Visit Beautiful Karuizawa, the “Hamptons” of Japan | Day Trip from Tokyo

We are making a day trip to Karuizawa from Tokyo Station. Karuizawa is an upmarket mountain resort at the foot of the active volcano Mount Asama, in Nagano Prefecture. With an altitude of around 1000 meters, it is cooler in summer than Tokyo. With the Shinkansen, Karuizawa takes a little over an hour to get to from Tokyo. Many wealthy Tokyo residents own a summer home there, which is why it is likened to the “Hamptons”.
The late John Lennon often visited Karuizawa with his wife Yoko Ono and son. It is said that he enjoyed the town’s quaint ambiance.
Let’s experience Karuizawa together, and see if it lives up to expectations!
Filmed on July 4, 2022.
-- Links --
JR TOKYO Wide Pass → www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pas...
Tokyo Station Marunouchi North → goo.gl/maps/SvC6YRRqJByASfPN9
Karuizawa Station → goo.gl/maps/uVYB4jzxiUMfX4QR8
Twin-Line Hotel (breakfast) → twin-line-hotel.com/en/restau...
Top of Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza district → goo.gl/maps/SJeADmaLHJ5CMotr6
Kumoba Pond → goo.gl/maps/Kswb4vbVxmUd5QMX6
Kumobatei (lunch) → www.kumobatei.com/en
Shiraito Falls → goo.gl/maps/Qset37h4QW6E3JHc6
Follow John Lennon’s Footsteps in Karuizawa → www.go-nagano.net/en/theme/id...
-- Summary of Costs --
JR TOKYO Wide Pass (valid for 3 consecutive days): ¥10,180 ($74.90 · €73.30)
Breakfast at Twin-Line Hotel: ¥2,300 ($16.90 · €16.50)
Lunch at Kumobatei: ¥3,350 ($24.60 · €24.10)
Return bus fare Karuizawa Station to Shiraito Falls: ¥1,440 ($10.60 · €10.40)
-- Approximate Exchange Rates Used (July 2022) --
$1 (USD) ⟺ ¥136 (JPY)
€1 (EUR) ⟺ ¥139 (JPY)
-- Chapters --
00:00 Video preview
00:31 Tokyo Station
02:01 Departure
02:45 Arrival in Karuizawa
03:18 Twin-Line Hotel
03:55 Breakfast
04:13 Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza
04:28 Shopping
09:21 Kumoba Pond
10:07 Ducks
11:34 Lunch at Kumobatei
12:34 Bus to Shiraito Falls
12:52 Shiraito Falls
15:10 Return to Tokyo
16:24 Goodbye
#karuizawa #shinkansen #bullet_train #cc_for_subtitle

[@spellbindingjapan]

Thanks for watching this video! Spellbinding Japan is a brand new channel, showcasing the beauty and uniqueness of Japan, in a “silent vlog” format. In order to influence the direction this channel will go in, please tell me what you like and don’t like about the content of the videos. Should I focus more on Japanese food? Should I visit certain places in Japan? Should I video staying at hotels? Should I cover travel by plane, ferry, bus, or train? Let me know, and it will have a big impact on where this new channel will go…

[@snowcountry322]

No this is fine. Love the video. Do you think 4~5 days in Karuizawa is too long? Should I stay in Tokyo and go to Karuizawa as a side trip? Looking for a town where I can just bum around...looks like the perfect place for what I want. What do you think?

[@futaba951]

Our family had a summer house on Kumoba pond back in the 70s. We spent 2 months every summer in Karuizawa. I've actually seen John Lennon and Yoko Ono riding around Karuizawa on a tandem bike, many times, back in the day. I never spoke to them but I know people who have and by all accounts they were very approachable, friendly and chatty. Karuizawa is like my second hometown. Other than the outlet mall and the new train station it really hasn't changed that much. You call it the Hamptons of Japan. I call it the Gatlinburg of Japan. 😂

[@trc0o0az]

Thank! I love how thorough you were with you coverage of the stores 😁👍

[@emi-uq8kb]

Спасибо огромное. Очень красиво.