Karuizawa, Mountain resort town in Kitasaku district, Japan
Karuizawa is a town at the foot of Mount Asama in Nagano Prefecture, spreading across forested slopes and valleys at around one thousand meters elevation. The settlement combines forest paths with small commercial districts and residential areas scattered among the trees.
A Canadian Anglican missionary named Alexander Croft Shaw established the resort in eighteen eighty-six, drawing wealthy guests from Tokyo. The settlement later developed into a post station along the old trade routes through the mountains.
The town still shows a mix of Japanese buildings and Western villas built during the Meiji and Taisho eras. This architecture reflects the early opening of the resort to international guests who spent summers and autumns here.
The Hokuriku Shinkansen connects the town to Tokyo in just over an hour, making it a popular destination for weekend travelers. The area is easy to explore on foot or by bicycle, as many paths run through the forests and between neighborhoods.
The town hosted equestrian events during the nineteen sixty-four Summer Games and curling competitions during the nineteen ninety-eight Winter Games. Both of these Olympic facilities still stand today and are used for local sporting events.
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