I Looked Into The Prince Karuizawa

I've been looking into campsites, day-trip hot springs, and places to stay that seem reachable without a car, and it's turned into a bit of a series.

This time I looked into “The Prince Karuizawa.” What caught my attention was that you can get there from Karuizawa Station by free bus, and that it might be a hotel where even an indoor person like me could relax in the room.

What Kind of Hotel Is This “Adult Time” Retreat with a View of Mount Asama?

The Prince Karuizawa is a hotel in Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture. Apparently it belongs to Prince Hotels' top-tier brand, “The Prince.” From what I read on the official site, it's introduced as a hotel in a quiet setting with a view of Mount Asama, with the seasonal nature and the food as its main charms. It came across as a place pitched at married couples, couples, anniversaries, food lovers, and anyone looking for some grown-up time.

Here's the basic information I found.

• Location: Karuizawa Town, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture
• Brand: Prince Hotels' top-tier brand, “The Prince”
• Renewal: The site said it has been reopening in stages after renovations, starting on December 21, 2024
• Booking: You can search availability on the official site (by date, 1 to 8 adults and 0 to 8 children, with a promotion code field), and it seems you can also book by phone. Checking, changing, or canceling a reservation can apparently be done from a dedicated page
• Price: I couldn't find specific amounts in the official page text. It says the best available rate is guaranteed for Seibu Prince Global Rewards members
• Check-in / check-out: I couldn't confirm the times on the official page

It seems the details are explained on the official site.

Komorin

Hearing “top-tier brand” makes me a little nervous, but the pitch of being for people who want to spend time quietly felt reassuring for an indoor person like me.

Can You Really Get There by Free Bus from the South Exit of Karuizawa Station?

As a paper driver, how to get there from the station is what I care about most. From what I found, it takes about 1 hour from Tokyo Station by bullet train.

• Pickup bus: It departs from the south exit of Karuizawa Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, and it's free. It runs about every 30 minutes, from 8:00 to 21:00
• Bus notes: The interval is apparently different from noon to 13:30. Routes may also change by season, so it seems best to check the timetable on the official pickup bus page
• Bus features: It loops around the hotels in the area, and you can reportedly get on and off anywhere along the way
• Taxi: About 4 minutes from the south exit of Karuizawa Station. I couldn't confirm the fare
• Station service: There's apparently a guest service center for hotel guests called “Smile Concierge” at the south exit of Karuizawa Station

I couldn't confirm how long it takes to walk from the station. Still, since the free bus seems to leave about every 30 minutes, I got the impression that it's easy to reach even without a car.

Facilities and Highlights for an Indoor Person

From here, I'll go over the facilities that caught my eye while imagining time spent in the room and inside the hotel.

• Executive floor: Apparently it's on the 3rd floor, together with “The Prince Suite.” Guests and Diamond members can reportedly use the executive lounge
• Restaurants: French cuisine by the head chef and a wide selection of vintage wines were featured. “Dining Room Beau Sejour” and “ALL DAY DINING LOUNGE/BAR Primrose” also seem to be mentioned
• Library cafe: It's reportedly for hotel guests only, and sounds like a nice space for book lovers
• Private nature program: There seems to be a program just for hotel guests
• Hot spring and spa: The natural hot spring “Forest Hot Spring” in the East building and “Spa The Forest Prince” were introduced as places to use. There also seems to be a notice about the hot spring reopening, so it seems wise to check the latest information before using it
• For families: Breakfast is reportedly free for children under 6
• Parking: Apparently there are 4 EV standard charging stands
• Nearby: There are reportedly a bowling alley, a 9-hole golf course, pickleball, and ski areas

I couldn't confirm the room types, number of rooms, or room sizes. If you're curious about the atmosphere of the rooms, it seems best to look at the official site.

Komorin

With a library cafe, French food, and wine all together, I thought I could be pretty happy without ever stepping outside.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

Since I use Rakuten Mobile, the signal situation is something I wanted to know about. I entered this facility's location (Karuizawa Town) into the official “my Area Communication Simulation” to check.

The overall rating came out as “C.” It seems worth checking again before your stay.

If you're planning to look things up on your phone or get something done online during your stay, it might be reassuring to take care of it beforehand. If you're curious, you can also check for yourself with the official Rakuten Mobile tool.

Komorin

A C rating was a bit disappointing. But if I think of it as time to put my phone down and read a book or enjoy some wine, maybe it's not so bad.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up, my impression of The Prince Karuizawa is that it's an adults-oriented hotel with a view of Mount Asama, reachable by free pickup bus from the south exit of Karuizawa Station.

With French cuisine, vintage wine, and a guests-only library cafe, it seems to have plenty of ways to enjoy a slow time inside the hotel. The renovation that began in December 2024 also made me curious.

The Rakuten Mobile signal was rated “C” by the official tool. If you're concerned, please check it ahead of time with the official Rakuten Mobile tool. I couldn't confirm the check-in time, specific prices, or room details, so it's safest to look at the official site before booking.

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Related Links

• Official Site