Guides軽井沢で暮らすためのガイド
Practical, bilingual guides to living in Karuizawa as a foreign resident — written from hands-on experience helping people settle into life in Nagano.
LCA Kitakaru: The English-Medium Elementary School Near Karuizawa
A school that solves the Karuizawa gap: English-medium primary that also counts as Japanese compulsory education. It opened in April 2026 in a closed school building in Kitakaruizawa — here are the ages, the real costs, and the admissions dates.
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EtonHouse International School Karuizawa: A Parent's Guide
EtonHouse is the main English-medium day school in Karuizawa — a preschool for ages 2–6 plus an elementary school that opened in 2025 and is adding a grade a year. Here are the ages, fees, admissions steps and honest trade-offs.
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Best International Schools in Japan: A Guide for Relocating Families
There is no single best international school in Japan — there is the best one for your child's age, curriculum, city and budget. Here is the honest landscape, from century-old Tokyo institutions to regional IB schools and Karuizawa's boarding options.
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Hospitals & Clinics in and around Karuizawa
Knowing where to go — a small clinic, the town hospital, or a regional medical center — saves time and money in Japan. Here are the main hospitals around Karuizawa, how the referral system works, and what to do after hours.
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Finding English-Speaking Doctors near Karuizawa
Fluent English-speaking doctors are scarce in rural Nagano — but you have more options than you think. The trick is to combine foreign-friendly clinic databases with medical interpretation services that work at almost any clinic.
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Schools in Karuizawa for International Families
Karuizawa punches above its size for education — home to UWC ISAK Japan and an English-medium international school — but the options vary a lot by age. Here's the honest landscape for international families, from preschool to high school.
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Garbage Sorting & Disposal Rules in Karuizawa: A Foreigner's Guide
Garbage sorting is one of the first things that trips up new arrivals — and Karuizawa's rules are stricter than many places, with designated bags, glass sorted by colour, and a morning-only put-out window to keep bears away. Here's how to get it right.
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Buying Property in Karuizawa: A Primer for Foreigners
Foreigners can own property in Japan outright — no visa required. But Karuizawa has its own rules: strict landscape ordinances, leasehold villa land, and winter-readiness to check. Here's the process, the real costs, and what makes buying here different.
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National Health Insurance in Japan: How Enrollment Works (Karuizawa Guide)
If you're not covered through an employer, you'll join National Health Insurance — and it covers 70% of your medical costs. Here's who must enroll, how to sign up in Karuizawa, what you'll pay, and the cap that protects you from big bills.
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Converting Your Foreign Driver's License in Japan (Gaimen Kirikae)
If you plan to drive long-term in Japan, you'll eventually need to swap your foreign licence for a Japanese one through a process called gaimen kirikae (外免切替). Whether you face a driving test depends on your country — here's how the whole thing works.
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The My Number Card Explained for Foreigners (Karuizawa Guide)
Every resident of Japan — including foreigners — gets a My Number, and increasingly you'll want the physical My Number Card too. Here's the difference between the two, what the card does, and how to apply for it in Karuizawa.
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Your First Two Weeks in Karuizawa: A Foreigner's Checklist
The first two weeks set up everything that follows. There is one hard deadline — your address registration within 14 days — and once that is done the rest unlocks in a sensible order. Here is exactly what to do, week by week.
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How to Register Your Address in Japan (転入届), Step by Step
Registering your address (転入届) at the town hall is the procedure that unlocks almost everything else — health insurance, My Number, a bank account. Here's exactly when to do it, what to bring, and how the steps differ depending on where you moved from.
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Opening a Bank Account in Japan as a Foreigner: A Karuizawa Guide
A Japanese bank account is needed for rent, salary, and bills — but opening one as a newcomer can be tricky. Here's which banks to try near Karuizawa, what to bring, and how to get past the common hurdles.
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Renting a House in Karuizawa as a Foreigner
Renting in a mountain resort town works a little differently. Here's how the Japanese rental process works, what it costs upfront, and what foreign renters should watch for in Karuizawa.
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A Guide to Karuizawa Town Hall (軽井沢町役場) for Foreign Residents
Karuizawa Town Hall is where most of your essential paperwork happens. This deep-dive covers each counter you'll visit, what to bring, and how to avoid a wasted trip.
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Moving to Karuizawa: A Foreigner's Guide
Karuizawa, in Nagano Prefecture, is an increasingly popular place for international residents to settle. Here is what to expect when you arrive — and how to handle each step in English and Japanese.
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