Karuizawa, Nagano Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Karuizawa

軽井沢町

Town

Karuizawa Town Hall

Flag

Emblem

Location of Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture

Karuizawa

Location in Japan

Japan

Chūbu (Kōshin'etsu)

Kitasaku

Area

• Total

156.03 km² (60.24 sq mi)

Population

(October 2016)

• Total

19,939

• Density

128/km² (330/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)

Symbols

• Tree

Magnolia kobus

• Flower

Sakurasō (Primula sieboldii)

• Bird

Brown-headed thrush

Phone number

0267-45-8111

Address

2381-1 Nagakura, Karuizawa-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano-ken 389-0192

Website

http://www.town.karuizawa.lg.jp/

Karuizawa is a lovely town located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. It's a very popular place for people from Tokyo to visit in the summer. As of October 2016, about 19,939 people lived there. The town covers an area of about 156 square kilometers (60 square miles).

Geography: Where Karuizawa Is Located
- Mount Asama: An Active Volcano
History: Karuizawa Through Time
Local Attractions: Fun Things to Do in Karuizawa
Images for kids
See also

Geography: Where Karuizawa Is Located

Mount Asama

Karuizawa is in the eastern part of Nagano Prefecture. It shares borders with Gunma Prefecture on three sides. The town sits on a high plain at the base of Mount Asama. This mountain is one of Japan's most active volcanoes.

Mount Asama: An Active Volcano

Mount Asama is a "Category A" active volcano. This means it is closely watched by scientists. Small eruptions have happened, like in June 2015. A bigger eruption happened in February 2015, sending out hot rocks and ash. The most powerful eruption in recent history was in 1783. Over 1,000 people lost their lives then. Because it's active, climbing too close to the top of the volcano is not allowed.

History: Karuizawa Through Time

The area where Karuizawa is today was once part of an old Japanese province called Shinano Province. Long ago, during the Edo period, Karuizawa became an important stop. It was a "post station" called Karuizawa-shuku. This station was on the Nakasendō highway, a major road connecting Edo (which is now Tokyo) with Kyoto.

Local Attractions: Fun Things to Do in Karuizawa

Central Ginza Shopping Street

Karuizawa is about 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level. It has a mild summer climate, which makes it a great place to visit all year. You can enjoy many outdoor sports and activities here. There are also relaxing hot springs.

A Popular Resort Town

It's easy to get to Karuizawa from central Tokyo by road and train. This has made it a popular spot for vacation homes and hotels since the Meiji era. The town is famous for its historic shopping street. It's known as "Ginza dōri" or "Kyū-dō" (Ginza Street, or the Old Road).

Karuizawa and the Olympics

Karuizawa has a special connection to the Olympic Games. It hosted the horse riding events during the 1964 Summer Olympics. Later, it hosted the curling events in the 1998 Winter Olympics. This makes Karuizawa the only city in the world to have hosted both Summer and Winter Olympic events!

Modern Karuizawa: Shopping and Travel

Since 1997, you can reach Karuizawa easily by the JR East Nagano Shinkansen (a high-speed train). These fast train links have helped the town grow. They have also led to the creation of large shopping malls where you can find many different stores.

Images for kids

Mt.Asama seen from Karuizawa
From Hiroshige's series Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido (1834-1842), view 19 and station 18 at Karuisawa.
Alexander Croft Shaw
Karuizawa Union Church, before 1945
Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza (Main Street), 1930s
Karuizawa Foreigner’s Cemetery
Shaw Memorial Church
Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza
Kumoba Pond
Mikasa Street
Shiraito Falls