Shinano Railway Co., Ltd.
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A station building with the distinctive atmosphere of Karuizawa, revived in 2017 using the Former Karuizawa Station Memorial Hall.
The Karuizawa Station building, which was demolished when the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened in 1997, was revived in October 2017 as the Old Station Building Entrance of Shinano Railway’s Karuizawa Station. Housed in a historic building that had been preserved as the Former Karuizawa Station Memorial Hall, it has the calm atmosphere characteristic of Karuizawa.
In addition to a ticket counter and ticket gates, the station building has a waiting room where passengers can relax while waiting for their train. Particularly popular is the Rokumon Lounge, housed in the former VIP room of the Former Karuizawa Station Memorial Hall and available only to passengers with the train ticket and reserved seat plan. The refined interior features furniture designed by Eiji Mitooka, who also designed the Rokumon sightseeing train. The lounge is known as an elegant place to relax with a drink before or after a journey.
The 3rd floor also has a shopping area lined with stores connected to the Shinshu region. They sell ekiben boxed meals, jam, and other items that make ideal souvenirs.
A charming building that looks as though it belongs in a picture bookCourtesy of Shinano Railway Co., Ltd.
A warm and inviting waiting room filled with the natural warmth of woodCourtesy of Shinano Railway Co., Ltd.
The Rokumon Lounge, which retains valuable original wood from the former station buildingCourtesy of Shinano Railway Co., Ltd.
Frequently Asked Questions have been vetted and answered directly by each listing.
Q
Is re-entry permitted?
No.
Q
Is free Wi-Fi available inside the facility?
No.
Q
Are coin-operated lockers available?
Yes. They are located near the ticket gates on the 3rd floor and on the 1st floor of the public passageway, separate from the Old Station Building Entrance.
Some reviews are AI-translated.
The Shinkansen goes directly from Tokyo to Karuizawa, making the trip fast and comfortable without having to keep changing trains. After enjoying the scenery outside the window along the way, we arrived at Karuizawa Station in no time.
This time, we stayed in a cottage at the Karuizawa Prince Hotel. A hotel shuttle was available right outside the station, so we didn't have to worry about finding our way while pulling our luggage.
Getting from central Tokyo to Karuizawa was much more convenient than expected. After arriving at the station, we got on the shuttle and made it smoothly to our cottage in the forest. The noise of the city suddenly faded away, replaced by trees all around us. Just the journey there made us start looking forward to the stay ahead.
This time, I took a local Shinano Railway train from Karuizawa Station to Naka-Karuizawa Station, then walked to my hotel. Sitting in the retro-style train car as it traveled slowly, I enjoyed the lush green scenery along the way, which was very refreshing.
Taking the train to Karuizawa for a trip is actually pretty convenient.
The architecture of Karuizawa Station keeps the traditional Japanese wooden style, and the facilities inside are simple yet practical. The whole waiting area is really comfortable—I love the atmosphere here!
