Karuizawa is a cool highland resort at the foot of Mount Asama, close enough to Tokyo for a fast escape but far enough in mood to feel like a different Japan. It grew from a Nakasendo post town into a summer refuge for missionaries, diplomats, writers, and wealthy Tokyo families who wanted cedar shade instead of city heat.
The best day here is unhurried. Walk or cycle between villa lanes, the old Karuizawa shopping street, Kumoba Pond, and the wooden churches that still give the town its slightly European edge. North of town, Shiraito Falls spreads in thin white threads across a mossy rock face; it is not a roaring waterfall, but it is lovely.
Karuizawa can feel polished and expensive, especially around the station outlets, but the older streets are still worth your time. Come in summer for the cool air, in autumn for bright maples around the pond, or in winter if you want a quieter resort town with snow under the larches.