Another place which is famous for its ski resorts is Karuizawa. It is a particularly popular tourist spot especially with families from Tokyo as it is accessible by bullet train in less than 2 hours. Many richer families build their summer resorts in Karuizawa.
The other attraction is a large outlet stall shopping mall which sells branded goods for discounted prices. It is also known for its historic shopping street known as Ginza dōri.
Karuizawa played host to equestrian events for the 1964 Summer Olympics and also the curling events for the 1998 Winter Olympics. The abundance of snow makes it an excellent place to ski, therefore it's not surprising to see many ski resorts in this area. So far, it is the only city in the world that has played host to both the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics.
The snow found here is really quite different from that in Niigata. Due to its proximity to the sea, Niigata snow is more damp and moist, and is softer when you fall on it. But because Karuizawa is located near the mountain area, the humidity is lower, and the snow that falls is dryer. When the wind blows the snow to your face, it feels quite painful - Like being shot with hundred tiny bullets!
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