Karuizawa T-SITE, a new facility jointly developed by Mitsubishi Estate, Aquaignis, Culture Convenience Club, and others, will be directly connected to Karuizawa Station and will have its grand opening in March 2026. It is a "gateway that piques your curiosity," with around 16 establishments offering dining, shopping, hot springs, accommodation, and more, allowing you to experience the charms of Shinshu.

Perspective Image/Courtesy of KARUIZAWA T-SITE

Directly connected to the station, the revitalization of the old railway tracks opens up "the beginning of a journey"
This project will utilize the former Shinetsu Main Line tracks, which were closed when the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened, and will be developed in a location directly connected to the Karuizawa Station free passage. Mitsubishi Estate is responsible for the development, and Aqua Ignis and Culture Convenience Club will operate the facility, working in partnership with the local community to contribute to promoting the appeal of Shinshu as a whole. The concept is "a gateway that communicates the essence of Shinshu, allows visitors to experience it, and stimulates their curiosity." It is conceived as a gateway to travel, seamlessly connecting the town with nature, and the local culture with visitors.

Courtesy of KARUIZAWA T-SITE

An experience designed to intersect with "eating," "spending time," and "relaxing."
Karuizawa T-SITE is centered around three axes: "eating," "spending time," and "relaxing." First, the "Eat" section offers a variety of unique restaurants, including dishes that utilize local ingredients and the Shinshu climate, as well as popular sweets. Renowned restaurants, including the renowned Ebisu restaurant "Sushiya Ono," the yakitori restaurant "Torimachi," chef Masahiro Kasahara's "Sanpiroron," and chef Hironobu Tsujiguchi's "Le Chocolat de H," are opening their first locations in Karuizawa. Experience a new "Shinshu culinary experience" that stimulates both the taste buds and the senses. Next, the "Spend" section offers time to quietly clear your mind and deepen your thoughts during your travels. The first of its kind in Nagano Prefecture, "SHARE LOUNGE" combines a café and workspace in a luxurious space where you can feel the breath of nature. It serves as a place to escape from everyday life and satisfy your intellectual curiosity. Finally, the "Relax" section offers a retreat-like experience to unwind and unwind your mind and body. The hot spring resort complex "AQUAIGNIS" will make its first foray into the Koshinetsu region, featuring spacious open-air baths and outdoor saunas. Additionally, the nine-room hotel "HACIENDA KARUIZAWA," designed by The Conran Shop, features different furniture and designs in each guest room, creating a space where guests can discover something new with every stay.

The combination of these three experiences makes "Karuizawa T-SITE" more than just a commercial facility; it is a "cultural space to stay in" where visitors can renew their senses.

Perspective Image/Courtesy of KARUIZAWA T-SITE

Store Opening Plan and Scale
Approximately 16 stores will be opening in the facility, offering an integrated range of dining, retail, hot spring bathing, and accommodation. The lineup will bring together a diverse range of genres, including Starbucks, SHOZO COFFEE STORE KARUIZAWA, Chateau Mercian Wine Shop Karuizawa, OSOBAR STATION, Smokemanship, aVin stand Karuizawa, I'm donut? (opening for the first time in the Koshinetsu region), and Waza Mart. Combining station waiting and information dissemination functions, the facility aims to become a hub connecting the town of Karuizawa with nature, as a new "starting point for journeys."

Perspective image / Courtesy of KARUIZAWA T-SITE

Design supervision and facility specifications
Design supervision was provided by Conran Shop Japan Co., Ltd. The facility consists of six steel-framed buildings, each with one or two stories (some with three stories), with a total floor area of approximately 5,400 m² and a site area of approximately 13,000 m². Construction began in March 2024, with completion scheduled for late January 2026, and a grand opening planned for March of the same year. The project is not only noteworthy for its architectural scale, but also for the ongoing "landscape renewal" centered around the revitalization of the former railway tracks.


Karuizawa T-SITE will be born as an "intellectual crossroads" connecting nature and city, travel and everyday life, and the local area and the world. With the wind and culture of Shinshu as a backdrop, spending time here will be a new experience—this "future of travel" is quietly about to begin at the north exit of Karuizawa Station.