JAPANTODAY’S PREMIER ENGLISH DIGITAL WEEKLY MAGAZINE
ENTERTAINMENT SUMMER FESTIVALS
TRAVEL
WALKING ON FIRE
BUSINESS
THE GRINBERG METHOD THE JAPANESE PENSION SYSTEM
EDUCATION
THE SCHOOL OF ROCK
LIFESTYLE
TRUE TASTE TOKYO REAL ESTATE JAPAN
ISSUE 01 / VOLUME 01 / AUGUST 2012
INSIGHT: WELCOME
WEL COME
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INSIGHT: WELCOME
Japan Today, Japan’s leading English news site, now goes
beyond the realm of news to bring you articles, interviews and Japan real business pages in a NEW clean and easy to navigate section called INSIGHT.
For businesses, we have opened our digital doors to Japan,
enabling them to directly communicate with the community and showcase their business or service.
For readers, INSIGHT is a ‘one-stop-shop’ destination for news, a guide on what’s happening in Japan, a constantly
updated guide for schools, restaurants, hotels and the business community in Japan.
To top it all off, INSIGHT is also Japan’s first digital English
weekly magazine, an essential information source for anyone
living in or visiting Japan, covering the areas of entertainment, travel, business, lifestyle, restaurants and dining, as well as families and schools.
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Editor in Chief Chris Betros Art Direction/Design Thong Van Contributors Vicki L. Beyer
Karen Carmeli
Select Asset Management Ken Takagi
Dan O’Brien
Lauren Shannon Account Managers Kieron Cashell Peter Lackner
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www.gplusmedia.com insight.japantoday.com
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SECTION TRAVEL INSIGHT: NAME
MT. TAKAO. A FUN DAY TRIP FROM TOKYO. AUTHOR | VICKI L. BEYER PHOTOGRAPHY | JEFF LAITILA
Fancy a day trip out of Tokyo to commune with nature? Consider a visit to Mt Takao, on the far western edge of the Tokyo Metropolitan District. Elevation 599 meters, Mt Takao has been regarded as a sacred mountain for over a thousand years. These days it’s both a popular hiking spot and a religious destination.
The peak, often a couple of degrees
cooler than the foot of the mountain (especially welcome in the summer
months!), affords amazing views of the
city as well as westward. Needless to say, the views are best in the winter months, when the air is drier and clearer.
You can hike to the top on one of half a dozen trails, or take a cable car or a chairlift most of the way, so that you
only have about a 30-minute walk to the summit.
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INSIGHT: TRAVEL
The trails are well groomed and well sign
the mountain itself. From either station on
“octopus cedar” because of the way its
fauna to watch for along the way. None
you past a monkey park, along centuries’
is only the first of several massive cedar
posted, including signs of the flora and of the trails are particularly long — the
ascent can usually be completed in one to two hours. My personal favorite of
the trails is #6, which takes you past the Biwa Waterfall, where ascetic Buddhists
worship while sitting under the falls. You
can observe this rite on the first Saturday of every month, as well as on the 18th
and 28th of the month. Alas, this is also
one of the steeper trails to the top of the mountain.
The Inariyama Trail is one of the most scenic, especially when the lilies and
hydrangeas are in bloom in June and July, although it can be slippery and so might
be better for the ascent than the descent. Trail #1 is paved the entire distance, and is better for descending than ascending. If you come out here just to look and
don’t feel like exerting yourself, take the cable car or the chairlift rather than one
of the trails. The stations for the two are only a short distance from each other,
both at the foot of the mountain and on
the mountain, the walk to the peak takes old cedar trees and through the grounds
of Yakuo-in, before making a last push to the peak.
Just above the cable car station is “Beer Mount,” a restaurant/beer garden with
an expansive outdoor seating area and a
particularly fine view. During the summer months, the beer garden stays open until 9 p.m. and has an all-you-can-eat-and-
roots about grown around the rocks. This trees you pass as you proceed along
the trail to Yakuo-in. Shortly after the
octopus cedar, the trail splits. The left-
hand trail (male trail) is steeper with lots
of stairs, the right-hand trail (female trail) is a longer but more gradual ascent. They both lead to the same place.
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drink buffet.
Just above the cable car station is “Beer Mount,” a restaurant/beer garden with
an expansive outdoor seating area and a
particularly fine view. During the summer months, the beer garden stays open until 9 p.m. and has an all-you-can-eat-anddrink buffet.
The monkey park sits together with a
botanical garden featuring native plans of the area and is worth a little time if you want to imagine yourself a naturalist. Just beyond the monkey park is a
450-year-old cedar tree known as the 5
INSIGHT: TRAVEL Yakuo-in, founded in the 8th century, is dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, the
Buddha of medicine and healing. It is a large complex of several temples — and their guardian shrines —
and is always busy with worshipers undertaking various activities to
secure good health and long life. As with many mountain temples
where asceticism is practiced, Tengu
features heavily. Tengu is a Pinocchionosed and mischievous mountain
creature who can also be a guardian of
humanity when he chooses to be. Some say he is a messenger of the gods.
Once you’ve reached the summit, there’s usually a vendor selling beer and other
refreshments. You can go back down the
way you came, or on another of the trails. Trail #4 is particular fun for the return
to the cable car/chair lift stations, as it
takes you across a suspension bridge. Or, if you’re feeling energetic, from the peak continue on an 18 kilometer adventure to Mt Jimba. The trail is marked.
01 Visitors burn incense at the incense burners before entering the shrine. The smoke is believed to have special healing properties for various bodily aches and pains.
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02 Take the cable car if you’re not in the mood for a hike.
INSIGHT: TRAVEL
Mt. Takao is a fun day trip from Tokyo any time of the year (except perhaps in the rain). Spring, with its budding green and flowers, and autumn, with the colors of the changing leaves, are especially good seasons. There are a number of interesting annual events too, although they also usually attract large crowds. The fire-walking festival held at the foot of the mountain on the second Sunday of
March is particularly amazing to experience. Also connected to Buddhist asceticism,
it begins with religious rites and a bonfire as big as a house and once the bonfire has
burned down to coals, the worshippers commence their chant and cross the coals. After that, it’s audience participation time — everyone peels off their shoes and socks and
lines up to make the crossing. Don’t worry, if you’re toward the back on the line, you’re only walking over stone cold ashes.
Mt Takao is easy to reach and therefore
Takao Trick Art Museum. Then have
according to one source). Take the Keio
charged climb to the summit.
very popular (2.5 million visitors a year, line express train from Shinjuku to Takaosan Guchi station, the end of the line. Or, take the JR Chuo line from Shinjuku to
Takao Station and then change to the Keio line one more stop to Takao-san Guchi station. On the express, the trip is less
than an hour. From Takao-san Guchi, it’s only about a 5 minute walk to the cable car, the chair lift and the trail heads.
A couple of other activities to think about doing while you’re in the area – try a
lunch of soba noodles and ground yam, the local specialty. For something really different, cross the highway in front of
the station and visit the Takao Trick Art Museum, chock full of optical illusions. If you’re determined to have a full day
a soba lunch and make your carbExplore thoroughly (including an
electrolyte-replacing beer), returning to the foot of the mountain by late
afternoon. (Remember, the last chair lift is 4 p.m. or 4:30, depending on
the season, and the last cable car is
between 5:30 and 6:30, depending on the season and the day of the week — extended hours on weekends.) Then, for a very special dinner treat, catch
the free shuttle bus to Ukai Toriyama, a restaurant made up of traditional-
looking farmhouses situated around a
stream and carp ponds, which features
03 Visitors brave the hot coal and ash in bare feet after the ritual.
charcoal braziers at your table where you can grill beef or chicken, complemented by soup, vegetables and rice.
(after all, you’ve gone all that way),
try this route: Plan to arrive in mid-
morning and start your visit with the
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INSIGHT: BUSINESS
WHICH WAY AFTER AIJ? AUTHOR | SELECT ASSET MANAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY | XXXXX
Making sense of the Japanese Pension system. With an aging population, a decreasing birth rate, and the baby-boomer generation about to retire,
you’re sure to have some idea of the depth of the AIJ scandal involving the loss of pension funds for some 880,000 Japanese. Just how did something like this happen and what will it mean for these pensioners? This article will simplify the background of the Japanese pension system and explain how mismanaged funds could produce disastrous results for retirees expecting to live on their pensions. The Japanese pension system is
comprised of both a national pension insurance (kokumin nenkin) and an
employees’ pension insurance (kosei
nenkin). To briefly explain them both:
National pension system All residents of Japan (between the ages 20-60) are required to pay into the
national pension scheme. This includes
foreign residents. The aim of the national pension is to provide a basic pension to all residents, falling into 3 categories.
Disabled – paid under certain conditions when a pensioner becomes disabled.
Bereaved – paid to pensioner’s wife and/ or children should the pensioner die. Elderly – paid, in principal, when the
organization administered by the
In an ideal situation, the funds will
Welfare (which replaced the Social
fail to happen for whatever reason, the
pensioner reaches 65 years old.
Department of Health, Labor and
Employees’ pension system
Insurance Agency in 2010). Companies
This pension system is mainly for those
who are employed by private companies. Pension premiums are deducted from
his/her salary. When one is enrolled in the employee pension system, he/she
is automatically enrolled in the national pension system as well. As such, he/
she would be entitled to higher pension payments in the future.
Pension payments are made by the company and the employee to the
Japan Pension Service, a government
are permitted to borrow some of the
employee contributions to expand their business through investments, with the
intention of returning the borrowed funds to the Pension Service so the employees can draw from their pensions in the
return a profit. However, should that
companies would find themselves in dire straits to return the borrowed money to
the Pension Service. The repercussions go far beyond that, however.
→
future. The borrowed money, combined with the company contributions, can
then be invested with a fund manager. To increase possible returns, small
businesses often join a co-operative, pooling their funds with other small
businesses to increase their investment. 9
INSIGHT: BUSINESS
Consider this chain of events • The companies cannot repay the Pension Service for the borrowed funds.
• The companies are responsible for repaying what was borrowed using their own funds.
This is precisely what happened in the
and lack the professional experience
Asakawa invested the funds from more
According to a survey by the ministry,
case of AIJ. Asset manager Kazuhiko than 90 corporate pension funds,
representing approximately 880,000
people and because of poor performance, the funds were lost – to the tune of 109.2 billion yen ($1.32 billion US).
• The companies are in danger of
What’s worse is that Asakawa covered
to make the payments.
from 2002-2011, producing falsified
bankruptcy because they can’t afford • Upon bankruptcy, the company can write off their contributions, which
means that employees may be able
to collect some of their pension, but not all.
What about the responsibility of the cooperatives? They shoulder quite a burden. • The responsibility to repay the
Pension Service is spread across the entire co-operative.
• Should a member of the co-
operative be unable to make payments and therefore declare bankruptcy, the burden is then shifted to the
remaining members, making it more likely that they too, will be unable to
shoulder the burden, and end up filing bankruptcy themselves.
up the losses for almost 9 years,
investment reports inflating AIJ’s asset
size and investment results. Also under
80 percent of corporate pension funds have no one with experience in asset management. What is surprising to
learn is that these managers are often
former employees of the Social Insurance Agency – the government agency that
was responsible for overseeing national
pension policy before it was abolished in 2010 and replaced by the Japan Pension Service.
investigation is ITM Securities, Co., a
The Japanese Ministry of Health estimates
sold AIJ’s services. Though it is unclear
by 25% from 127.8 million in 2005 to
small Tokyo brokerage that promoted and whether or not ITM was aware of AIJ’s
fraudulent activity, ITM’s founder, Hideaki Nishimura, has denied having any prior knowledge.
As of this month, the Securities and
the nation’s total population will decrease 95.2 million by 2050. Japan’s elderly
population, aged 65 or older, comprised 20% of the nation’s population in June 2006, a percentage that is forecast to increase to 38% by 2055.
Exchange Surveillance Commission (SESC)
Whether or not any new regulations can
of the 209 billion yen in net assets that
billion Yen question, however for those
has only been able to locate 8.9 billion
Asakawa reported to have. Results of this
have been almost immediate, with several smaller companies facing bankruptcy
and others being forced to dissolve their employee pension funds.
So what can be done to prevent this kind of disaster from happening in
the future? Ideas being tossed around
include limiting risky investments and,
according to the Health Ministry, limiting
the percentage of a pension fund’s assets invested with any one manager. It is no secret that many mid- to small-sized
Japanese pension funds are handled by fund managers who are both unskilled
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necessary to manage pension funds.
repair Japan’s pension system is the
880,000 employees directly affected by
the AIJ scandal, these regulations will be too little, too late.
INSIGHT: BUSINESS
KAREN CARMELI & THE GRINBERG METHOD Life in Japan is very exciting — totally different from Western culture and lifestyle, but despite the fascination the country holds for many foreign women, they can easily
find themselves too busy, stressed, or lonely as they deal with frustrating situations. Quieting the mind and harmonizing the body can make it easier to handle such
situations that daily life brings. There is no need to avoid fear and pain (especially
during earthquakes!) but through The Grinberg Method, it is possible to learn how to
live with such emotions and allow energy to flow through our bodies, thereby creating a vital and exciting yet healthy life.
What is The Grinberg Method? The Grinberg Method is the ultimate in holistic therapies — it helps cure chronic pain,
heavy scarring, and deep wounds. It teaches people how to allow the body’s energy to heal itself and to have a greater movement of freedom and expression. It’s a unique
therapy for a deep relaxation of the muscles and for stopping the muscles’ pain. This is a special healing Method that combines specific breathing instructions to allow a new and fresh energy to flow over the body.
Origins of The Grinberg Method This Method was started by Avi Grinberg, a male nurse, reflexologist, and healer who learned different kinds of healing treatments and therapies and still
today, teaches and works with people
throughout Europe. After many years of healing people, he realized that people
themselves could learn how to stop their pain. Avi Grinberg discovered that the
was 12 years old. She started to receive
weekly sessions of The Grinberg Method,
KAREN CARMELI Therapist and practitioner of the Grinberg Method in Japan
and realized how she created the migraine because of stress, fear, and frustration. She has learned how to stop repetitive
behavior and stop the pain by herself and now lives with much more energy — even
during busy days and stressful situations.
Karen’s sessions
body contains lots of energy and has
Each person is different so each treatment
During this process clients learn how
allowed to flow freely in our bodies, we
of the hour-long session Karen watches
freedom, strength, and flexibility; how
much more vitality in our life.
Through her observations, she identifies
Karen Carmeli and The Grinberg Method in Japan
pain caused by exertion, fatigue, and a
the ability to heal itself. Once energy is
is highly individualized. At the beginning
can achieve clarity, tranquility, yet also
the sole of the foot and asks questions.
There are Grinberg Method schools and practitioner centres in England, France,
Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, and Spain, and just one practitioner in Japan — Karen Carmeli. Karen was born in Tel Aviv, and suffered migraines since she
tension and weak points, looking for
cumulative lack of attention in the body. She then touches the most painful part
of the body, to heal the pain and address
any repetitive behavior patterns. Through
to allow the body to move with greater to handle stress; how to allow different sensations in the body to recognize
and stop repetitive behaviors; and how to minimize the gap between how one
would like life to be and how it actually is.
Through this, Karen teaches the body how to achieve greater health and well being.
this specific touch technique, clients can
immediately allow the body to use its own energy in order to heal itself.
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INSIGHT: FAMILIES AND EDUCATION
THE SCHOOL OF ROCK LiVEJAM Music School provides more than just an outlet for Tokyo’s teenagers.
Founder Ken Takagi, himself the father of two
A lot of schools in Tokyo (be they
Takagi studied music himself, but instead chose
programs, many have extra curricular
Japan. While in the US he came across many “School
ensembles to give students a chance to play,
sons, but all of the students here in Japan could
really what the kids want? How many times
LiVEJAM was born.
teenagers, founded LiVEJAM with the view of giving his sons a place to practice and perform away from the school setting, in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
international or Japanese) have good music
a career in finance. Spending 20 years outside of
orchestra, brass, string and even modern
of Rock’ institutions, and realized not only his
improve and express themselves. But are they
benefit from this kind of school, and just like that -
have your kids taken up an instrument only for their enthusiasm to fade away?
A few stops from Shibuya on the Denentoshi Line and two minutes from Gakugei Daigaku station is ‘LiVEJAM’ Music School, who’s
mission is, ‘to provide an education vehicle
through music for teenagers that will foster creative inspiration and cross cultural communication.’
Most students start off at the school taking oneon-one lessons, but as they get more confident and
get to know the other students, are encouraged to start up their own band.
The school organizes concerts every 3-4 months to give the students and their bands a goal to work towards: A chance to perform publicly.
“This has been the real key to success. The concerts (JAMOUT’S) are real, the students can experience
what it feels like to practice and work on their music, and the reward of giving a great show.
The teachers at the school are not only great musicians in their own right,
but have been specially selected, Takagi explains: “Because of their potential to become what we view as good ‘Big brothers’ and ‘big sisters,’ even good mentors for the students.”
We also commit to transparent communication with the parents, and hope that we may even play a small part in facilitating the ‘parent-teenager gap’ where we can”.
Rates at the school vary based on length and intensity of the lessons. trial
lessons are available, and for kids who don’t need lessons- they can go and KEN TAKAGI (Founder/Director) LiVEJAM Music School
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practice or use all the facilities anytime with their band for as little as 8,000 yen per month.
Did you know... Teens who are more social online are more social offline?
INSIGHT: FAMILIES AND EDUCATION
SOCIAL TEENS That’s right, no more envisioning the ultraconnected teen sitting
home to iChat on a Saturday night.
The more friends a teen has online,
the more likely they are to socialize and go to parties in real life.
The social media diet is heavy
though, recent studies show how connected our teens really are:
97%
Spend over two hours a
95%
Update their status at
88%
Send more than 3,000
day on social media sites least once a day texts a month
Most Popular Teen Social Sites 1. Facebook
6. Orkut
3. BEBO
8. Zorpia
2. Myspace
4. Friendster 5. hi 5
7. Perfspot 9. Netlog
10. HABBO
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INSIGHT: TRUE TASTE TOKYO
TRUE TASTE TOKYO VOL.1 AUTHOR: LAUREN SHANNON
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INSIGHT: TRUE TASTE TOKYO
Imagine a hot summer day - the kind of day when you take a shower in the morning - head outside and 5 minutes later, you cannot remember if you took that shower or not. Humid is just not strong enough a word. You with me? OK, good. Now close your eyes and try to think what alcoholic drink you need this second - Yup! Beer. It’s just that simple. We are kicking off our first piece for the
friends. It comes to us from the importer
Or you can order directly from Ezo Beer
what everyone needs right now- a GREAT
beers.
two sent to your home!
new True Taste Tokyo- at Insight with summer beer recommendation.
I fought it for years- this feeling that in Japan that wine was for fall, winter and spring but only beer worked in the hot
steamy summer. From July to September, statisticians say that beer consumption here in Japan increases by a factor of 5
and wine consumption similarly decreases to a trickle. I am mostly a wine drinker
but as the summers come and go, I can see the point.
Since I am a wine person - I am looking for a bit more pizazz in my brew.
Something more interesting than Asahi Super Dry. Lucky for me - craft beer
and brew master Phred Kaufmann at EZO It is time to finally reveal this magical
brew… “Lost Coast Tangerine Wheat.” From Eureka, California.
complex.
www.renosbistro.com
According to the marketing people “A refreshing citrus ale, Lost Coast
Tangerine Wheat combines Lost Coast Harvest Wheat with natural tangerine
flavors. Brewed with a combination of
wheat and crystal malts, and finished with Perle hops.”
choices are increasing at the speed of the
all-natural!
interesting beer choice was Heineken.
Now you can find it all, American micro brews, classic Belgian beers, German
beers, and yes, even a good group of
Japanese microbrews. Thank goodness! Today we are featuring a must try for the summer heat. This beer just feels like a
summer day and tastes like a picnic with
Reno’s Bistro Higashikurume-shi, Tokyo, Japan
tasting hops. Totally refreshing and yet
Oiishi – delicious - and you can even feel
shinkansen - Gone are the days when an
Cheers!
Fruity but not too fruity, light, wheat-field
fans are finally getting a foothold in the brewing and import markets here. So
(www.ezo-beer.com) and get a case or
Tel: 042-410-3949 Beer & Wine Cafe 65 Tel: 03-6450-4665 www.otsuka65.com
Kimono Wine and Grill 1-15-28 Minami Aoayama, Nogizaka Station, Exit 3
5 minutes from Tokyo Midtown www.kimonowinebar.com
good about those orange flavors being
This one is not a beer for folks who like a heavier wheat beer- or for folks who
LAUREN SHANNON Food critique and restaurant owner.
want a BIG fruit taste in a fruit beer - but
if you are looking for something new and refreshing for summer, I can’t think of a better more refreshing brew.
If you want to try it out in Tokyo, you
can enjoy a bottle or two at the following restaurants and bars.
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SECTION NAME INSIGHT: ENTERTAINMENT
MATSURI: JAPAN’S S One of the highlights of living or visiting Japan is the Summer Matsuri Festivals. Steeped with Japanese culture and tradition, it is estimated that over 10,000 Matsuri take place every year. Check out some of the most popular we think you’d enjoy. Aomori Nebuta Festival
Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival
www.nebuta.or.jp
www.jinguhanabi.com
Time: 19:00 - 20:30
Time: 19:30 - 20:30
Date: August 2 (Thu)-7 (Tue), 2012
Date: August 10 (Fri), 2012
Asakusa Samba Carnival
Kanto Matsuri
www.asakusa-samba.jp
www.kantou.gr.jp
Time: 13:30 - 18:00
Time: 18:15 - 20:35
Date: August 25 (Sat), 2012
Date: August 3 (Fri)-6 (Mon), 2012
Azabu Juban International Street festival
Koenji Awa Odori
www.azabujuban.or.jp
Date: August 25 (Sat)-26 (Sun), 2012
Date: August 25 (Sat)-26 (Sun), 2012 Time: 14:00 - 21:30
Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi www.summersonic.com
Date: August 25 (Sat)-26 (Sun), 2012 Time: Throughout the day
www.koenji-awaodori.com/ Time: 17:00 - 20:00
Summer Sonic Festival www.summersonic.com
Date: August 18 (Sat)-19 (Sun), 2012 Time: Throughout the day
Tamagawa Hanabi (Setagaya, Tokyo) www.tamagawa-hanabi.com Date: August 18 (Sat), 2012 Time: 19:00 - 20:00
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INSIGHT: ENTERTAINMENT
SUMMER FESTIVALS Tokushima Awa Odori Festival www.nebuta.or.jp
Date: August 12 (Sun)-15 (Wed), 2012 Time: Throughout the day
Tokyo Bay Fireworks www.city.chuo.lg.jp
Date: August 11 (Sat), 2012 Time: 19:00 - 20:20
For more information about events
and other festivals around Japan this
Summer, visit the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) website. → www.jnto.go.jp
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INSIGHT: REAL ESTATE
NAGANO
KARUIZAWA VILLA. KARUIZAWA VILLA G MAUKA
Location: Karuizawa, Nagano Layout: 3LDK Built: 2004
Land Area: 2491m²
Building Area: 328m²
Availability: March 29, 2012 Price: ¥250,000,000
The home was built by an architectural firm specializing in designer homes. Modern and sharp, the property has beautiful greenery all around, designed with large floorto-ceiling windows allowing residents to feel at one with the nature. The main feature of this property is the
AGENT: YUKIKO TAKANO
Japan Sotheby’s International Realty Tel: 03-5776-2600
wooden deck path that connects the main building to the guest building, the BBQ
area, and the hot spa area – all situated
amongst a vast 2,490 square meter plot of land.
The main building entrance has a gallery Sponsor
area, which is like walking in to a gallery. Also, this building was designed with
interior slopes so that you can get to the top floor without using any stairs.
Browse over 25,000+ more properties in Japan at www.realestate.co.jp
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Other features of this home are the
spacious guest building which has two
bedrooms itself, and an outdoor hot tub close to the bbq/outdoor dining space. The owner built the home as a family vacation home. They loved the
Karuizawa atmosphere and weather, and wanted to own something that would
be guest-friendly for hosting family and friend weekend gatherings.
It is not common to find many homes in Karuizawa that are in this price range, especially with such a great design
and less than 10 years old. Many of
the houses in the area are very old, as
Karuizawa was one of the first places in
INSIGHT: REAL ESTATE
Japan that became known as a “holiday”
this area is known for the
then has become one of the most famous
the autumn season.
resort area back in late 1800’s and since and prestigious places in Japan to have a holiday home. Even the Royal family vacations there every summer.
Within Karuizawa, this property is in the Sengataki area – which is known to be a
beautiful area. The community planning has been exceptional with so much
greenery, spacious streets, and large
sized property lots so that the homes are not overly dense. Thus, each home feels like it is surrounded by nature. Because
breathtaking foliage during Although this area is residential and
full of nature, it is just a short drive to
the shopping and restaurant areas that make Karuizawa so charming.
This property has been featured in
many property, design and architectural magazines in Japan, and was also
nominated for a Modern Living Award in 2006.
In terms of uniqueness, the wood deck path that connects the facilities is very
special, and gives the home a sense of
community. It is also very popular with
children, as they love to run around the deck from point to point.
of the large amount of trees in the area, 19