【Japan】One-day trip to Karuizawa, Hikawa Shrine, and Koedo Kawagoe｜Hoshino Resorts/Karuizawa Prince Outlet｜Departing from Tokyo

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-Solution Introduction-

A day trip to the Royal Karuizawa Hikawa Shrine in the Edo period: a journey through time.

• Purely for tourists ★ No car dealers ★ Karuizawa, a resort town for the Japanese Imperial Family ★ Hikawa Shrine ★ Stroll through Little Edo
  

- User Manual -

• Departure dates: Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
• Meeting time and place: 08:00 JR Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Exit / 08:30 Shinjuku LOVE sculpture (Please check your email one day before departure to confirm the meeting place and time on the departure day)
  ※Please arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes before departure as we will not wait for latecomers. The order and time of pick-up and drop-off will be arranged by the driver/guide based on factors such as distance. Please understand and cooperate with each other, and follow the driver/guide's instructions.
• Number of people in the group: 4
• *The order and time of pick-up and drop-off will be arranged by the driver/guide based on factors such as distance. Please understand and cooperate with each other, and follow the driver/guide's arrangements.
• *The itinerary schedule may be adjusted due to weather, road conditions, or other reasons. Thank you for your understanding.
• Orders can only be picked up and dropped off at the same meeting point: Tokyo Station (on board), Tokyo Station (off board); Shinjuku (on board), Shinjuku (off board).
  

- Itinerary Introduction -

• 08:00: JR Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Exit / 08:30: Shinjuku LOVE sculpture collection
• 10:30: Karuizawa (Choose either Karuizawa Prince Outlet Mall or Hoshino Resort, approximately 2-3 hours)
  
• 12:00: Lunch: On your own
• 15:45: Kawagoe (choose either Hikawa Shrine or Kawagoe Koedo, approximately 1 hour)
  
• 17:00: Return to Tokyo. The return time is for reference only and may be earlier due to a smooth day's itinerary and good road conditions (approximately 1.5 to 2 hours by car).
• 18:00: Return to Tokyo, arriving at JR Tokyo Station Marunouchi North Exit/Shinjuku LOVE Sculpture

—Attraction Introduction—

Karuizawa

• Karuizawa, a popular Japanese resort destination, was a filming location for the popular Japanese drama "Quartet." Surrounded by mountains, it boasts stunning scenery and is renowned as an ideal ecotourism spot. The area is lush with larch and birch trees, creating a pleasant natural environment. It is also one of Japan's most famous luxury villa districts and a gathering place for the upper class. Legend has it that the Emperor met his life partner here.

Karuizawa Prince Outlet Mall (approximately 3 hours, free time available)

• This Karuizawa outlet mall is known as Japan's most beautiful outlet mall, boasting over 200 brand-name clothing stores (including Prada, Coach, DKNY, TOD'S, etc.) and over 100 restaurants. It even includes a golf course and a ski resort. Divided into five sections, it has approximately 200 shops, offering everything from high-end European and American brands to mid-range Japanese brands, with prices significantly lower than those in Tokyo and Osaka.

※You may choose to get off at the outlet mall or continue on the bus to the next destination: Hoshino Resort.

Hoshino Resort (approximately 2 hours, free time)

Cloud Field Pool

• Kumoba Pond, located in southeastern Nagano, is a lake often called Swan Lake. Ideal for forest bathing, it's a popular summer retreat. Attracted by the vibrant red maple trees lining its banks, the pond's red leaves, resembling a red river, are reflected in the water, creating a picturesque scene. Kumoba Pond changes its appearance with the seasons. In summer, it dons a long green dress, appearing charming against the backdrop of a clear blue sky. The tender green leaves along the shore contrast beautifully with the pond's turquoise waters. In autumn, Kumoba Pond dons another red dress, becoming incredibly vibrant. The red maple leaves are reflected in the emerald-green water, creating a natural landscape painting.

Harunire Terrace, a small town in Karuizawa with elm trees (you can have lunch here).

• Nestled amidst over 100 wild spring elm trees in Nagano Prefecture, the Umbrella Town is a shopping district comprised of nine buildings connected by a wide wooden deck. Themed around experiencing "everyday life in Karuizawa," this commercial complex features 16 unique shops, including stores, restaurants, and cafes. It also houses branches of popular soba noodle shops and bakeries from the old Karuizawa area, as well as boutiques selling Nordic-style goods and home furnishings. The Umbrella Town has a healing atmosphere, with benches under the shade of trees along the river for resting after shopping. A well-maintained walking path allows visitors to stroll and enjoy the beauty of nature. The Umbrella Town hosts various events throughout the year. These include "Karuizawa Umbrella Sky," which captures the rainy season with colorful umbrellas decorating the entire area, and a Christmas light show in winter.

Hoshino Onsen

• The hot springs operated by Hoshino Resorts are renowned as "skin-beautifying baths." Nestled at the foot of a mountain, the hot springs allow you to immerse yourself in the open-air baths while enjoying breathtaking views. The open-air indoor baths also offer panoramic views of the surrounding landscape through their expansive glass windows. Admission is not included: Adults 1300 yen (1500 yen in August).

Kawagoe (choose either Hikawa Shrine or Kawagoe Koedo, approximately 1 hour)

• "Travel back" 400 years to the Edo period and experience the dreamlike feeling of time flowing backward. There are many mini-Kyotos in the world, but only Kawagoe is truly a mini-Edo. Kawagoe was extremely prosperous during the Edo period and was known as "Little Edo." It not only exudes Edo charm but also features Western-style architecture with a Taisho romantic feel and Showa-style alleyways. Kawagoe is also one of the filming locations for the anime "Tsuki ga Kirei," attracting many anime fans on a "pilgrimage."
  

Hikawa Shrine - a popular shrine among online influencers

• Hikawa Shrine is a famous "Instagrammable" spot. It's the head shrine of over 200 Hikawa shrines in Japan, with a history said to date back 1500 years. Since ancient times, it has been a sacred place for praying for marriage and a fulfilling love life. Japanese weddings are frequently held here, and every day, countless men and women come to make their wishes. The shrine also features a small tunnel made of wishing ema (votive plaques), which is another must-visit photo spot for netizens.
• The fortune-telling at Hikawa Shrine is also quite unique. The fortune slips are hidden inside a lucky sea bream doll, which you need to "fish" out with a "fishing rod".

Kawagoe Koedo - Kurazou Ichiban-gai & Jidai-ji-chō & Kashiya Yokocho

Kurozou Ichiban-gai

• Kawagoe City was a prosperous city during the Edo period as a castle town of the Kawagoe Domain. The city retains many historical streets and temples from the Edo period, and is full of nostalgia. It is especially famous for its black brick and tile houses. The entire city has been designated as a "Preservation District for Traditional Buildings in Japan".

Clock of the Ages

• The landmark of Kawagoe, the clock tower is said to have been built by the lord of the Kawagoe domain four hundred years ago, but it was destroyed several times afterward. The current clock tower is the fourth generation. Although it has been rebuilt many times and changed to a mechanical clock with the progress of the times, it still diligently fulfills its responsibility of telling the time every day.

Confectionery Yokocho

• In Kawagoe's Kashiya Yokocho, traditional candy shops line the streets, where you can not only experience the rich traditional atmosphere but also purchase the most traditional Japanese candies and sweets.