Japan Travel: On the Border of Nagano and Gunma: Usui Pass Observation Platform and Kumano Kotai Shrine, Nagano 57
Karuizawa (軽井沢) is an upscale mountain resort located at the foot of the active volcano Mount Asama in Nagano Prefecture. The resort is located at an altitude of roughly 1000 meters. Therefore, many visitors come to the town to escape from the summer heat. Karuizawa was actually first “discovered” in the late 1800s by Western residents of Japan. A popular international resort, today, many wealthy urbanites own a second home there. And with the Nagano Shinkansen, visitor can arrive at Karuizawa from Tokyo in a little over than an hour.
Karuizawa offers various outdoor activities, such as tennis, hiking, cycling, golfing in summer and skiing and ice skating in winter. In addition, there are many shopping opportunities here. Karuizawa is located along Japan’s Romantic Road. The road boasts beautiful autumn scenery from around mid October to early November each year.
Four kilometers northeast of the Kyu-Karuizawa town center is the Usui Pass Observation Platform (碓氷峠見晴台). This observation platform is located on the border of Gunma and Nagano Prefectures. Visitor will be greeted with beautiful views over the mountains of Gunma Prefecture on one side with Mount Asama on the other side.
Near the Usui Pass Observation Platform is the Kumano Kotai Shrine (熊野皇大神社). This shrine is also on the border of Gunma and Nagano as well. There are three halls at the shrine. The main hall (hongu) is on top of the border with the Nachi hall on the left being on the Nagano side. The Shingu Hall, located on the right, is on the Gunma side. The Kumano Kotai Shrine is a branch shrine of the Kumano Sanzan shrines on the Kii Peninsula.
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