The future of local communities in Karuizawa
Through Karuizawa Bookstore and Karuizawa Commongrounds, we continue to challenge ourselves to create a local community centered around bookstores, where individuals can act freely, connect loosely, and create new value. (Updated March 21, 2025)
KARUIZAWA BOOKS: Keeping the light of culture burning in Karuizawa
Karuizawa has long been loved by many people as one of the world's leading highland resorts, surrounded by lush greenery and nature. In recent years, the number of people moving to the area and those living in two locations has increased due to the increase in workspaces with multiple functions and the expansion of educational facilities based on unique policies in natural environments, and the area is attracting attention as a place where new cultures are born. However, Karuizawa has been without a bookstore since its only bookstore closed in 2015. Therefore, in 2018, we opened KARUIZAWA BOOKS as a book and cafe style store, aiming to be a bookstore that keeps the light of culture burning and becomes a hub for disseminating information in this area that has long been loved by literary greats and creators from around the world.
The store is stocked with a wide range of books, including new releases, magazines, popular paperbacks and comics, meeting the daily needs of local residents. It also has a corner that features works by authors with ties to Karuizawa, and holds a wide range of fairs aimed at people living in and visiting Karuizawa. The store aims to be a place where you can always find new discoveries and encounters whenever you visit. The facility also houses a community space called "MOTOTECA COFFEE," which aims to become a part of the daily lives of local residents. It is a space where local residents can drop in casually, enjoy coffee and snacks, or read a book, and can be enjoyed with family and friends, or even by yourself. Freshly brewed coffee, specially made curries, muffins, scones, and canelés are also popular. Part of the cafe is used as a gallery space, allowing visitors to experience art up close, and we hold seasonal pop-up fairs and various other events. We aim to continue to be a place where people living in and visiting Karuizawa can feel and develop a relaxed connection through events such as talk shows with invited artists, events where people discuss themes unique to Karuizawa, and music nights.
Karuizawa Commongrounds: Strengthening the local community
In 2023, we opened Karuizawa Commongrounds as a place to further deepen the value of the local community in Karuizawa. Karuizawa Commongrounds is a complex of approximately 12,000 square meters, with KARUIZAWA BOOKS Nakakaruizawa Branch at its core and eight other facilities scattered throughout, including an international school, a wine shop, a general goods store, and a deli.
Karuizawa Commongrounds is a place where you can freely work, learn, play, do business, and live.You can come here to meet people or spend time alone and concentrate.It is a place where you can spend the day relaxing without having to worry about any particular purpose. The name "Common Grounds" was chosen with the hope that many people in Karuizawa will come together and use this place to expand, co-create, and deepen their relationships.
This place has long been loved by the local community as the Nakakaruizawa dormitory for Aoyama Gakuin Women's Junior College. In order to carefully preserve the history and many memories, the renovation was carried out while preserving and utilizing as much of the buildings, trees, and topography as possible. The forest in particular is a forest of existing trees with Karuizawa vegetation, allowing you to enjoy a leisurely and peaceful time while feeling the changing of the seasons.
"KARUIZAWA BOOKS Nakakaruizawa Branch" with coworking space and a variety of tenants
KARUIZAWA BOOKS Nakakaruizawa Branch was renovated from the former Nakakaruizawa dormitory of Aoyama Gakuin Women's Junior College, which holds many fond memories for school staff and local residents alike. The original beams and staircases have been left intact, preserving the hotel's history in Karuizawa, creating a chic atmosphere while still providing an open, comfortable space with plenty of light streaming in. The entire bookstore is a BOOK & CAFE where you can enjoy books with a cup of coffee from "SHOZO COFFEE" and spend your time as you like in a calm and comfortable space.
The first floor is themed around "lifelong learning" and features a selection of books from six genres: natural science, architecture, design, art, food, and children's books. In addition, there is a wide selection of new releases and popular books to enrich your daily life. The store also holds exhibitions that allow people to feel closer to art, and sells miscellaneous goods and food, offering lifestyle suggestions for both locals who use the store on a daily basis and first-time visitors.
The second floor is a co-working space that is used by local residents as a place that caters to a variety of working styles, including a space where you can concentrate on work alone while looking out at the lush greenery and Mount Asama, and a space where multiple people can hold meetings around a table.
Additionally, Karuizawa Commongrounds will be home to a diverse range of tenants that can be enjoyed by local residents and tourists alike, including OSOBAR, which serves authentic Shinshu soba noodles in a stand-up style; Karuizawa Iburu, a low-temperature smoker that uses cold smoke to bring out the hidden flavor of the ingredients; RK DAYS, which offers side dishes made with seasonal ingredients and fresh vegetables from contracted farmers, as well as miscellaneous goods carefully selected by the staff; PUBLIC Shokudo, which offers a cozy space and attractive breakfasts and lunches made with local Karuizawa ingredients; and aVin bio wine shop karuizawa, which serves delicious wines made from grapes grown in healthy soil and brewed with the wild yeast found in grapes. The facility is connected by woodchip walking paths, allowing you to stroll around and enjoy the changing plants and nature with each season. Not only can you enjoy reading outdoors with a coffee in one of the chairs provided, or spend time with your dog, but we also hold a variety of events. It hosts farmers markets and seasonal markets, mainly in Karuizawa, and also serves as a venue for the city's art festivals and children's activities.
Creating a sustainable community through collaboration with local residents and partner companies
We have concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement with Chubu Electric Power Miraiz Co., Ltd. to develop a town that fosters bonds through electricity. At Karuizawa Commongrounds, we are working on an energy sharing initiative in which electricity generated by solar panels installed on the roof is stored in electric vehicles (EVs) and supplied to the facility and neighboring areas. This will enable us to realize the use of sustainable renewable energy, aiming for a decarbonized society and local production and consumption for the future.
We also have a community compost pile and garden. The facility also implements a food recycling model within the community and an experiential food education program for children, such as collecting and composting food waste from restaurant tenants, and collaborating with the EtonHouse International School Karuizawa, an international school located within the facility, to cultivate fields with the children and cook together with them at the on-site restaurant using produce grown in cooperation with local farmers and served to visiting customers.
Each facility within Karuizawa Commongrounds is connected by environmentally friendly initiatives and works together towards the same goal of building a sustainable community.
As a member of an attractive local community
We will continue to work on the future of the local community in Karuizawa, with bookstores at its core. As a local community hub that enriches the lifestyles and lives of people in Karuizawa, we will continue to take on the challenge of creating a sustainable and circular community by collaborating with our various bases and local partners, and by utilizing our wide-ranging group resources. Furthermore, we would like to use the experience we have gained in Karuizawa to expand our efforts to create attractive towns in various regions together with our partner companies.
Karuizawa Common Grounds:https://store.tsite.jp/karuizawa-cg/