & Restaurant). They are child friendly, offer and English menu and serve delicious cold and hot soba. They have two locations in Tokyo as well; Aoyama and Azabu.

Address: 6-10 Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi Kitasaku-gun, Nagano-ken (長野県北佐久郡軽井沢町軽井沢 6-10)
Phone: 0267-42-0009
Website: http://www.kawakamian.com/shops/karuizawa.php

*** The Karuizawa Area with Kids ***

Before heading out to your next adventure pick up a Cup of Jo at Maruyama Coffee shop. Established since 1991 they support small coffee growers all over the world and have a lovely collection of great coffee that you won’t find anywhere else. They also offer different coffee process; hand-drip, espresso machine and steampunk. Delicious and makes perfect omiyage (souvenir) gifts for your coffee-loving friends. Maruyama has locations in Tokyo too!

Address: 1154-10 Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Nagano-ken
Hours: Wednesday – Monday 10: 00-18: 00
Website: http://www.maruyamacoffee.com/

*** The Karuizawa Area with Kids ***

Yukawa Furusato Park (湯川ふるさと公園) Playground, an excellent spot to burn off some energy. It`s a large and clean park that families enjoy, and dog-friendly too! Walk your dog(s), picnic on the lawn, take long strolls through the garden, play soccer or badminton in their large, enclosed area, watch the bullet train speed by or just run around on the large playground equipment. The playground is equipped with numerous slides, a rope glide, separate play areas for toddlers and older children, spring riders, large lawn for picnics and kite flying, benches, drink vending machines and clean toilets.

Address: 〒389-0111 Nagano Prefecture, Kitasaku District, Karuizawa, Nagakura, ２６５８番地１０ (軽井沢町大字長倉２６５８番地１０)
Website: http://www.town.karuizawa.lg.jp/www/contents/1447659825394/

*** The Karuizawa Area with Kids ***

Karuizawa is also home to Toy Kingdom, a children`s amusement park filled with outdoor fun and indoor playrooms. Toy Kingdom uses natural surroundings to keep kids active and one with nature. Favorites are the tree house, climbing wall, rope bridges, and a variety of different classes such as crafting and fishing or fun activities like riding the ferris wheel, train rides, carousel, outdoor wood jungle gym, and more (additional fees per class & ride).

Address: 2277 Omae Hosohara, Tsumagoi, Agatsuma District, Gunma (群馬県吾妻郡嬬恋村大前細原2277)
Phone：0279-86-3515
Website: http://www.omochaoukoku.com/karuizawa/

*** The Karuizawa Area with Kids ***

If you`re traveling to Karuizawa from January to June we also recommend Strawberry picking. We visited the Komoro Nunobiki Strawberry Garden and had so much fun picking and eating strawberries. The perfect mountain vacation outside Tokyo for the family.

Komoro Nunobiki Strawberry Garden

Website: http://www.ichigodaira.com/ (in Japanese)
Hours: 10:00 – 15:00 or until all the ripe strawberries have been eaten. Time unlimited.
Phone: 02-6726-2615
* Please check the website for changes in fees and operating hours

********

The Karuizawa Area with Kids

********

Brighten up your Inbox with the Best Living Japan newsletter and never miss any great info. It is easy to sign-up. Just click here, and enter your email.