Weekend in Karuizawa

We spent a beautiful fall weekend in the resort of Karuizawa, 70 minutes from Tokyo by shinkansen, as guests of Tatsuo Tsuda (Otterbein '55) and his gracious wife.













Our hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Tatsuo Tsuda

The historic "Mampei Hotel"

Karuizawa History. In 1886 a British missionary visited Karuizawa; two years later, he built a summer residence. By 1930 Karuizawa had become the place missionaries and expatriates summered to avoid the heat of the Kanto Plain and Tokyo. During WW II the cabins and hotels were a haven for German and neutral country citizens.

Today Karuizawa has several golf courses and many summer and year round homes have been built in the forested mountains. It has been visited by many celebrities, including members of the imperial family and prominent figures in politics and the business world, and has gradually grown into the prominent Japanese resort.

The Nagano shinkansen line built for the Olympics brought Karuizawa closer to the capital and made it easier for couples and families to spend a day or weekend shopping, relaxing, and sightseeing in Karuizawa.

Meg with Tatsuo Tsuda looking toward Mt. Asama










Mt. Asama, an activte volcano. Those volcanic fumes, not clouds. The volcano last erupted in 2004.


The magnificent view over the mountains of Nagano Prefecture.

Tatsuo-san's favorite, "the most beautiful house in Karuizawa," former residence of author Murō Saisei

Karuizawa Hachiman Shrine, where we happened on a festival to pray for a prosperous autumn season, featuring "kagura" shrine dances.

Ancient "kagura" shrine dancing. This fox passes out sacred rice cakes to the onlookers.

The unusual "White Thread" waterfalls.

Settling back for the swift shinkansen ride back to Kyoto