Relocation to small but famous highland resort town

(Chinese follows after English.)

Recent photo at Kumoba Pond in central Karuizawa

    Just launched my blog today, hoping it to be a resource for people who have some interests in living or having a vacation house in the town of Karuizawa, a famous highland resort in central Japan.    

    I was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan.  I moved from Tokyo to Karuizawa in 2012, though I had a job then in Tokyo.  It was about 110 minutes commute one-way every weekday (including 70 minutes on a bullet train), and I was seen by my colleagues with curiosity.

    I initially felt tired from such long commuting time, but got accustomed to it shortly.   I started my life in Karuizawa by contracting an apartment for rent.  The fee was 140,000 Japanese Yen monthly, for roughly 80 sqm of floor including 2 bedrooms.  It was roomy enough for me and my wife.  It was located in a southern district of Karuizawa, in the area within 30 minutes by foot, or 5 minutes drive to the Karuizawa train station.  You may be able to find cheaper apartments for rent in non-walking distance areas in the town though, but I felt it was reasonable enough for Tokyo commuters like me.

    Outside windows of the apartment were just forests and mountains.  I often meet small animals and beautiful mountain birds from a terrace.   Yes, I moved to a highland town at 1000 meters above sea level.  I could feel real restart of my life by crisp air, birdsong, and endless blue sky surrounding my new home.

    Two years later in 2014, I had our own house built in the town and moved from the rental apartment.  I purchased small, roughly 400 sqm lot of land near the rental apartment and asked an architect and builders to build a house with 3 bedrooms, and 140 sqm of floor according to our unique requirements.  In Karuizawa, it is roughly 16 to 28 degrees in Celsius during summer and minus 15 to 2 degrees in Celsius during winter.   Very comfortable in summer of course, but very severe in winter on the other hand.  I discussed with the architect for thermal insulation performance of the house thoroughly, and as a result, our house was named "thermos bottle" house by me and the architect.  It is really that.  Energy saving but very warm house.  I am 120% satisfied with the work by the architect and builders.

     I will write another post on my house building story later.

     I decided to start my blog, wishing more people to consider living in this beautiful and comfortable town by sharing my experience and knowledge on the area.  Either workers and residents in the greater Tokyo area or seasonal visitors to Tokyo can consider to have their primary or second house here.

    I hope you enjoy my blog.  Welcome any comment.


(Chinese translation for trial purpose - 中文翻译试行)

搬迁到小而著名的高原胜地

​今天，我发起了一个博客，思考提供信息的人谁是著名的高原度假胜地日本轻井泽的兴趣生活。

我出生并成长于日本东京。我从东京在2012年搬到了轻井泽，但我有一份工作，然后在东京举行。自那时以来，我一直在通勤我在东京的办公室约为110分钟单向每个工作日（含70分钟的子弹头列车）。我的同事们在看到这样的我的生活方式与好奇。

起初，我觉得从这样长的通勤时间很累，但得到习惯了不久。我开始了我在轻井泽的生活通过收缩公寓出租。每月租金为140000日元的约80平方米的建筑面积包括2间卧室。这是对我和我的妻子足够宽敞。它位于轻井泽的南部地区。花了步行约30分钟或5分钟车程，到轻井泽火车站。您可能能够找到一个公寓月租金在城镇非步行距离的地区便宜。不过，我觉得那是合理足以让东京上班族喜欢我。

公寓的外窗，但只是森林和山脉。我们可以看小动物和美丽的高山鸟类的露台频繁。是的，我搬到了一个高原小镇在1000米的海拔高度。我可以通过清新的空气，鸟鸣，和周围我的新家无边无际的蓝天觉得我的生活真正重启。

两年后的2014年，我们建立了自己的房子镇。我们从我们住的公寓感动。我购买的小，大约400平方米的土地附近的公寓租金我们住的地方。我下了订单，以建筑师和建筑商，在140平方米的建筑面积3间卧室的基础上，以我们独特的要求订做我的房子。在轻井泽，温度范围大约从16到28摄氏度的夏季，但是它的范围减15加2摄氏度的冬天。非常舒适的夏天，而在冬季非常严重的。我与建筑师的房子保温隔热性能的充分讨论。这样一来，我们的房子被命名为“热水瓶”房子我和建筑​​师。这是真的。节能，但很温馨的房子。我120％满意，由建筑师和建造者所做的工作。

稍后我会写我的房子建设经验，另一篇文章。

我决定开始我的博客，希望更多的人考虑通过分享我的经验和知识领域的生活在这个美丽而舒适的小镇。季节性的游客来自海外，并在大东京地区的商人，我想，有他们的生活方式的选择，在这里有他们的永久或第二个家。

我希望你享受我的博客。欢迎任何评论。