Former Mikasa Hotel, Western-style wooden hotel in Karuizawa, Japan.
The Former Mikasa Hotel is a Western-style wooden building in Karuizawa, Japan, extending across two floors and an attic level. The rooms are arranged along symmetrical corridors, while the facade is clad with shingles and horizontal boards.
Architect Okada Tokitarō designed the building in 1906, when Karuizawa was developing into a retreat for foreigners and wealthy Japanese. The property closed in 1970 after serving guests from Japan and abroad for more than six decades.
The name refers to Mount Mikasa near Nara, linking the hotel to a classical reference from ancient poetry. Visitors can see how the wooden paneling and staircases show the work of local carpenters interpreting European details through their own methods.
The property stands at 1339-342 Karuizawa-cho and remains closed for conservation work and seismic reinforcement until summer 2025. Visitors can view the outer facade and surrounding grounds from the road, while the interior spaces are not accessible.
Carpenter Kobayashi Daizo and his team learned Western construction techniques by studying other buildings in the region before starting work. The process required new tools and methods that were rare in Japan at the time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
