Recommended sightseeing route (wide area)
~I will introduce a recommended wide-area sightseeing route to make your trip to Karuizawa even more enjoyable. ~~This is a recommended sightseeing route to further enjoy your trip to Karuizawa.
- Tomioka City, Annaka City, Karuizawa Town Connect★Connect Tourism Cooperation Project
In April 2014, Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture, Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture, and Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture, launched a new cross-border tourism initiative to connect one of their regional resources, the Tomioka Silk Mill, the Usui Pass Railway facilities including the Megane Bridge, the former Mikasa Hotel and a group of Western-style villas, and their respective historical buildings, in order to increase the touring experience. The purpose of this new tourism linkage is to connect the Usui Pass Railway facilities, including the Usui Pass Railway, the former Mikasa Hotel, and the Western-style villas, with their respective historical buildings and to enhance the touring experience.
Tomioka Silk Mill ]
Tomioka Silk Mill was established in 1872 as the first government-run model silk mill in Japan. The wooden-frame brick building is a symbol of modern Japan and contributed greatly to the development of the silk industry in Futaboto, which eventually made its name known throughout the world. The entire site is designated as a national historic site, and the early buildings are designated as important cultural properties. The site was officially registered as a component of the “Tomioka Silk Mill and Silk Industrial Heritage” at the 38th session of the World Heritage Committee (Doha) on June 21, 2014.
Usui Bridge No.3 ( Megane Bridge)]
The Usui Bridge No.3 (Megane Bridge), built in 1893, is the largest existing brick arch bridge in Japan, and was designated as an Important Cultural Property for the first time in Japan, along with four other bridges, as “Usui Pass Railway Facilities”. In 1993, the bridge was designated as Japan’s first Important Cultural Property along with four other bridges.
T he Mikasa Hotel was built in 1905 and opened for business the following year. It was called “Karuizawa’s Rokumeikan” because of the extravagant decoration and interior design of the Western-style building, which could be expressed as a wooden structure. It is the only Western-style wooden building in existence that was designed and completed by a Japanese architect, and was designated a National Important Cultural Property on May 31, 1980.
＜Tomioka City, Annaka City, and Karuizawa Town are connected through the “Connect★Connect Sightseeing Cooperation Project.
- Picture book-related cultural facilities along the Hokuriku Shinkansen line
Collaboration of three picture book museums “Picture Book Dream Corridor: Wide-area network to connect picture book culture
The “Imizu City Oshima Picture Book Museum,” the “Shinano-cho Kurohime Fairy Tale Museum,” and the “Karuizawa Picture Book Forest Art Museum” have decided to collaborate in cultural and tourism projects. In anticipation of the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Kanazawa in March 2015, the three museums will deepen their cooperation on themes such as “picture books” and “children’s literature,” which are located along the Kanazawa line.
Imizu City Oshima Picture Book Museum
The museum houses a collection of about 10,000 picture books from Japan and abroad in a space that resembles a ship. The museum offers workshops for making picture books, crafts, and goods using computers, as well as original picture book paintings by popular authors, for the enjoyment of the whole family.
Shinanomachi Kurohime Children’s Storytelling Museum
The museum introduces the works of children’s literature, mainly by Michael Ende and Miyoko Matsutani, so that visitors can learn about them in an approachable way. The museum promotes the creation of a space where literature, art and nature can be enjoyed in unison.
Karuizawa Picture Book Forest Museum
The Karuizawa Picture Book Forest Museum is a 15,000-square-meter garden museum located in a “forest.
＜The museum is a garden museum located in a 15,000-square-meter “forest.
