Shiraito Falls Travel Guide: One of Karuizawa’s Most Popular Attractions

The Shinanoji Nature Trail is an 11 km trekking route that runs along Shiraito Highland Way, stretching from Mikasa Bus Stop to Mine-no-Chaya. The trail has an elevation difference of 410 meters.
Along the way, hikers can visit scenic spots such as Shiraito Falls and Ryugaeshi Falls while walking through forests of coniferous trees and alongside beautiful streams. It's a great way to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the forest.
Several bus stops are located along the route, making it easy to combine walking with bus travel.
If you're visiting Shiraito Falls, consider exploring this trail to experience more of the area's beautiful natural surroundings.

Shiraito Falls hosts special illumination events in both summer and winter.
The summer event is usually held from late July to late August, while the winter event typically runs from mid-December to mid-February.
The winter illumination event is divided into three sessions: the Christmas Session, New Year Session, and Valentine Session.
Under the clear, starry winter sky, the illuminated waterfall, surrounded by snow and ice, creates a magical scene that is sure to impress visitors.

At the entrance to Shiraito Falls, you'll find a shop where you can enjoy local Karuizawa specialties and browse for souvenirs.
One of the most popular foods is salt-grilled char, a freshwater fish. Other treats include Shiraito Spring Water Tofu, available only in summer, Shinshu apple soft-serve ice cream, and Shikaman, steamed buns filled with venison.
The shop also offers a variety of souvenirs, including Karuizawa's famous pickles, traditional crafts, and sweets made with Shinshu apples and Kyoho grapes.
You can even find regional flavors of popular Japanese snacks, such as Kyoho grape Pocky and apple-flavored Puccho. Be sure to stop by the shop during your visit!

Harunire Terrace is a small shopping village made up of nine buildings connected by spacious wooden decks, built around a natural grove of more than 100 Japanese elm trees growing alongside a clear stream.
Based on the concept of "everyday life in Karuizawa," it features 16 unique shops, restaurants, and cafes. These include branches of popular soba restaurants and bakeries from the Old Karuizawa area, as well as shops selling high-quality Scandinavian goods.

Kumoba Pond is a peaceful pond in Karuizawa, one of Japan’s most popular highland resorts, and a popular stop on sightseeing routes.
It is also known as “Swan Lake” because swans once visited the pond in winter, when the surrounding area was home to vacation villas owned by foreign residents.
Fed by the clear waters of Gozensui, the pond is known for its remarkably clear water. The reflections of larch and maple trees on its mirror-like surface create a beautiful scene.

Old Karuizawa Ginza Street is one of Karuizawa’s most popular shopping streets, attracting millions of visitors each year.
The street is lined with shops selling everything from local specialties and souvenirs to snacks and sweets that are perfect for enjoying while strolling.
There are also plenty of interesting shops tucked away in the narrow side streets, so take your time exploring beyond the main shopping street.

Located about a five-minute walk from Harunire Terrace, a shopping and dining complex operated by Hoshino Resorts, Hoshino Onsen Tombo-no-Yu is a day-use hot spring facility.
Hoshino Onsen first opened in 1915 and has been a popular hot spring destination in Karuizawa for over 100 years.

Onioshidashi Park is a unique natural attraction located within Joshinetsu Kogen National Park and the Mt. Asama North Foothills Geopark.
During the eruption of Mt. Asama in 1783, lava flowed down the volcano and eventually cooled and hardened. The resulting volcanic rocks spread across the area, creating the park's distinctive landscape.

Sonmin-Shokudo, a restaurant operated by Hoshino Resorts, is a casual dining spot that welcomes visitors to Karuizawa with delicious food.
The restaurant serves dishes made with plenty of seasonal ingredients from Shinshu, which guests can enjoy in a relaxed atmosphere.
For lunch, the menu mainly features set meals. In the evening, guests can enjoy à la carte dishes paired with local sake from Shinshu.

Kawakami-an is a popular soba restaurant located in Harunire Terrace, one of Karuizawa’s most popular destinations.
With additional locations in Old Karuizawa, Azabu, and Aoyama, Kawakami-an serves soba made from buckwheat flour freshly milled in-house using a custom-made stone mill. Only the amount needed for each day is milled to ensure freshness.
Its coarsely ground nihachi soba, made with 80% buckwheat flour and 20% wheat flour, has a rich flavor and smooth texture that pair perfectly with the bold dipping sauce, made using soy sauce brewed from 100% Japanese-grown soybeans.

This is the fourth location of Maruyama Coffee, situated in Harunire Terrace, a charming shopping area in the Karuizawa Hoshino Area operated by Hoshino Resorts.
Maruyama himself travels to coffee-growing regions around the world to taste and select high-quality beans, which are purchased through auctions and directly from carefully selected farms. The cafe offers around 20 varieties of coffee at any given time.
The Harunire Terrace Blend (medium-dark roast), available exclusively at this location, is inspired by the area's majestic Japanese elm trees and features notes of orange and nuts.

Opened in the Karuizawa Hoshino Area in 2019, BEB5 Karuizawa is a hotel built around the concept of "more than an izakaya, less than a getaway," where guests can relax and spend time together in a casual atmosphere.
Its main highlight is TAMARIBA, a shared space open 24 hours a day, featuring a cafe lounge arranged around a courtyard.
Guests are encouraged to bring their own food and drinks, making it a popular place to pick up food from a deli, settle into the lounge, and enjoy a laid-back stay at their own pace.

Opened in February 2022, this stylish hotel offers the relaxing atmosphere of a private villa.
Designed to give guests a sense of Karuizawa's local character and surrounding neighborhood, the hotel features artwork by local artists and stylish furnishings throughout its interiors.
The hotel offers 155 guest rooms across six room types, each with a balcony or private garden, allowing guests to feel close to Karuizawa's beautiful natural surroundings without leaving their rooms.

Founded in 1894, Mampei Hotel is one of Karuizawa’s most iconic classic hotels and a symbol of Japan’s summer resort culture.
The main Alps Building, which combines Western architecture with traditional Japanese design elements, is designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Its impressive wooden architecture and beautiful stained-glass windows reflect the hotel’s rich history.
Each of the hotel’s guest room buildings offers its own distinct charm, from the historic Alps Building with its traditional atmosphere to the Atago Building with its classic yet modern design and the Usui Building with its refined elegance.