Compared to the Tokyo area, the autumn season arrives about 1 month earlier in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture. Here’s a perfect place for you to hunt down beautiful autumn foliage in the heart of nature— Karuizawa Hoshino Area!

Karuizawa is located in Nagano Prefecture that takes about a 2hr 30minute train ride from Tokyo, famous for its rich nature, distinct seasons and being near to the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The autumn foliage in this Karuizawa Hoshino area is usually at its best around 20 Oct – early Nov*. You can admire the red maple leaves in October and the yellow Japanese larch leaves in November.

*the timing of the autumn foliage may vary depending on weather conditions.

In 2022, the Hoshino Resorts has set up, once again, the Autumn Library and the Autumn KERA-IKE Ice Rink at this Karuizawa Hoshino Area.

Autumn Library: Relaxing Foliage, Books, Café Time

Autumn Library is an outdoor library with around 500 books set in a 2,000m² public square in front of Tombo-no-Yu Onsen area. The bookshelves and the outdoor library are built by Rebuilding Centre Japan (Suwa, Nagano), a facility that recycles and reuses old materials and tools.

Visitors can also use the bookshelves as a bench to sit on as you peruse the book selections. Of course, this library makes a great photo spot with the fallen leaves, aesthetic layout of the bookshelves and the autumn sky.

While you’re here, don’t forget to warm up yourselves with some limited-edition autumn drinks made with local Shinshu apples— Apple Ginger Tea and Fuwafuwa Milk Apple Tea! Visitors can get the drinks at the nearby Cafe Hungry Spot. 

■ Hoshino Resorts ‘Autumn Library’ (Karuizawa Hoshino Area)
Period: 1 October – 6 November 2022
Time: 10:00am – 4:30pm
Entry: FREE of CHARGE
_{*If it rains, the event will be cancelled.}

Autumn KERA-IKE Ice Rink: Skating in A Foliage Forest

Enjoy a unique skating experience surrounded by colourful trees at this outdoor ice rink, KERA-IKE Ice Rink. Close to the Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest, the surrounding area of this ice rink is home to many wild birds and animals, so visitors can fully indulge the serene nature ambience while skating.
Of course, this ice rink will open until the winter season.

Autumn is also the season when the black bears living in the forests of Karuizawa prepare for hibernation by eating up their favourite chestnuts and acorns. Inspired by such black bears, make sure to try this new ‘Chestnut-crazed Bear’s Chestnut Latte’, a cafe latte garnished with peeled chestnuts and a black bear latte art!

There will also be a special three-day event for a night skating experience ‘Moonlight Skating’ (booking required), combining skating, moon-watching and teatime. If you don’t know how to skate, the resort also has sleds suitable for beginners to use.

■ Autumn KERA-IKE Ice Rink
Period: 21 October – around 10 November 2022*
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Fee: JPY 1,900 for adults / JPY 1,300 for children under primary school age (incl. shoe rental fee)
Other rental fee: Gloves JPY300 (tax incl.) / Knitted hat JPY500 (tax incl.) / Sled chair (free)
_{*Period may change based on foliage conditions
*Ice rink opens until 5 March 2023 (Closed on 29 November 2022)}

■ Moonlight Skating
Date: 6, 7, 8 November 2022
Time: 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Fee: JPY2,500 (incl. entrance fee, rental shoes, teatime)
Booking: https://urakata.in/new_reserve/en/calendar/picchio?ex_media_key=&course_id=24088

■ Karuizawa Hoshino Area
Address: 2148 Nagakura, Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0194, Japan

Also See:
5 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling to Japan
Canoeing in a beautiful valley with autumn leaves
Mt. Daisen in western Tottori covered in “Seven Colours”

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