Shinkansen Tsuukin (Commuting by the Bullet Train) has been a word of envy or of curiosity in Japanese business society.    Most Shinkansen commuters choose to do that because of some family reasons for not being able to live near their workplace.  Applying for Shinkansen commuting allowance to their employer is generally a hard negotiation, since it is very costly for the company.  Applicant needs a certain justification with inevitable reasons.  It has not been an everyone's choice.

    When you start Shinkansen commuting, you must get accustomed to that environmental change.  However, you will shortly understand that 70 minutes (one-way to Tokyo) boarding on Shinkansen is not like usual commuting experience as what you have in local commuting train.  You can basically have a seat in non-reserved cars during commuting time, and you can work on your laptop PC if you like.  For new-type E7 and W7 Shinkansen cars, you can find 100V AC power outlet for each seat for all classes.  For progressive businesspersons, Shinkansen commuting time can be transformed to time of productivity.

    On the other hand, you must well consider the economics of Shinkansen commuting.  Price of 3-month passenger pass between Karuizawa and Tokyo is 356,450 Japanese Yen (125,060 yen for 1-month pass).  Under current Japanese national tax law, a company can deduct up to 100,000 yen per month per employer as a monthly commuting cost from the company's taxable income.  So, theoretically, you can negotiate up to 100,000 yen as a monthly allowance.  At least, amount exceeding 100,000 yen will be your own cost.  As most companies set a rule for upper limit of monthly commuting allowance, how much you can negotiate depends on your relations and power balance with your company.

    As I wrote in my previous article, the number of Shinkansen commuters in Karuizawa is growing.  Many progressive Tokyo workers have started to choose Karuizawa life after studying its costs and benefits.  It may become your agenda in this year-end season to plan your future lifestyles.

We wish you Merry Christmas from Karuizawa, Japan.
It was a very warm day today. (around 10 degrees Celsius)

Posting some pictures, hoping you to feel winter atmosphere of the town.

    Mount Asama (altitude 2,558 meters) is one of the important landmarks of Karuizawa.  It is one of the most active volcano in Japan, and its dynamic mountain body and volcanic plume are giving an accent to the regional scenery.

    Mount Asama is one of the most active volcanos in Japan.  In fact, it erupted in very small scale in June this year.  Just 4 days before the eruption, Japan Meteorological Agency raised the volcanic alert level of Asama from 1 to 2.  It means that you are currently not able to go inside the 2 kilometers zone from the crater, though you were able to go inside 500 meters zone from the crater when it was level 1.  It should matter for mountain climbers but it does not so much for ordinary town residents.   As of December this year, Asama is fuming everyday as it usually has been doing so for many years, but we do not feel any imminent sign of intensified volcanic activities like increased frequency of earthquakes.

​    JMA monitors the volcanic activities of Asama with sensors and cameras, and warns people appropriately.  Asama erupted in 2004 and 2009 in recent history.  In August 31, 2004, JMA raised the volcanic alert level from 2 to 3 then Asama erupted in mid scale on Sep 1, the next day.  In February 1, 2009, JMA raised the alert level from 2 to 3 then Asama erupted in mid scale on February 2, the next day.  Asama's volcanic observation system is considered very sophisticated, and I think it will continue to be trustworthy for coming years.

    Asama eruption of course influences ​town people's life.  Fortunately, there has been no fatal disaster by the eruption since 1947.  However, decreased demand for sightseeing, travel, and real estate hits the town economy and market.  In 2004 the average land price in Karuizawa dropped by 4.3% and continued to drop by about 0.8% for 2005 and 2006 respectively.  In 2009, it dropped by 8.2% and continued to drop by 5.8% in 2010 and picked up to grow by 5.4% in 2011.  It is difficult to tell its impact numerically due to much larger significant economic events like the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy shock in 2008.   According to a real estate person in town, the market certainly suffers from the impacts by the eruption but such negative impact does not last for so long period and the market picks up again in a few years.  It means, people go out temporarily but come back soon.

​    For people who consider to relocate and own a house here, Asama eruption risk should be a major concern.  Actually, I was one of them before moving to the town.  However, currently, I understand that the risk of living here is equivalent to the risk of living elsewhere in Japan.  Japan is a volcano and earthquake island country, and we must always be aware of natural geological disaster risks in terms of both physical safety and personal asset value depreciation.  I experienced the East Japan earthquake disaster in March 2011 in Tokyo, and understood that living in a city does not always ensure personal safety during such severe natural disaster.  I personally concluded that living near the active volcano does not necessarily increase my life risk.

    Seeing the fuming volcano of Asama everyday, I feel the value of living near this great nature wonder.  It is not something you can experience in city areas.

    Population of Karuizawa just exceeded 20,000 this year.  Among them, about 250 are registered foreign residents (source: Karuizawa town administration 2014 statistics).  It may look small in number, but their  presence on international atmosphere of the town is significant.  It should be a heritage since when a Canadian missionary found this area and later John Lennon and his family spent their summer days here. 
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    International Association of Karuizawa (IAK) is a center of such international cultural exchange in the town.  It was established in 2012 and provides many occasions for socializing, music, sports, arts etc. for its members to enjoy inter-culture communications.  Visit its Facebook page to feel its atmosphere.  Similar activities may be there in a city region like Tokyo, too, but what is unique in Karuizawa is, I think, that people here are very open and active in building friendship.  It may be because we have relaxing and slow-life atmosphere of a resort town, but additionally because such entertainment facilities as good food, drink, sports, music, arts places, nature, and residences are located in this relatively small area with nice balance.  It must not be something which you can experience in a city area.

    Kevin's Bar is my another recommendation to feel international atmosphere in a casual manner.  Kevin moved from Tokyo and opened his bar in front of the Karuizawa station in 2013.  By then, night scene in Karuizawa station vicinity was not so lively but he then brought an open socialization place in this area with western style standing wine bar.  People gather every night (even during winter) here to enjoy chatting and drinking.

    Come and meet international people and culture, and enjoy the town.

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    ”Mellow, the Japanese Squirrel”　project website
　　http://mellow.today/en/

    In my previous post, I wrote about the usage of Airbnb in Karuizawa.   Besides them, there are other types of short term vacation rental services.  I am picking up some of them.​

    "ARICA vacation rental" has been operating in Karuizawa for several years.  They operate distributed  4 villas for daily hotel-like service, 46 villas for monthly leasing service, and 2 villas for trimonthly leasing service.  Their daily service villas obtain a hotel service permit from a local government, and therefore are completely legal.  That is a difference from villas being brokered on Airbnb.

    Their fees are set to compete with local hotel service like Prince Hotel and Hoshino Resort.  Hotel usually charges you per capita, but ARICA charges you per room.  Though the room charges tend to be high during summer, I think you can consider their services as a good option for seasonal stay.​

    Owners Hill Karuizawa operates "hotel-style" daily accommodation service, using several Karuizawa style cottages and villas.  They are originally a real estate brokerage and property management company, and seem to began this hotel-style accommodation service by leasing some unused cottages from the cottage owners. (source: All About article in May 2012)  Their fee system is the same as hotel, daily fee per capita, but still competitive to Prince and Hoshino.  They close during winter from January till March, but I think it is worth trying if you like to experience Karuizawa lifestyle in other seasons.  Their cottages  are aggregatedly located in Oiwake district of Nishi Karuizawa.

Other listings:

• ​Independent rental villa listings on Karuizawanet.com:  List of individually operated rental villa of your choice.
• Neuebrücke Karuizawa Sanso: They operates 3 cottages and employs "auction" system by guests to determine the room charges.  Very unique.  Closed during winter.
• Local realtors also deal with seasonal rental villa: Link left jumps to the Royal Resort Karuizawa's rental villa page.  Not only these, but also other local realtors broker seasonal and monthly leasing or rental villas.  Search "軽井沢 貸し別荘 不動産" in your preferred search engine.