Overview
Within the Prince resort south of Karuizawa Station, Karuizawa Prince Hotel East pairs forest-facing rooms with a guest-only natural hot spring. From the South Exit, the lobby is about 13 minutes on foot or two minutes by taxi. A free pickup bus takes about ten minutes and generally runs every 30 minutes.
With luggage, the pickup bus is easier than the walk. Once checked in, guests can use main-building dining and hot-spring facilities, while the wider resort's shops and seasonal activities are close at hand.
Rooms
The main building's 32-square-meter Forest Twin can accommodate a third guest on a sofa bed. Superior Twins have the same floor area for two, while 42-square-meter Forest Corner Twins can sleep four using two sofa beds.
Deluxe Twins also measure 42 square meters but accommodate two guests. The 42-square-meter Accessible Room reduces steps and provides a wider layout for guests who need barrier-free features. All main-building Twin Rooms are non-smoking.
Facilities
Forest Hot-Spring draws natural hot-spring water from beneath the hotel grounds. The bathing area has indoor and open-air baths, a steam sauna, and forest views. Main-building guests pay only the separate bathing tax during their stay.
A fitness room is in the same building, while Spa the Forest Prince provides paid treatments. Lounge Sakura offers complimentary soft drinks around the clock.
Dining
All Day Dining Karuizawa Grill opens for breakfast and continues through the evening, covering both quick morning meals and dinner without leaving the hotel. Its broad schedule helps when arrival or activity times don't align with a single seating.
Sofu serves sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, and teppanyaki, while Teppanyaki Mori provides a more focused counter-style experience. Together, the venues cover casual dining and more planned meals within the East building.
Location and transport
The hotel is in Karuizawa Station Area, beyond part of Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza on the station's south side. The walk is manageable without heavy bags, but the pickup bus or short taxi ride is more comfortable with luggage, children, or winter conditions.
Hokuriku Shinkansen trains connect Karuizawa directly with Tokyo in about an hour and continue toward Nagano. Shinano Railway serves local trips toward Naka-Karuizawa, Komoro, and Ueda, while buses from the station run to Old Karuizawa and destinations farther into the region.
Why stay here
After a Shinkansen arrival, the pickup bus handles the final transfer; 32-square-meter rooms and the hot spring then give guests space to settle in. Shopping and seasonal activities across the wider resort don't require a rental car. The tradeoff is that Old Karuizawa's historic streets aren't outside the door.
South of the station, Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza has more than 200 stores across a large resort-style mall. Buses offer a change of scene in Old Karuizawa, where bakeries, coffee shops, souvenir stores, and restaurants line the historic shopping street.
Good to know
The East cottage area is closed for major renovation, so current stays use the main building. Guests looking for a cottage should compare the separately operated West options instead.
The pickup-bus stop is about three minutes from the South Exit rather than directly outside the station doors, and schedules can change. Forest Hot-Spring has also had temporary operating restrictions, so check the latest hotel notice if access to particular baths or the sauna is central to your stay.
13-minute walk