Old Karuizawa Main Street is a lively shopping and dining district along Prefectural Route 133 in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture. Known locally as Old Karuizawa Ginza or Old Karuizawa Ginza Street, it is one of the most popular places to explore when visiting Karuizawa.
The street is lined with long-established shops, fashionable boutiques, cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and specialty stores. The combination of historic buildings and modern stores creates a distinctive atmosphere that reflects both the traditional and contemporary sides of this famous mountain resort.
Old Karuizawa Main Street stands in the area that was once Karuizawa-juku, a post town along the historic Nakasendo highway. The district is located north of present-day Karuizawa Station.
A major turning point came in 1888, when Canadian missionary Alexander Croft Shaw built a summer villa in Karuizawa. His arrival helped establish the area as a summer retreat, and Karuizawa gradually attracted foreign residents as well as prominent Japanese figures.
As the number of summer visitors and villa residents grew, shops developed along the street to provide everyday goods and services. What began as a local shopping street gradually became one of the best-known destinations in Karuizawa.
During the later Showa period, the popularity of pensions and small resort accommodations brought even more visitors, particularly during the summer season.
In the past, many shops operated mainly during the summer and closed for the winter. The opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Takasaki and Nagano in 1997 helped increase year-round tourism, and more businesses began operating throughout the year.
Before World War II, the street was known as Kyudo, meaning “Old Road,” or Hondori, meaning “Main Street.” Foreign summer residents commonly referred to it simply as Main Street.
At the time, it was essentially the only street where residents could purchase everyday necessities. Saying that someone was “going into town” often meant coming to this particular street.
There are two commonly cited explanations for the name Old Karuizawa Ginza. One theory is that famous shops from Tokyo’s Ginza district opened seasonal branches here even before the war, creating a lively atmosphere reminiscent of Ginza itself.
Another theory is that the name became established during the tourism boom of the 1970s and 1980s, when shopping streets across Japan began adopting names ending in “Ginza” to evoke the atmosphere of a fashionable commercial district.
The Karuizawa Tourist Information Center is housed in a Western-style building modeled on the former Old Karuizawa Post Office. The original post office building was completed in 1911, and the present building was reconstructed in 1995 while retaining its historic exterior image.
The first floor includes a tourist information center, a rest area, an audiovisual corner introducing local attractions, and paid restrooms. Public Wi-Fi is also available. The second floor is used as an exhibition space, hosting displays related to local products, railways, and other aspects of Karuizawa’s history.
Mampei Hotel traces its origins to Kameya, a traditional inn established in 1764. In 1902, the inn moved to its present location and was transformed into a Western-style hotel.
Over the years, the hotel has welcomed numerous prominent figures and has also been used as a setting for meetings between political leaders. It is also known as one of the inspirations for the fictional Kusakaru Hotel depicted in Studio Ghibli’s animated film The Wind Rises.
Another historic accommodation in the area is Tsuruya Ryokan, a long-established Japanese inn that has supported Karuizawa’s tourism for generations.
Old Karuizawa Main Street is home to numerous long-established stores and popular specialty shops, making it an enjoyable place to explore at a relaxed pace.
Brasserie Asanoya, founded in 1933, is a well-known bakery that also has locations in Tokyo. French Bakery, founded in 1951, is particularly famous for its connection with John Lennon, who was known to enjoy its bread during his time in Karuizawa.
The area is also renowned for its jam shops. Nakayama’s Jam, established in 1905, is one of the historic names in the district. Jam Kobayashi continues a jam-making method introduced by a Russian, while Sawaya, founded in 1952, is another well-known Karuizawa specialty.
Other notable establishments include Osakaya Furniture, founded in 1892 and known for traditional Karuizawa-bori carved furniture, and Chimoto Sohonten, a long-established sweets shop founded in 1948.
From Karuizawa Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen and Shinano Railway, the entrance to Old Karuizawa Ginza is approximately 1.8 kilometers north along Karuizawa Hondori.
The journey takes approximately 25 minutes on foot or about 5 minutes by car, depending on traffic. During the busy summer season, traffic congestion can be significant, so traveling by bicycle or using the local loop bus can be more convenient.
Several bicycle rental shops are available around Karuizawa Station and the Old Karuizawa area, making cycling an enjoyable way to explore the surrounding attractions.
Old Karuizawa Main Street is a special part of Karuizawa where history, culture, shopping, and resort-town charm come together.
Historic inns and long-established specialty stores stand alongside contemporary boutiques, cafes, and restaurants, creating an atmosphere that has evolved with Karuizawa over more than a century.
A leisurely walk along the street offers more than shopping. By learning about its history as a Nakasendo post town and its transformation into an international summer resort, visitors can gain a deeper appreciation of the character of Karuizawa.
Whether you come for local specialties, traditional sweets, freshly baked bread, historic buildings, or simply the pleasure of strolling through a stylish mountain resort, Old Karuizawa Main Street offers an inviting way to experience the enduring charm of Karuizawa.