1
Organic Wind

An installation of 100 colors that sway in the fresh green wind

At "Harunire Terrace" in the Karuizawa Hoshino Area, "Organic Wind," an installation event themed on "Karuizawa's flowers and grasses," will be held. The terrace is enveloped by a series of 100 colors of grass-dyed linens created by solosolo, a dyeing artist, using natural materials such as walnut and akane from Nagano Prefecture to express the colors of the four seasons. The gradation created by the overlapping of each color is like a "tunnel of colors" appearing in a forest. Please spend a special moment under the cloth swaying in the soft breeze, as if you were blending in with nature.

Forest tour with a nature guide "Forest Walk in Moist Rainy Season

Picchio, a Karuizawa-based group of nature guide specialists, will also offer a tour called "Moist Rainy Season Forest Walk" at this event. While strolling slowly along the riverside trail with the guides, visitors can enjoy the aroma of plants, observe flowers and mosses with a loupe, and savor nature with all five senses. At the end of the tour, visitors can enjoy a cup of herbal tea blended with wildflowers from the forest at "Icalu Cafe" and take a break. This tour offers a healing moment for visitors to become one with nature while experiencing the ecology of the forest.

▼ Organic Wind
Period: May 18 (Mon) - June 30 (Tue), 2026
Venue: Harunire Terrace
Admission: Free
URL: https://www.hoshino-area.jp/en/event/organicwind

Shimmering Rainy Season Forest Walk
Period: May 26 (Tue) - July 16 (Thu), 2026 *Only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
Time: 12:30 - 14:00
Duration: about 40 minutes
Registration: In front of Kawakamian, Kekerei Bridge, Harunire Terrace
Fee: 1,500 yen per person including herb tea in the forest *Free for children 3 years old and younger
Capacity: First 10 people on a first-come, first-served basis Capacity: 10 people on a first-come, first-served basis

Karuizawa Hoshino Area

• Hoshino, Karuizawa Town, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approx. 15 min. from JR Karuizawa Station by car
• Store 10:00~18:00
  Restaurant 11:00~22:00(21:00 L.O.)
  *Depends on season and store
• No holidays
• 050-3537-3553
• Pay parking (Free parking time can be extended to 2 hours when you spend more than 2,000 yen in total at each Property or store in the Hoshino area)

2
Saku Balloon Festival

Powerful! Colorful hot air balloons with a variety of personalities colorfully illuminate the sky.

One of the best hot air balloon competitions in Japan is held along the Chikuma River in Saku City, Nagano Prefecture, during the Golden Week holidays every year.
The theme of the event is "Bring excitement to children! the event brings the splendor of nature and the beauty of Shinshu to children through hot-air ballooning. The highlight of the event is a spectacular flying competition between top-level hot-air balloon pilots from Japan and abroad, with more than 40 colorful hot-air balloons soaring into the sky from the vast highlands of Saku-daira. The experience of watching hot air balloons up close will be unforgettable for everyone. Other Experience events such as a class to learn how hot-air balloons work and a kite-making class will also be held. Everyone from children to adults is sure to have fun.

▼ Saku Balloon Festival
Date: Sunday, May 3 - Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Venue: Chikuma River Sports Exchange Plaza
Admission: Free
TEL：0267-62-3285
URL：https://www.city.saku.nagano.jp/kanko/kanko/balloon_fes_2026/index.html

Saku Balloon Festival

• Chikuma River Sports Exchange Plaza, 505-1 Naruse, Saku City, Nagano Prefecture MAP
• Approximately 45 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station
• 0267-62-3285
• Free of charge

3
Karuizawa Tagliacen

Enjoy the competition between Karuizawa's natural beauty and the mountain cherry blossoms.

Located in Minami-Karuizawa, this leisure Property surrounds Lake Shiozawa. The expansive grounds are home to a garden filled with blooming roses, historical buildings, stores, and restaurants, attracting many visitors regardless of the season.
The cherry trees that can be seen are mostly yamazakura (mountain cherry). With Mt. Asama in the background, cherry trees with deep pink blossoms line the lakeside, allowing visitors to enjoy Karuizawa's magnificent natural surroundings. In early spring, not only cherry blossoms, but also other flowers such as lentil with its eye-catching bright yellow color and kobushi with its elegant white petals begin to bloom, and visitors can enjoy the subtle colors of the spring scenery.

Usually in mid-April.
Cherry blossom viewing season: Usually from late April to early May.
Cherry blossom type: Oyama cherry (Cerasus jamasakura)

Karuizawa Tagliassen

• 217 Nagakura, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• 10 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station
• From JR Karuizawa Station, take the Karuizawa town circulation bus (eastbound or southbound line), approximately 25 minutes on the outbound route, and a 15-minute walk from the Kazakoshi Koen bus stop.
• 9:00-17:00 (Mon. 10:00-16:00 in December and January)
• Closed on non-scheduled holidays
  *For more information, please click here.
• Adults 900 yen, children (elementary and junior high school students) 400 yen
  Peine Museum (including admission fee): Adults 1,100 yen, children 500 yen
  Karuizawa Kogen Bunko: Adult 800 yen, Child 400 yen *Park entrance fee not included
  Beniko Fukasawa Wild Flower Museum Adult 600 yen, Child 300 yen *Admission fee is not included.
  Museum set ticket (including admission fee, Peine Art Museum, Karuizawa Kogen Bunko, and Beniko Fukasawa Wild Flower Museum): Adults 1,600 yen, Children 800 yen
  Infants (0-5 years old) are free of charge.
• 0267-46-6161
• Charged

4
Yagasaki Park

Don't miss the weeping cherry trees of different shades of pink!

The park is a five-minute walk from Karuizawa Station. In addition to a large ground and various playground equipment, there is a large pond where ducks swim when the weather gets warm, attracting many families on holidays. From the park, one can also view two mountains at the same time, Mt. Riri and Mt. Asama.
The side road leading to the adjacent Ohga Hall is lined with about 50 cherry trees, with weeping cherry trees of different shades of pink, from dark to light, being especially worth seeing. Benches are set up directly under the trees, so visitors can enjoy a relaxing moment surrounded by the cherry blossoms.

Blooming time】 Usually in April
Cherry blossom viewing time】Late April every year
Kinds of trees】Oyama cherry trees, Someiyoshino cherry trees, weeping cherry trees, etc.

Yagasaki Park

• 28-1 Karuizawa Higashi, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• 7 min. walk from JR Karuizawa Station
• 24 hours
• No holidays
• Free of charge
• 0267-45-8582
• Free (less than 2 hours)

5
Sessou Park

Enchanted by the tunnel of cherry blossoms with petals flying in the air

Yukimado Park, located almost in the center of Miyota Town (Miyota Machi), Karuizawa's neighbor, is the town's representative cherry blossom viewing spot. The park has a "cherry blossom tunnel" made of rows of cherry trees, and a leisurely walk under the tunnel is recommended. Looking up on a sunny day, the bright blue sky and the pale pink of the cherry blossoms will provide a stunning contrast.
The spacious lawn is a great place to lay out leisure sheets and enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms with family and friends during the cherry blossom season.

Blooming season] Usually in mid-April.
Cherry blossom viewing time】Late April to early May
Kind of trees】Yamazakura (Prunus incisa), etc.

Yukimado Park

• 4107-42 Oaza Miyota, Miyota-machi, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano MAP
• Approximately 20 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station
• 24 hours
• No holidays
• Free of charge
• 0267-32-3129
• Free of charge

6
Komoro Castle Ruins Kaiko-en

A historic cherry blossom viewing spot where Komoro's unique double-flowered weeping cherry trees are in full bloom

Selected as one of the 100 best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan in 1990 by the Japan Cherry Blossom Society, this is one of the most famous cherry blossom viewing spots in Nagano Prefecture. The contrast between the moss-covered stone walls surrounding the main castle and the cherry blossoms is beautiful, creating a tasteful Japanese spring scene. In the park, several varieties of cherry trees, including someiyoshino, weeping cherry, and higan cherry, are in full bloom in sequence. Among them, "Komoro-Yaebenishidare (eightfold crimson weeping cherry tree)," which originated in Komoro and has a deep crimson color, is a must-see.
The Komoro Joshi Kaikoen Cherry Blossom Festival is usually held in April, with musical performances and other events held on different days, and the cherry blossoms are lit up during the festival.

Komoro Joshi Kaikoen Cherry Blossom Festival
Period: April 1 (Wed) - 25 (Sat), 2026
Light-up: Sunset to 21:00

Blooming time: Usually in early April
Cherry blossom viewing season: Usually mid to late April
Cherry blossom types: Someiyoshino, weeping cherry, Komoroya ebenishidare, etc.

Komoro Castle Ruins Kaiko-en

• 311 Chou, Komoro-city, Nagano MAP
• Approximately 45 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station
• 9:00-17:00
• Open every day (closed every Wednesday from December to the second week of March and during the year-end and New Year holidays)
• High school students and older: 500 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 200 yen
• 0267-22-0296
• Charged

7
Livestock Improvement Center Ibaraki Farm Nagano Branch

The beauty of someiyoshino cherry trees that are over 100 years old is breathtaking!

Commonly known as "Nagano Ranch," this is a popular hanami spot for families. Although it is located very close to the city center, Mt. Asama towers in the background, offering a panoramic view of Saku-daira's natural beauty.
From late April, about 50 old Someiyoshino cherry trees, some of which are over 100 years old, bloom beautifully. Among the beautiful rows of cherry trees, there is also a giant weeping cherry tree that makes its presence felt. At the "Fureai Hiroba" (communion square) located within the ranch, visitors can get a close-up look at the baby goats that are born every spring, providing a soothing experience for visitors.

Blooming season] Usually in mid-April.
Cherry blossom viewing time】Late April to early May every year
Tree species】Someiyoshino、shidarezakura (weeping cherry)

Livestock Improvement Center Ibaraki Farm Nagano Branch

• 2029-1 Shinkoda, Saku-shi, Nagano MAP
• Approximately 40 minutes by car from JR Karuizawa Station
• 24 hours
• No holidays
• Free of charge
• 0267-67-2501
• Free of charge