The Origin of the Name “Karuizawa”
There are several theories about the origin of the name Karuizawa. One theory connects it with the old Japanese word “karuu,” meaning to carry a load on one’s back, referring to a valley along an important mountain route.
Other theories suggest that the name developed from expressions such as “Kareizawa,” meaning a stream where the water has dried up, “Kōrizawa,” associated with freezing water, or “Karuishizawa,” referring to a stream formed from volcanic pumice stone.
The area is now pronounced “Karuizawa,” but it was historically pronounced differently, closer to “Karuisawa.” From the Meiji period onward, as increasing numbers of foreign visitors came to the area as summer guests, the pronunciation “Karuizawa” became more widely established.
Karuizawa’s Volcanic Landscape
A Highland Shaped by Mount Asama
Karuizawa stretches across a highland at the southern foot of Mount Asama, an active volcano in the region. Its distinctive landscape was formed through a long history of volcanic activity and geological change.
Approximately 24,000 years ago, the collapse of Mount Kurofu generated a huge mudflow that created a lake across what is now the southern part of Karuizawa. Around 20,000 years ago, a pyroclastic flow subsequently spread across the area and filled the former lake basin.
These geological events helped create the relatively flat highland landscape seen today. The ground around Karuizawa also contains abundant volcanic pumice, which may have contributed to one of the theories about the origin of the area’s name.
Changes in the terrain over time created numerous streams, valleys, and gentle hills, giving Karuizawa the varied landscape that is now one of its greatest attractions.
A History Stretching Back to Prehistoric Japan
Evidence of the Jomon Period
Human activity in Karuizawa dates back to the Jomon period, and archaeological remains have been discovered in various parts of the region.
At the Mozawa Minami-Ishido Site, archaeologists have discovered features including stone circles and the remains of pit dwellings. These findings provide evidence of connections between the Karuizawa area and communities in what is now northern Gunma and the wider Kanto region.
Kumano Kōtaijinja Shrine, located on the border between Nagano and Gunma prefectures, also preserves a long tradition of mountain and nature-based worship. According to shrine tradition, its foundation dates back to the reign of Emperor Keiko, traditionally placed around AD 110.
An Ancient Transportation Route
Karuizawa has long been an important transportation corridor connecting eastern and central Japan. During the Heian period, the area was used as pastureland for horses, including the government-managed Nagakura Pasture.
The ancient Tōsandō route, one of Japan’s major historical roads, is also believed to have passed through this region. Its route is thought to have followed an important crossing near what is now the Usui Bypass.
From a Mountain Pass to the Nakasendo Post Towns
During the medieval and Sengoku periods, Usui Pass became an important strategic point connecting Shinshu with the Kanto region. Its location made the area a stage for military conflicts and political struggles.
During the Edo period, the Nakasendo, one of Japan’s Five Major Roads, passed through the region. Three post towns—Karuizawa-shuku, Kutsukake-shuku, and Oiwake-shuku—became known collectively as the “Three Asama Post Towns.”
Travelers, merchants, and officials frequently passed through these towns, creating a lively atmosphere along the historic road. The area therefore already had a strong connection with travel and hospitality long before it became a modern resort.
The Birth of Karuizawa as a Summer Resort
Alexander Croft Shaw’s Visit
Karuizawa’s transformation into an international summer resort began during the Meiji period. Following the abolition of the feudal system of alternate attendance and changes in transportation, many former post towns declined. Karuizawa also experienced a period of decline.
A major turning point came in 1885, when Canadian missionary Alexander Croft Shaw visited Karuizawa to escape the summer heat of Tokyo.
Shaw was deeply impressed by the area’s cool climate, clean air, and natural surroundings. He described Karuizawa as an “open-air hospital” and continued to visit the area. His recommendations encouraged other foreigners to discover Karuizawa as a place for health, relaxation, and summer recreation.
The First Villa and the Shaw House
In 1888, Shaw built what is regarded as the first villa in Karuizawa in the Old Karuizawa area. His residence became an important starting point for the development of the town as a summer resort and villa destination.
The building has since been reconstructed and preserved as the Shaw House Memorial, offering visitors a glimpse into the early days of Karuizawa’s international resort culture.
The Arrival of the Railway and the Birth of New Karuizawa
Traditional Natural Ice Production
Karuizawa also developed distinctive industries alongside its resort culture. In 1886, an ice maker named Kitaro Izumi began producing natural ice in Karuizawa.
The tradition was later continued by Watanabe Shokai, which remains one of only six natural ice producers in Japan. In 1948, a monument honoring the achievements of Kitaro Izumi and others involved in the industry was erected near the source of the Usui River. The inscription was written by Yukio Ozaki, who was Prime Minister of Japan at the time.
From Horse Railway to Rack Railway
In September 1888, the Usui Horse Railway opened between Yokokawa Station and Karuizawa Station. In December of the same year, the Shin’etsu Main Line was extended from Ueda to Karuizawa, and Karuizawa Station opened.
In 1893, a railway using the Abt rack-and-pinion system was opened to overcome the steep slopes of Usui Pass. The new railway connected Karuizawa directly with Ueno in Tokyo, dramatically improving access to the area.
As the railway station area became a new center of activity, the historic district along the old road came to be known as Old Karuizawa, while the area around the station became known as New Karuizawa.
The Rise of Western-Style Hotels and Villa Culture
The Beginning of the Manpei Hotel
The historic Kameya Ryokan in Old Karuizawa had originally opened during the late Edo period. However, the decline of the post-town system forced the inn to close temporarily.
Its first-generation owner, Manpei Sato, learned Western food culture and European-style lifestyles from the Dickson family. In 1894, he reopened the establishment as Kameya Hotel, later known as the Manpei Hotel, the first Western-style hotel in Karuizawa.
Other hotels soon followed, including Karuizawa Hotel in 1899 and Mikasa Hotel in 1906. These establishments became popular among missionaries, intellectuals, writers, and other cultural figures, helping Karuizawa establish itself as one of Japan’s leading international summer resorts.
Churches and Western Architecture
During the early 20th century, villas and hotels multiplied, while shops and seasonal businesses aimed at foreign visitors appeared along the main street of Old Karuizawa.
The strong presence of Christian missionaries also gave Karuizawa a distinctive religious and architectural character. Historic buildings such as Karuizawa Union Church, designed by American architect William Merrell Vories and completed in 1918, and the Karuizawa Church of the United Church of Christ in Japan, completed in 1929, remain today.
Vories also left his mark on numerous buildings in Karuizawa, including the Shaw House Memorial, the tennis club building, and private residences. These structures form an important part of the town’s architectural heritage.
The Growth of Japanese-Owned Villas
Yujirō Hatta and the Karuizawa Summer Resort Association
Before the railway arrived, there were virtually no Japanese-owned villas in Karuizawa. This began to change when naval officer Yujirō Hatta crossed Usui Pass and visited the area.
Impressed by the climate and his interactions with foreign residents, Hatta built the first Japanese villa in Old Karuizawa in 1893. He subsequently worked to introduce Karuizawa to Japanese visitors as a summer retreat.
In 1916, Hatta and Daniel Norman established the Karuizawa Summer Resort Association, later known as the Karuizawa Association. The organization also established a sanatorium, the predecessor of the Munro Hospital, supporting people seeking treatment and recuperation in Karuizawa’s highland climate.
Large-Scale Resort Development
From the Taisho period onward, major companies and developers, including the Seibu and Tokyu groups as well as Mitsui, Marubeni, and Kajima Corporation, became involved in the development of Karuizawa.
Railways were extended toward areas such as Kose and Kita-Karuizawa, while projects including the development around Lake Kumoba and Nozawahara, and the creation of Lake New Town in Minami-Karuizawa from 1964 onward, expanded the resort area.
Development eventually encompassed not only villas and hotels but also leisure facilities, golf courses, a racecourse, and an airfield that was later converted into a golf course.
Postwar Karuizawa and the Modern Resort
International Tourism and Resort Development
In 1951, Karuizawa Town was designated an International Goodwill and Cultural Tourism City. With support from the national government, resort development continued after the war.
In 1955, a whisky distillery was established in neighboring Miyota Town, and the “Karuizawa” whisky brand was born. Production ended in 2000, and the whisky has since become known as a rare and highly sought-after “phantom” whisky.
During the postwar period, Seibu also developed facilities such as skating centers and golf courses, further expanding Karuizawa’s appeal as a year-round resort.
Museums, Shopping, and International Education
From the 1980s through the 1990s, Karuizawa continued to expand its tourism infrastructure. The former Mikasa Hotel opened to the public in 1983, the Shaw House Memorial followed in 1986, and numerous museums and literary facilities were established.
In 1995, Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza opened, adding a major shopping destination to the resort landscape.
In 2014, the international residential school ISAK Japan opened, further strengthening Karuizawa’s international character.
Protecting the Resort Environment
At the same time, Karuizawa has introduced strict regulations concerning accommodation and development. Since 2016, the town has maintained stringent rules restricting private lodging and capsule hotels in order to preserve the quality of its villa neighborhoods and the character of the resort environment.
Karuizawa Today
Today, Karuizawa’s economy is strongly connected to its resort and villa culture, with real estate, services, and construction accounting for more than 80 percent of the town’s industries. Much of this activity is related to villas, tourism, hospitality, and leisure.
Improved transportation, including the Hokuriku Shinkansen and modern road networks, has made Karuizawa increasingly accessible from the Tokyo metropolitan area. Visitors now arrive throughout the year for nature, shopping, dining, art, architecture, and outdoor activities.
Despite its popularity, Karuizawa continues to place importance on protecting its distinctive environment and residential resort character. Its forests and highland scenery, historic post-town heritage, Western-influenced architecture, villa culture, and modern tourism facilities together create a destination unlike almost anywhere else in Japan.
Discover the Many Faces of Karuizawa
Karuizawa is a resort shaped by both nature and people. Its volcanic landscape was formed thousands of years ago, its roads once carried travelers along the Nakasendo, and its cool climate later attracted missionaries and international visitors seeking relief from the summer heat.
Today, historic churches and villas stand among forests and modern resorts, while museums, cafés, restaurants, shopping centers, and outdoor attractions offer visitors many ways to experience the area.
Whether you come to explore its history, enjoy the refreshing highland climate, admire its architecture and art, or simply spend time surrounded by nature, Karuizawa offers a distinctive blend of Japanese tradition and international resort culture in every season.