What to Do in Karuizawa — Best Scenic Spots, Cycling Adventure, and Food Highlights

A Day Trip to Karuizawa started from Gunma Onsen

After leaving Gunma Onsen on the free shuttle bus at 11:10 am, we arrived in Karuizawa around 12:30 pm. Unfortunately, that didn’t leave us much time to fully enjoy the town, so we had to move quickly.

If you’re curious about our relaxing soak at the Yubatake hot springs in Gunma — with all the steamy streets and nostalgic vibes — check out the post [here]!

Scenic Spot in Karuizawa Shiraito Water Falls View

Lunch at Meijitei

Our first stop was Meijitei for lunch, a place with a solid Tabelog rating of 3.48. Their signature dish is Pork Katsudon with handmade sauce, so we both ordered it. The service was fast, the pork was thick and juicy, and the sauce had a nice homemade touch. Everything — from the portion size to the flavour — was satisfying. The only drawback? Way too much cabbage between the meat and rice. I love cabbage, but I would have preferred it served on the side as a salad rather than piled into the bowl. Still, overall, it was a decent meal for the price.

The signature Sauce Katsudon is listed as No. 1 on the menu

Pork loin 210g, served with miso soup and pickled vegetables.

Pork Sauce Katsudon at Meijitei Karuizawa Signature mene

Pork Sauce Katsudon at Meijitei Karuizawa with miso soup and pickles

The pork was quite voluminous, the rice was enough, and the handmade sauce was well-balanced — not too salty and not too sweet.

👉Tip: In addition, we didn’t focus on shopping, but there is a big outlet, "Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza" and a big park connected to the outlet. So if you’d like to shop, it is very convenient with over 200 brands.

Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza busy with shoppers but calm atmosphere

Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza is pretty big, and there’s a park right next to it

Scenic Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza with park view

Resting spots with nature park in Karuizawa Prince outlet

Shiraito Falls

From there, we rushed to the North Exit in Karuizawa station to catch a bus to Shiraito Falls. Both Bus No. 2 and Bus No. 8 go there from platform 2. The ride took about 25 minutes, and we paid in cash upon getting off. It’s just a 5-minute walk from the bus stop to the falls. - The bus is not like a city bus; it looks more like a tour bus.

The waterfall, about 3 meters high and 70 meters wide, was unique — the water didn’t fall from a stream but rather seeped out from the ground itself, creating a beautiful curtain-like effect.

Shiraito Falls and the wooden sign in Karuizawa Nagano

Shiraito Falls and the sign

Unique Shiraito Falls water springing from underground Karuizawa

It’s an amazing waterfall — not flowing down from a river but directly from underground springs that gush out through gaps in the ground.

Throwing coins on stone water for luck at Shiraito Falls Karuizawa

Throw coins onto the flat rocks to make a wish for good luck

Inside tour bus travelling to Shiraito falls in Karuizawa

Inside the bus, travelling to Shiraito Falls - it was a tour bus, not a local city bus.

Red chairs near Shiraito Falls bus stop in Karuizawa

While waiting for the bus, we noticed the nostalgic red chairs and an old-fashioned vibe. According to the sign, Shiraito Falls is just 0.2 km from the bus stop

Shiraito Falls entrance sign for walking path Karuizawa Nagano

It’s a relatively small spot, so once you’ve seen the waterfalls, there isn’t much else to do or eat nearby unless you continue along the walking trail. That’s why it’s a good idea to check the return bus schedule before you head to the falls.

According to this map in the photo above, Shiraito Falls is located in the middle of the trekking path. The signs in the area clearly indicate the walking routes, but for more details in English, please refer to this map [Here].

Renting Bikes from Ichimura Cycle Shop (レンタサイクル市村輪店)

We rented bikes from a small shop run by a kind elderly couple. They spoke simple English, gave us a map of nearby attractions, and even explained where to find free bike parking. They also stored our bags for free, and we paid after returning the bikes.

We had only planned to ride for two hours, so we didn’t compare prices extensively, but the warm service made it worth it. It was also our first time trying an electric bike — and we loved it!

We didn’t just stick to the suggested routes on the map — we also explored quiet residential alleyways, which was a lovely way to see the local side of Karuizawa.

Cycling stop at Kumoba Pond Karuizawa peaceful nature

On our bike ride, we stopped by Kumoba Pond.

Walking trail around Kumoba Pond Karuizawa quiet atmosphere

It was quiet and peaceful walking around Kumoba Pond.

Calm and serene Kumoba Pond walking path Karuizawa

It wasn’t especially stunning, but the calm atmosphere made it a pleasant walk.

Free bike parking area near Old Karuizawa Street

Bicycles are not allowed inside Old Karuizawa Ginza Street, so they must be parked in the free bike parking area.

👉While each bike rental place usually provides a map, this bike map [PDF], created by the Karuizawa Tourist Information Centre, is particularly handy for a cycling trip.
If you’re unsure about the free parking area, check the map below or simply set this restaurant (軽井沢キッチンロータリー店) in your GPS, and you’ll find it easily.

Sawamura Cafe

We had planned to visit Rizanbou Cafe, famous for being a regular spot for John Lennon, but time was tight. Instead, we stopped by Sawamura Cafe, conveniently located near Old Karuizawa Ginza Street. The location was great, and access was easy.

Normally, we go for oat flat whites, oat milk lattes, or iced long blacks, but for some reason, we decided to try a seasonal banana drink. Unfortunately, it was disappointing — it tasted like artificial syrup rather than fresh banana. Thankfully, the desserts made up for it.

We tried two types of bread:

Kouign Amann — a crispy almond danish with a perfect buttery crunch

Sweet Bean Bread — soft and delicately sweet

The cafe has a relaxing seating area at the back, surrounded by nature. When we arrived at 4:30 pm, it was completely empty, so we enjoyed a peaceful dessert break.

Sawamura Coffee shop exterior in Old Karuizawa

The outside of Sawamura Coffee

View of Sawamura Coffee from Kawakami-an Soba restaurant Karuizawa

Sawamura Coffee Shop as seen from Kawakami-an Soba Restaurant, where we had dinner

outdoor area of Sawamura Coffee shop sitting in Nature in Karuizawa

Inside, the coffee shop has a nice, spacious atmosphere, but if the weather is good, I’d recommend sitting outside to enjoy nature.

Drinks and desserts at Sawamura Cafe Karuizawa in Nature

We ordered two banana drinks and two desserts. The drinks were just okay, but reviews say the coffee is good, so I’d try that next time. Both desserts were fine, but nothing special.

Dinner at Kawakami An

After returning the bikes near Karuizawa Station, we walked about 20 minutes along the quiet, relaxing main road back to Old Karuizawa Ginza Street for dinner.

Our choice was Kawakami An, a popular handmade soba restaurant with high ratings on Google and Tabelog. It’s known for long lines, so I expected it to be small inside, but the space was surprisingly large, clean, and modern, with a warm Japanese atmosphere. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait to get a table.

Kawakami-an Soba restaurant exterior in Old Karuizawa at night

The outside of Kawakami-an Soba.

Since we weren’t too hungry after our cafe visit, I ordered Kurumi Dare Seiro — soba with walnut dipping sauce. It was simple, with no garnish, and while the nutty flavour was pleasant, it didn’t feel particularly special.

My husband ordered Kamo Seiro — cold soba noodles with warm duck broth flavoured with spring onions. After finishing the noodles, the remaining broth was mixed with sobayu (hot buckwheat water) for drinking. We often enjoy buckwheat tea, but the flavour here didn’t quite work for me.

Both dishes were fine, but considering the long line's reputation, I expected more.

Soba with walnut dipping sauce and kamo seiro duck broth Karuizawa

A simple meal: mine was soba with walnut dipping sauce (top), and the other was kamo seiro (bottom) with warm duck broth

Final Thoughts on Karuizawa

Our late arrival meant we had to rush through the day before heading to Omiya for our overnight stay. Still, Karuizawa left a strong impression — I’d love to come back with more time to explore by bike and maybe stay at Hoshinoya to enjoy the surrounding area.

Karuizawa is a quiet, clean town with everything you could want: a lot of restaurants, dessert shops, scenic nature spots, and cool mountain air — all just a short trip from Tokyo - 1 hour away by train. The fresh breeze and cooler temperature compared to the city made our visit especially enjoyable. I now understand why it’s known as a luxury holiday destination, and why bicycles are such a perfect way to experience it.