Karuizawa · Nagano
Karuizawa Guide
New to Karuizawa? Start here. Below are the steps to take in order, plus the official resources and our own guides for each part of settling in.
First steps, in order
After you arrive in Karuizawa, work through these in roughly this order. Each step links to a detailed guide.
- 1Get to Karuizawa
See "Getting around" below for the Shinkansen.
- 2Register your address (転入届)
At the town hall within 14 days of moving in.
- 3Enrol in National Health Insurance
If not covered through an employer. (Dedicated guide coming soon.)
- 4
- 5
- 6
Getting to & around Karuizawa
Karuizawa is about an hour from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. You can reserve seats online.
- JR-EAST Train Reservation (Eki-net)official siteBook Hokuriku Shinkansen seats online.
- JR-EAST tickets & travel info (multilingual)official siteTicket types and how to ride.
- Karuizawa Tourist Association (EN)official siteMaps, seasonal info, getting around town.
Government & paperwork
From address registration to residence procedures — the paperwork your life here is built on.
- Karuizawa Town Hall (official)official siteLiving procedures and department info.
- Immigration Services Agency of Japan (EN)official siteResidence card & visa. Nagano is under the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau.
- Guide: A Guide to Karuizawa Town Hall
- Guide: How to Register Your Address (転入届)
- Guide: The My Number Card Explained
Healthcare & emergencies
Local hospitals and English-language medical help. In an emergency call 119 (ambulance/fire) or 110 (police).
- Karuizawa Hospital (軽井沢病院)official siteThe town's community hospital.Tel 0267-45-5111
- Saku General Hospital / Saku Medical Centerofficial siteA larger regional general hospital nearby.
- Find English-speaking medical institutions (Japan Medical Association)official siteSearch for clinics with foreign-language support.
- AMDA International Medical Information Center (phone helpline)Medical advice and free phone interpreting in English and other languages.Tel 03-6233-9266 (Mon–Fri 10:00–16:00)
- Emergency numbers119 ambulance & fire / 110 police
Support for foreign residents
Where to turn for multilingual help when something is unclear.
- Nagano Prefectural Multicultural Consultation Center (EN)official siteFree multilingual advice.Tel 026-219-3068
- ERISA — our servicesAccompaniment for town hall, hospital, housing, and schools.
Money & home
Our guides to the basics of banking, renting, and moving.
External links last checked: June 2026. External sites are operated by third parties and may change. Always confirm details on the official site.
Settling into Karuizawa? We'll walk you through it.
From the town hall to the bank, ERISA accompanies you and interprets — so nothing gets lost in translation.
Contact ERISA