Karuizawa city is in many ways, a town of two halves divided by its shinkansen station. On one side, you have the modern and sprawling Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza while on the other, the original town centre – often referred to as Old Karuizawa Ginza Street – offers a more quaint and relaxing experience. Home to many enticing restaurants, cafes and small shops, the Old Karuizawa Ginza Street is a pleasant area to stroll or cycle through. Long popular with Tokyo-ites for its cooler climate in summer and small ski resort and quaint winter atmosphere, any visit to Karuizawa should include adequate time to strolls the streets of the old town centre.

Cycling is another good option for exploring Old Karuizawa Ginza Street with many rental shops operating around the Karuizawa Station. Expect to pay around JPY1000 for the day. For further information regarding the many highlights of Karuizawa, please refer to our ’25 Things To Do In & Around Karuizawa’ page.