Karuizawa

Just a train ride from Tokyo, Karuizawa is a cool-climate retreat where forests host deer, monkeys, and countless birds. But it’s the black bears that have defined the region’s conservation push. Community-led projects here focus on coexistence, balancing human growth with protecting the bears’ shrinking habitat. Trails, wetlands, and a wild edge make Karuizawa so much more than a summer getaway from Tokyo locals.