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(1) |
Mount Asama, seen from Lake Shiozawa in the Minami-Karuizawa district. The mountain erupted in 1783, killing many people and spewing out volcanic ash that rained down as far as the city of Edo (present-day Tokyo). |
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(2) |
The Manpei Hotel opened in 1894 for foreigners coming to escape the summer heat. It still welcomes many people today. The café at the main entrance serves cakes (3) from the hotel bakery and light meals, all favored by hotel guests and others.
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(3) |
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(4) |
The former Mikasa Hotel now stores archives that can be viewed by the general public. The hotel was built in the Western style in 1905, using mostly cypress wood. All furnishings, from the electrically lit chandeliers to the made-in-England tiles and carpets, were made using the latest Western styles and techniques of the time. In the lobby (5), influential people from political and financial circles would talk, and formal parties were held. |
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(5) |
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(6) |
Autumn comes early at this high elevation. Roadside cosmos flowers bloom in late August. |
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(7) |
The Karuizawa Club tennis court where the present Emperor and Empress of Japan first met. The club has operated under a membership charter since 1917. |
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(8) |
Water in Lake Shiozawa, in the Minami-Karuizawa district, is held back by a dam. White birch stand all around its shore, together with facilities open to the paying public. Here you can walk along paths and enjoy activities like rowing and go-carting. |
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(9) |
The Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza district attracts many tourists. Part of the district has been restored to look like the old town where travelers stayed the night, and features wooden ryokan inns (10) with tile roofs, and other old buildings. |
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(10) |
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