Kita-Karuizawa Family Hotels: Highland Stays Next to Toy Kingdom

When you're searching for a family hotel in Karuizawa, its popularity can work against you — everywhere seems booked solid in peak season, and hotels truly geared toward children can be surprisingly hard to find. That's exactly when it's worth considering Kita-Karuizawa, a short drive out from the center of Karuizawa.

Kita-Karuizawa is a highland area at roughly 1,000 meters above sea level at the foot of Mt. Asama, staying pleasantly cool even in summer — an ideal spot for a family escaping the heat. Its biggest strength is that Karuizawa Toy Kingdom, a theme park where kids can play all day, is right nearby. It has indoor facilities too, so families appreciate that the weather doesn't get in the way of the fun.

Looking at facilities for kids, among the Kita-Karuizawa hotels featured on this site, three have an indoor play area and two have an outdoor play area where children can run around. Some hotels also have an indoor heated pool with a slide and a kids' jacuzzi, so you can enjoy water play even on a rainy or intensely sunny day. Some hotels are also close to places for winter snow play, adding to the appeal of visiting across different seasons.

There are good facilities for families with babies, too. 1 hotels are certified Welcome Baby properties, evaluated for how well they support families raising children, and two offer crib rental; some hotels also offer baby bathtub or stroller rental, baby-food service, toddler menus, or food-allergy accommodations. Two hotels have a communal onsen bath and four have rooms with their own open-air bath, so you can enjoy bath time without worry even with a young child who isn't quite ready for the communal bath yet.

There are also whole-building cottage rentals with kitchens, well suited to families who want to cook their own meals and take it easy. From large resorts to homey pensions to whole-building rentals, this is an area where you can choose a hotel to match your family's style.