A Message About This Residence 

For Those Looking for a Vacation Home or Residence in Karuizawa

Mitsuru Yamada, Shirakabadai 66-2

Introduction

Hello. My name is Mitsuru Yamada, and I live in Shirakabadai. In 2009, I built this residence as a vacation home and, while working as a university professor, traveled between Tokyo and Karuizawa every week. After retiring from the university, my wife and I made it our permanent home and have spent many truly happy years surrounded by Karuizawa's rich natural beauty. Now, considering our age, we have decided to move to Tokyo this autumn and to pass on the home we have cherished.

For details of the property, please contact one of the real estate companies handling the sale.

 As someone who has actually lived here, however, I wanted to share in my own words what makes this residence and Shirakabadai so special. I hope this message will be helpful to those looking for a year-round vacation home or permanent residence in Karuizawa.

1. A Quiet Residential Setting Surrounded by Rich Nature

Shirakabadai is a remarkably quiet villa community where much of the natural environment remains untouched, while lying just across the bypass from prestigious villa areas such as Minamigaoka and Minamihara.

• An exceptionally rich variety of wild birds can be seen here, reflecting the abundance of the natural environment.

• To the south, the natural woodland on the neighboring property forms a beautiful borrowed landscape, offering changing scenery through all four seasons.

• In winter, sunlight streams in, with views of the Happu mountain skyline and beautiful sunsets.

• In summer, the house is surrounded by greenery, with cool breezes and the refreshing atmosphere of the forest.

• Beside the entrance stands an impressive multi-trunk zelkova tree, approximately 4 meters in circumference, serving as a symbolic tree of the property.

It is a peaceful setting where the nature of Karuizawa can be experienced throughout the year.

2. Designed for Year-Round Use and Permanent Living 

I commissioned an architect to design this residence around the concept of living comfortably while enjoying the natural beauty of Karuizawa.

Main Features

• Spacious living room with an authentic European-style fireplace

• Heated flooring, a wood-burning stove, and air conditioning for warmth and comfort during winter

• An expansive wood deck that creates a close connection with nature

• Approximately 70 tsubo (about 231 m²) of gardens, including a Japanese garden and a rose garden

• Vehicle access directly to the front entrance, with parking for up to six cars

• Double-glazed windows throughout to help maintain heating efficiency even during severe winter cold.

The residence offers the comfort and performance required not only for use as a vacation home but also for permanent, year-round living.

3. A Highly Convenient Location

Despite its rich natural surroundings, the property also offers excellent convenience for everyday life.

Approximate Distances to Major Facilities

• Karuizawa Station: approx. 4.1 km (about 9 minutes by car)

• Naka-Karuizawa Station: approx. 4.0 km (about 8 minutes by car)

• Town Hall / Hospital: approx. 3.2 km (about 7 minutes by car)

• Tsuruya Supermarket / Shopping Area: approx. 2.2 km (about 5 minutes by car)

• Karuizawa Kazakoshi Gakuen: approx. 1.5 km (about 19 minutes on foot)

Local back roads provide convenient access to Karuizawa Station and the expressway interchange while avoiding the main traffic routes.

This convenient access to the Usui-Karuizawa Interchange is a significant advantage, particularly during holiday periods and the busy summer season.

Karuizawa Kazakoshi Gakuen is within walking distance, reducing the need for daily transportation by car.

Shirakabadai is conveniently located for access to destinations throughout Karuizawa.

Golf, Sports and Hot Springs Close at Hand

Karuizawa offers a wide variety of sports and leisure activities throughout the year amid beautiful natural surroundings. There are numerous golf courses in the town, and Karuizawa 72 Golf North Course is particularly close to the residence—approximately 1.8 km away, or about five minutes by car.

From spring through autumn, residents can enjoy golf and tennis, while winter offers skiing, skating, and curling. Karuizawa is also home to several hot springs.

Shirakabadai offers convenient access by car to many parts of Karuizawa, and the ease of reaching golf courses, sports facilities, and hot springs is another major attraction of living here.

4. Features for Enjoying the Karuizawa Lifestyle

To realize my dream of enjoying a creative life in the forest, I incorporated a variety of special features into the residence.

■ Expansive 46-Tatami Wood Deck

• Enjoy breakfast or tea outdoors in a setting that serves as an open-air living room.

• An ideal place for stargazing and watching meteor showers.

• Also well suited to barbecues and gatherings with family and friends.

■ Smokehouse

• A full-scale smoking facility capable of both hot and cold smoking.

• Homemade smoked cheese and many other smoked foods can be prepared here.

■ Japanese Garden with a Kakehi Bamboo Water Feature

• A tranquil moss garden with carefully pruned, bonsai-inspired trees, evoking the atmosphere 

of a traditional roji, or tea garden.

• The sound of flowing water creates a soothing atmosphere.

• The garden can also be enjoyed from the bathroom.

■ Bird Feeder

• Japanese squirrels and many species of wild birds visit the garden.

• Birdwatching can be enjoyed from inside the residence.

■ Open-Ceiling Music Room

• Designed to accommodate a Steinway grand piano and a harpsichord.

• A special music space where the forest and moonlight can be enjoyed through the skylight.

■ European-Style Fireplace and Wood-Burning Stove

• An English-style mantelpiece adds character to the living room.

• In winter, a separately installed wood-burning stove keeps the residence comfortably warm.

■ Electrically Operated Elevating Horigotatsu

• The Japanese room can be transformed to evoke the atmosphere of a traditional Japanese inn.

• In winter, one can enjoy a drink while looking out over the snow-covered Japanese garden.

■ Basement and Loft Storage

• Four basement rooms with a ceiling height of approximately 190 cm and two entrances leading to the garden.

• One room serves as a pantry and can be reached directly from the kitchen by stairs.

• Together with the loft, these spaces provide extensive storage capacity.

This is a home where the pleasure of living in harmony with Karuizawa's natural surroundings can truly be experienced.

5. The Appeal and Community of Shirakabadai

Shirakabadai is a self-managed residential and vacation-home community with a well-established management system.

• Reasonable fees: ¥50,000 initial membership fee and ¥30,000 annual fee

• Year-round services include waste management, road maintenance, snow removal, tree management, and patrols.

• Community activities are another distinctive feature of Shirakabadai. In May, the residents’ association　holds an outdoor gathering where residents enjoy a barbecue and drinks together. The annual general　meeting is held in August, followed by a buffet-style reception and occasional musical performances.

Residents also organize friendly golf tournaments. These events provide enjoyable opportunities for　neighbors to get to know one another.

• A calm and pleasant community atmosphere.

Shirakabadai offers both tranquility and a valued sense of connection among residents.

6. About My Book, “別創ライフのススメ — Encouraging Creative Life in Nature”

I have left copies of my book, “別創ライフのススメ — Encouraging Creative Life in Nature,” with the real estate companies handling the sale. It tells the story of how my long-held admiration for life in Karuizawa led me to discover this land in Shirakabadai, build my ideal vacation home, and eventually make it my permanent residence.

It is also a family history that describes the appeal of life in Karuizawa, the realities of living in the forest, and my thoughts on creating a vacation home.

I have asked the real estate companies to make a copy available to anyone who is interested, and I hope you will enjoy reading it.

I believe it will provide a deeper understanding of the ideas and aspirations behind this residence and of the kind of life that can be enjoyed here.

7. In Closing

For many years, I admired Karuizawa and dreamed of creating a fulfilling and creative life in the forest. It was with that dream that I built this residence.

Since its completion, this home has fulfilled that dream in every way.

It is my sincere hope that, for its next owner as well, this home will become a special place

that enriches life for many years to come.

If this property has captured your interest, I warmly invite you to come and see it in person.

I look forward to the opportunity of making your acquaintance.

Mitsuru Yamada
Resident of Shirakabadai, Karuizawa