Winter has come to Karuizawa

Winter has come.

11/29/2015

Mt. Asama after the first snowfall in the season in Nov 2015.

     Winter has come to the town this week with roughly 10cm of snowfall. Unfortunately, I failed to take good pictures of snow covered town scenery; instead, I post the picture of snow covered Mt. Asama. Since Mt. Asama is an active volcano, it usually melts most of its accumulated snow on its slope with its geothermal heat in a week even during winter. If you see wholly white view of Mt. Asama in Karuizawa, you are lucky enough.

    People usually hate the coldness in Karuizawa. Seasonal villa residents start to go back to their home in Tokyo by November.   Some restaurants, shops, and museums start closing by January and reopen by late April.   All these events well represent people's persistent notion, which is, "Karuizawa is a summer resort." I personally used to have the same feeling before moving to the town.  Now, I think such people are missing out a value of this town.

    Karuizawa scenery in winter is equally picturesque to that in summer. Ice and snow relax your eyes. Cold but crisp and fresh air turns off your brain. Living in Karuizawa gives people such balancing effects to ease a tension from their busy days.

    Karuizawa is not a heavy snowfall area, and you do not have to worry so much on life infrastructure failure issues. Rather, you will find many winter attractions nearby. Karuizawa is famous as a favorite place to play golf and tennis in summer, but not so well known for winter sports. In fact, large ski areas of Tsumagoi, Yunomaru, and Asama are within roughly an hour distance.  Though not being well known, the town operates an Olympic-class skating facility (since Nagano Olympic Game was taken place here in 1998.) for whole the year. Curling is an authorized town sport and many residents enjoy playing it. Ice hockey and speed skating are local parent's favorites to have their kids to exercise. All these must be exceptional experience for families from cities.

    Do not fear the coldness too much. We have something which you do not have in a city. I believe Karuizawa will be known as all season resort someday soon.