Karuizawa: Japanese summer resort / celebrities gather / Shopping Street, Volcanic Park
Today’s tour is in Karuizawa, Japan. It is an hour and 11 minute train ride from Tokyo Station. This place is a summer resort rich in nature that attracts celebrities, including the Imperial Family. First, walk north from JR Karuizawa Station along the street lined with shops selling beautiful products from around the world. Details of the travel destinations are listed in the description, so don’t forget to subscribe and click the like button! We will also introduce the great outdoors that John Lennon visited later, so please enjoy this journey until the end. Karuizawa is located in the mountains at an altitude of 1000m, and is a town covered with forests with a cool temperature. Next, we head to the shopping district, where you’ll find high-end restaurants and cafes, souvenir shops and local delicacies. Karuizawa was founded in 1886 when Canadian missionary Alexander Croft Shaw was so impressed by its nature and cool climate that he built a villa there and introduced it to his friends. It is also a high-end villa area. Character shops have become popular in Japanese tourist destinations recently. They have products that are only available in certain areas, which is great for collectors. In this shopping arcade, you’ll find shops for Miffy, Snoopy, Peter Rabbit, and Minions. At the Minion store you can purchase denim products made in Japan. In addition to Minion stuffed toys, there are also key chains and pin badges. Be careful, the Peter Rabbit merchandise is so cute you might end up buying everything! There are chopstick rests in the shape of myoga, a Japanese condiment from the ginger family. As the temperature in Japan gets hotter every year, it might be a good idea to wear breathable sneakers. Oyaki is a local dish from Nagano Prefecture. Nagano Prefecture, where Karuizawa is located, is famous for its apples, so I’m looking for a delicious-looking apple pie. They have Karuizawa beer and delicious drinks made from apples and grapes. At the beekeeping store Tenguya, you can sample honey made from cherry blossom, quince, yuzu, chestnut, alder, and Mallotus japonicus. The leather workshop is lined with bags, wallets, and adjustable cowhide belts. There are two stores where I want to buy apple pie, but it’s after 4pm so I wonder if they still have some in stock. Oh, most of the items at the popular bakery were sold out. Some stores in Karuizawa close at 5pm, so please check the store’s website before visiting. This is the second pie shop I want to visit. Great! They have apple pie in stock! There is a wide variety of pies available, including apple pies to eat on the go and pies to take home as souvenirs. These little apple custard pies have a short shelf life of just one hour! You can choose from a variety of apples such as red delicious apples, green apples, and Shinshu Fuji apples. There are also blueberry cheese and peach flavors. We purchased the most popular pie and a new product pie and returned to the hotel. A lovely hotel with a resort feel. Let’s start with the apple pies. The most popular is the Shinshu Fuji apple pie, and the new lemon and apple pie. Shinshu Fuji apple pie is filled with lots of large apples. Apple and lemon pie is available for a limited time only, and the sourness and bitterness of the lemon peel bring out the apple flavor. The next morning we drive to a rare waterfall. and where Japanese squirrels coexist with the town, designated as the town’s wildlife. This is a mysterious waterfall that is not a waterfall where water from a river. This waterfall is 3 meters high and 70 meters wide, and the groundwater springs out like a white thread from the rock face. It takes about six years for the rain that falls on Mt. Asama to seep underground and reach this point. “The water is very clear. You can see this waterfall for free, but you need to take a toll road to get to the falls. The parking lot is relatively empty early in the morning on weekdays. Finally, we head to a place where John Lennon’s family once visited, full of the power of nature. The rugged rocks here are lava. The lava here is so famous that it appears in Japanese school textbooks. Please take a look! There are commemorative photos of John Lennon’s family and Japanese celebrities on display. The origin of the park’s name is unknown, but Onioshidashi means “pushed out by demons” in Japanese. It is said that the name Oni was given because the Japanese of old believed that natural forces beyond the power of humans were the work of dragons or demons. It is about 10m tall! This lava was produced in 1783 when the Asama volcano was erupting for 89 days. The lava continues to flow, but as the surface of the lava cools due to the surrounding temperature it begins to solidify. The force of the lava flow causes the solidified lava on the surface to break up into blocks and be rolled up, resulting in the current appearance of the lava. The highlight here is not only the huge lava rocks, but also the plants growing on them. It’s hard to believe that plants and trees can grow on rocks! It takes 4-5 years for moss to grow, then alpine plants take 5-20 years to grow on top of that, and it took over 240 years for pine and other trees to grow. These plants show that, like the old Chinese proverb “three years on a rock,” hard work pays off even in harsh conditions. I found a luminous moss. It is a moss that lives in dark places such as cool caves and crevices of rocks. There is water for washing hands. Mountain water is cool and refreshing even in summer. Wow! Very cool! It is said that ringing the bell will exorcise people’s evil thoughts and delusions. You can have a wonderful experience as the sound of the bell reverberates throughout the mountain. The Kannon Hall offers a magnificent view. Cross the bridge, pray, and enjoy the view. On a clear day, you can see the Ferris wheel in the distance. We end our journey today by praying to Flame Kannon for world peace. Did you enjoy today’s tour? I hope you have many good things to do today. See you again soon.
Explore Karuizawa in just 10 minutes!
Wander through the lively Karuizawa shopping streets filled with gourmet delights and boutiques, marvel at the serene beauty of Shiraito Falls, and discover the dramatic volcanic landscapes of Onioshidashi Park shaped by Mt. Asama. Packed with nature, history, and food, this video is your quick guide to Karuizawa’s charm!
🛍️Karuizawa Hon-dori
🌏Google map
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yBYm29bbjbowtTsS9
🛍️Old Karuizawa Ginza Street
High-end restaurants, cafes & artisan craft stores in half-timbered buildings on a cobbled street.
878 Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0102
URL:http://karuizawa-ginza.org
（Japanese explanation only）
🌏Google map
https://maps.app.goo.gl/u1rNRok2ujMBr7NA8
🏞️Shiraito Waterfall
Peaceful natural area featuring a small arc-shaped waterfall framed by mountain slopes.
Nagakura, Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0111
URL:https://www.town.karuizawa.lg.jp/page/1193.html
（Japanese explanation only）
🌏Google map
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PCgyjubpQcEoeZW47
👹Onioshidashi Volcanic Park
Paved trails for strolls amid jagged lava rock & seasonal azaleas, in view of active Mt. Asama.
1053 Kanbara, Tsumagoi, Agatsuma District, Gunma 377-1593
URL:https://www.princehotels.co.jp/amuse/onioshidashi/
（Japanese explanation only）
🚙 Free parking
🌏Google map
https://maps.app.goo.gl/u1rNRok2ujMBr7NA8
#Karuizawa #ShiraitoFalls #OnioshidashiPark #ShoppingStreet #Travel #Tourism #Nagano #Nature #Gourmet #Shopping #Hiking #ScenicBeauty #JapanTravel #TravelGuide #MtAsama
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