The Best Ways to Enjoy Karuizawa!!
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Nature? Shopping? Cool breeze? Getaways in summer? You got it! These are all the special things about Karuizawa. Actually since the 19th century, lots of Japanese (the rich ones :P) bought houses in Karuizawa as their getaways in summer time.
What come in you mind if we ask you about Karuizawa in Nagano prefecture?
Karuizawa is not just famous for the nice weather in summer, it is also famous for shopping too, for example the Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza. If you are looking for somewhere you can enjoy the nature and shopping at the same time, Karuizawa is absolutely the best place for you!
This time, we will show you around Karuizawa in a different way! Ready? LET'S GO!!
What can be cooler than taking Hokuriku Shinkansen to travel around in Japan?
If you decided to visit Karuizawa and other nearby areas in the same trip, we highly recommended you to get the JR TOKYO Wide Pass. You can save your time and money on your trip!!
About the JR TOKYO Wide Pass
The JR TOKYO Wide Pass is a discounted pass for unlimited rides in Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto area. Valid for three days, the pass is good for unlimited rides using reserved seats on ordinary cars on Shinkansen, limited express and other trains in the valid use area. The JR TOKYO Wide Pass makes it easy to visit popular tourist destinations such as Mt. Fuji, Izu and Karuizawa, GALA Yuzawa.
Prices: Adults (12 years old and older) 10,000 yen, Children (6 to 11 years old) 5,000 yen
Official Homepage: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/tokyowidepass/index.html
After taking some rest on the train, it's time for our Karuizawa Trip!
"Come on, let's take a picture with the Hokuriku Shinkansen!"
"Wait, I wanna take a pic with the Samurai first………."
(Hey guys, calm down please, we still need to take our friends to look around Karuizawa!)
Remember we said that we would show you around Karuizawa in a different way? This time, we will do some exercise while we are visiting this beautiful city, Karuizawa!
Bicycle Rental Service (Not in service in winter)
Operating Hours: 07:00 – 21:00 (Last rental time at 17:00)
Location 1: Prince Hotel Karuizawa West (near the Kobushi Restaurant)
Location 2: Prince Hotel Karuizawa East (near the Lobby)
Tel.: 0267-42-1111
Price: 1,000 yen (within 2 hours)
Types: Bicycles for children and adults, tandem bicycles, electronic bicycles, and mountain bicycles (limited quantity)
Service starts in the middle of March (depends on the clearance of snow)
Address: Karuizawa Prince Hotel
Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano, 389-0193 Japan
Map: Google Map
Get on your bike and go!!
First, let's go to the shopping street where you can find many shops and cafe. How relaxing it is!!
Karuizawa is a place where you can really relax yourself both physically and emotionally.
Speaking of ways to relieve your stress, how can we miss out SHOPPING!! Hey, it's time to do some shopping at the outlet mall, Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza!
Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza
Address: Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasakugun, Nagano, 389-0102
Operating Hours:
10:00 – 19:00 (Shops)
10:00 – 19:00 (Food Court)
10:00 – 19:00 (Restaurants; Vary by store)
11:00 – 22:00 (Karuizawa Aji No Machi)
10:00 – 19:00 (Cafe)
09:30 – 19:30 (STARBUCKS COFFEE)
09:30 – 19:30 (TULLY'S COFFEE)
*Store hours vary by season.
Homepage: http://www.karuizawa-psp.jp/web/plazaguide/en/
Map: Google Map
Lunch Time! Let’s have yakiniku (Japanese Grilled Meat) – Aging Beef
For those meat lovers, Aging Beef is the best place for you to recharge your energy before continuing your shopping time. You can find tasty meat at reasonable prices here.
Zone: AJ-09.10.11
Tel.: 0267-46-8581
Best Spot for Afternoon Tea – Mikado Coffee
At Mikado Coffee, you can find high quality coffee beans from around the world. Also, coffee beans are roasted and prepared by professionals for the customers. If you are not into coffee, don't worry, you can still try their popular Mocha Ice Cream!
Zone: CM-08
Tel.: 0267-42-0549
Homepage: http://mikado-coffee.com/
A good news for those sports lovers. You can find a wide selection of sports wear and goods at SALOMON ARC'TERYX. Shall we try the famous GORE-TEX on?
Zone: E-23
Tel.: 0267-41-2256
Homepage: http://www.amerjapan.com/
Look at me! How do I look today? This is called the Karuizawa Style. Wanna dress like me? You can find fashionable items here at the nano.universe BASEMENT.
Zone: NW-01
On model:
One piece: 10,000 yen with tax
Denim shirt: 8,800 yen with tax (40% off now)
Sandals: 8,424 yen with tax (70% off now)
Handbag (small cosmetic bag included): 17,280 yen with tax (50% off now)
Look at the colorful pots and pans! You can find this famous cookware shop at the Le Creuset Shop! Limited edition products can be found here too!!
Zone: NW-22
Tel.: 0267-41-1519
Homepage: http://www.lecreuset.co.jp
Recommended Shop For You – Sawaya
These yummy fruit jams are all free from artificial ingredients. They are made of seasonal Japanese fruits too! A huge selection of flavors for you to choose.
Zone: SC-08
Tel.: 0267-41-0074
Homepage: www.sawaya-jam.com
♪ The Best Ways To Enjoy Karuizawa
How do you like our introduction this time? Never think about you can also ride on a bike and enjoy Japan in this way? As we said, Karuizawa is a place mixed with nature and fun places. So next time if you plan to visit Kanto area, please go and visit Karuizawa!!
Wanna get more and share your Japanese stories with us? Please join us on Google+ !!
See you there! 🙂
Details
NAME:Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza
MAP
Karuizawa, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasakugun, Nagano, 389-0102
CONTACT TEL:0267-42-1111
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Aichi Prefecture sits in the center of the Japanese islands, and its capital city, Nagoya, is a center of politics, commerce, and culture. While Aichi is home to major industry, and is even the birthplace of Toyota cars, it's proximity to the sea and the mountains means it's also a place with beautiful natural scenery, like Saku Island, Koijigahama Beach, Mt. Horaiji. Often used a stage for major battles in Japanese history, Sengoku era commanders like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu left their own footprints on Aichi, and historic buildings like Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle, and those in Meiji Mura are still around to tell the tale.
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Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.
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KANSAI
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Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.
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KYOTO
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Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.
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NARA
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Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.
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OSAKA
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Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.
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CHUGOKU
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The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.
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HIROSHIMA
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Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.
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SHIKOKU
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On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).
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KAGAWA
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Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.
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KYUSHU
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Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!
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FUKUOKA
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Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.
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KAGOSHIMA
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Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.
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OKINAWA
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The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.
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