Discover Karuizawa : Make the most of your visit to Karuizawa by staying at Karuizawa Prince Hotel
Blessed with a cool climate in summer, beautiful leaves in autumn and snow in winter, Karuizawa is now coming to the attention of international visitors who have discovered all that it has to offer. Easily accessible from the capital, Karuizawa is one of the most popular mountain resort in Japan.
The Karuizawa Prince Hotel is located in the heart of Karuizawa, offering a rich variety of facilities and experiences for the guests.
Staying at The Karuizawa Prince Hotel is the optimal option for those who wish to maximize their time in Karuizawa.
— Staying at the Karuizawa Prince Hotel
— How to Get to Karuizawa Prince Hotel
— Tours and Charters from Karuizawa
Historic & Grand
Resort Complex
| Karuizawa Prince Hotel | |
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| Area | KARUIZAWA & KUSATSU |
| Type | Hotel |
| Feature | Bar/LoungeConcierge ServicesDinner & Breakfast IncludedEnglish-SpeakingFamily RoomsFitness Centre / Swimming PoolFree WifiOnsen / Hot SpringOutdoor OnsenPrivate BathroomRestaurantShuttle ServiceSki / Snowboard RentalWestern Rooms |
| Price | JPY20,000 ~ / pp |
Where Is Karuizawa?
Karuizawa is located around 70KM / 1.5 to 2-hours to the south-east of Nagano and 170KM / 2.5 hour drive to the north-west of Tokyo. As a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, Karuizawa Station is most easily reached using the train from Nagano or Tokyo – taking around 30-minutes and 65 to 75-minutes respectively, from those staring points. Karuizawa sits around 1000 meters above sea level, blessing it with a cool alpine climate and welcome escape from the heat and humidity of summer. As such, Karuizawa is one of Japan’s most popular resort towns with many Tokyoites heading there for holidays or day-trips from the capital.
When to visit Karuizawa
With the number of seasonal activities and offerings at the Karuizawa Prince Hotel throughout the year, anytime of year is perfect to visit to this amazing grand resort! Whether it is enjoying the luscious and green forest leaves during your outdoor summer escapades, waiting until autumn to watch them undergo a vibrant color change, or even watching the leaves fade into the snowy escapades of the ski resorts of this mountain retreat, Karuizawa allows for year-round appreciation with four distinct seasons. The Karuizawa Prince Hotel uplifts this even further providing premier shopping experiences, on site events, and plethora of outdoor activities that occur all year round, providing a perfect base of operations for our top recommended locations and activities below:
1 / Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza / All year round
The Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza boasts more than 200 stores along with numerous restaurants and parkland spread across 26-hectares. Many major fashion houses have outlet stores at the plaza, making it an immensely popular destination for both Japanese and international visitors.
2 / Karuizawa Prince Hotel Snow Resort / November to March
Karuizawa Prince Hotel Snow Resort is perhaps the most readily accessible resort from Tokyo – only a short distance from Karuizawa Station, a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Easy to get to from the capital, Karuizawa is a small resort that relies on snow-making equipment and as such is best-suited to families with young children, absolute beginners or those just wanting to enjoy the snow and winter atmosphere with easy access to everything else the resort town has to offer.
For those of you who are interested, we offer a Karuizawa Ski Package, where we arrange all the necessities for your optimal skiing experience.
3 / Onioshidashi Volcanic Park / All year round
Said to be the most active volcano on Honshu – Japan’s main island – Mt. Asama is one of the few mountains in the country that people are not allowed to climb. At 2,568 meters above sea level, Asama broods at the southern end of the Joshinetsu Kogen National Park and is best experienced at Onioshidashi Volcanic Park, which takes 40 minutes by bus from Karuizawa station.
4 / Shiraito Falls / All year round
Shiraito Falls is a three meter high waterfall, spanning some seventy meters across. The name ‘Shiraito’ literally translates into English as ‘White Threads’ which is quite appropriate when you see how the wispy, white waters of the falls mingle and coalesce as they fall into the lake below. The falls are open to the public all year round, but it is debatable as to when is actually the best time to go there. Many say that summer is the best, when the lush vegetation surrounding the falls is at its peak while others prefer the coloured beauty of autumn. There is a direct bus that leaves every 30 minutes or so from Karuizawa Station and takes about 25 minutes to reach the falls. Get off at Shiraito no Taki bus stop and the falls are about 5 minutes away on foot.
5 / Kumoba Pond / best: May to November
Located nearby the Old Ginza area of town and around 20-minutes walk from Karuizawa Station, Kumoda Pond is one of the best spots in town to enjoy the autumn leaves. On a clear and calm day, Kumoda Pond offers a striking mirroring effect when the surrounding greenery is reflected in the pond’s clear and unspoiled waters. The entire pond is also encircled with a boardwalk, making this the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful summer stroll, or perhaps pull up a chair and take some time out from the stresses and strains of daily life. The pond is also popular with cyclists and nature lovers. If you’re lucky, one of the families of ducks who call the lake their home may even come over to say hello.
Staying at the Karuizawa Prince Hotel
The Karuizawa Prince Hotel is a grand resort encompassing five hotels and amenities that caters to a variety of interests and activities throughout the year. Guests can enjoy the convenience of ski-in and ski-out access in the winter, while the warmer months offer opportunities for tennis, cycling, and exploring the extensive grounds. Hotel guests have access to free shuttles within the resort, the onsen (hot springs) onsite for relaxation, as well as multiple dining options ranging from traditional Japanese cuisine to international fare, ensuring a delightful culinary experience. The resort’s prime location also makes it an ideal base for exploring nearby attractions and famous sightseeing spots in the Nagano area like Kusatsu Onsen, Matsumoto, and the Snow Monkey Park.
Karuizawa Prince Hotel West
The Karuizawa Prince Hotel West is a contemporarily designed complex with both typical hotel options that are well-sized up to four guests, and on-site cottages and villas that can comfortably accommodate up to eight. The Prince West houses two premier restaurants in both Japanese and Chinese cuisine, as well as several lounges and bars. As this area of the grand resort is located on the western side, you can enjoy convenient access to the Karuizawa Prince Shopping Center, the Momiji “Onsen” Hot Spring facilities, as well as the starting holes for the Karuizawa Prince Resort Golf Courses, all being less than a couple minutes walk away!
Karuizawa Prince Hotel East
The Karuizawa Prince Hotel East is built for those with a mind for nature. With most of their rooms exuding the surrounding forest’s elegance, you can enjoy greater space with your party of up to four guests in one of their specialty twin rooms or cottages. The proximity to the surrounding forest also allows good access to some of the ropes courses for younger children, the rental cycle facility for all ages, and allows for essentially ski-in/out convenience as it is the closest of any of these resort options to the major ski lifts.
The Prince Karuizawa
The spacious and exclusive abode of The Prince Karuizawa is located on grand resort’s golf course lake, welcoming the CEOs and VIPs of the world for business or leisure with their chic executive suites and twins. The generous floorplans rival the ample room to stroll amongst the wider areas of the southern region of the resort. Designed expressly with comfort in mind, these room types feature linen quality and amenities just that much better than the rest of the areas of the resort, allowing for peak relaxation.
The Prince Villa Karuizawa
Located in the eastern parts of the resort along with the Prince East, The Prince Villa Karuizawa is located right next to the resort’s spa facility, and also boasts incredible ski resort access where you can ski right up to the doors of your exclusive villa. Perfect for larger groups of six to eight guests, the grounds boast both single and two story wooden interior high-ceiling villas, with their Maisonette Spa providing a private onsen attached accommodation for those searching for a respite from their outdoor activities of the day.
Karuizawa Asama Prince Hotel
Featuring various suites and twins that offer views of Mt. Asama, Japan’s second tallest stratovolcano famous for its gentle ash covered slopes, which you can appreciate right from the balconies present in every room type! Located quite a ways south from the rest of the grand resort, The Karuizawa Asama Prince Hotel offers shuttles to the other parts of the resort so you can appreciate the tranquil nature of the forests accented by Mt. Asama in the background.
How to Get to Karuizawa Prince Hotel
As a stop on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line running from Tokyo to Kanazawa, Karuizawa is easy to reach from the capital, nearby Nagano and beyond. Our ‘How To Get To Karuizawa’ page explains how to make the journey from those and many other popular starting points.
Once you reach Karuizawa station, there is a free Pickup bus that goes around the Karuizawa Prince Hotel. See more for the specific routes and timetable for the Pickup bus.
Tours and Charters from Karuizawa
While Karuizawa is an amazing place to spend a vacation, you may wish to use some of your days there to travel a little farther afield! While Japan’s public transport is amazing, there are still times where it may fall short of fulfilling your needs. In those situations, we recommend taking a tour with us!
Private Tour
| [START FROM KARUIZAWA] Private Snow Monkey Tour | |
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| Period | All Year Round |
| Time | 08:30 onward |
| Meeting Place | Any location in Karuizawa |
| Price | ¥160,000 ~ / group |
If you are interested in seeing the world famous Snow Monkeys of Jigokudani, and want to travel at your own pace, why not take our private tour of the park from Kusatsu? With a visit to Nagano City and the historic Zenkoji Temple included, this is a great way to explore the area with ease.
1 Day Tour
| 1-Day Tour from Nagano and Karuizawa: Unwind in Kusatsu Onsen | |
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| Period | April – November |
| Time | 09:30 – 17:30 |
| Meeting Place | Nagano Station Karuizawa Station |
| Adult Rate | ¥24,800 |
| Child Rate | ¥15,500 |
Offering pick up from both Nagano Station and Karuizawa Station, this group tour will bring you to Kusatsu with a stop at the beautiful dry lava fields of the Onioshidashien along the way. After some time to enjoy what Kusatsu has to offer, our tour vehicle will take you up into the mountains behind Kusatsu on one of Japan’s most scenic highways. This is not a tour to miss!
If you don’t need a guide and would like to make your own route, why not hire one of our private charter vehicles for the day? With well trained and polite drivers, we will bring you where you want to go from the Karuizawa area, door-to-door. For more information on pricing and availability, please click HERE.
