Regarding traffic congestion in Karuizawa

There are areas in Karuizawa that are congested depending on the season.

The two major congested areas in the town are near the Outlet (Prince Shopping Mall) and Super Tsuruya.
There are no back roads at these two locations. Please avoid times when traffic is likely to be congested.
Next is around No. 146 Harunire/Hoshi no area, and around Old Karuizawa/Ekimae Hondori.
If this traffic jam reaches the R18 or the bypass, the entire town will be in severe traffic jam.

If you are driving to Karuizawa, you can avoid the Usui Karuizawa Inter and get off at the Matsuida Taegi Inter, which is one stop before, and get off at the Saku Inter or Komoro Inter from the opposite direction if it is likely to be crowded. You can also use ETC from Sakudaira PA).
If you are using an outlet and there is traffic congestion around the outlet, it may be better not to go out by car. If it's bad, you'll have to wait several hours in the parking lot.
Another option is for the family to drop off the train nearby and the father to park in the parking lot at the north exit of the station.
If you don't have small children, you can walk to nearby pensions, and some pensions will also rent out bicycles. I think it would be a good idea to consult in advance.
We recommend that you shop at Super Tsuruya at different times.

Buses also no longer come on time. If it's bad, you may be out of the car. In Karuizawa, where is the Karuizawa bus? Where are the major Karuizawa buses currently running? You can view it on your smartphone, etc., but please act with plenty of time.
Taxis and locals' cars take back roads during heavy traffic.
Even though there is a car navigation system, you will have to take a bit of a detour on the back roads, but it is still okay.
I would like to explain in detail the information on the back roads, but there are some parts that are a little troublesome, and I'm afraid I'll get scolded by the Karuizawa townspeople, so I'll refrain from doing so.
Having said that, I would like to give a hint to the readers who have viewed this page! Avoid approaching crowded places and take a detour.
In other words, stay away from Outlet and Tsuruya. Also, in the east-west direction, R18 and R18 bypass are not used.
If you are north of the R18 old road, you can use the 1000M road, but the problem is how to clear the Hoshino area. In the south, it is common to use Shinkansen side roads.
If you are driving and are likely to encounter traffic jams, please consult with the pension owner.

Check out the traffic jam Live camera So you can get a rough idea.

Information transmission: 5 items

When there is traffic jam, please park your car at the Piman parking lot and walk or bike to the outlet! The large parking lot is also attractive! Bicycle rental shop “Nice One” 2 minutes walk! tel 0267-42-7616 Registration date: 2017/07/30/(Sun) 20:16 Close to the station, ski resorts, golf courses, tennis courts, outlet shops, etc. all within 5 minutes by car. A friendly bicycle rental shop "Nice One" is also a 2-minute walk away! The dazzling green lawn of the large garden and the interior of the hotel, which makes use of the wood grain, make the handmade quilts and accessories stand out. Country taste. The rooms are plain and not cute, but the relaxing atmosphere and smiling faces make it popular with families. Rental pajamas are available (200 yen) in case you have a sudden overnight stay and don't have your own. Bath towels, toothpaste, and towel sets are provided. There is shampoo conditioner, body soap in the bathroom, and a hair dryer in the washroom. The large parking lot is also attractive! You can use it even after check-in and check-out! ℡0267-42-7616 Pension information	Pension Lilac Karuizawa tel 0267-45-0188 Registration date: 2017/07/28/(Fri) 01:09 2017/07/20 For summer transportation, please use trains, bicycles, and free shuttle buses ☆ Karuizawa has finally entered its peak season. It feels like summer these days when I see the bustle of Super Tsuruya. Well, from now on, road congestion will become more intense. In times like these, please use a means of transportation other than a car. We'll show you how to use it! ★Shinano Railway★ Pension Lilac is about an 8-minute walk from Nakakaruizawa Station on the Shinano Railway. To go to the outlets and the Kyukaruizawa area, go to Karuizawa Station, which is 1 stop and 5 minutes away. It is said that if you go by car in this section, it can take up to 3 hours in extreme cases...(´Д｀) There is also a line of cars coming in and out of the outlet parking lot, so please be careful when using your car...(´Д ｀) ★Bicycle★ You can rent a bicycle at Lilac for 1,500 yen per day or 1,000 yen for half a day (4 hours). Lilac is located in the center of Karuizawa town, so you can cycle to Karuizawa Station, the Hoshino area, and Minami Karuizawa such as Taliesin♪ It's OK if you only cycle around Kyu Karuizawa and the outlet area! If so, please take the train to Karuizawa Station and use the bicycle rental shop in front of Karuizawa Station (^o^) ★Free shuttle bus to Hoshino area★ A free shuttle bus runs between Nakakaruizawa Station and the Hoshino area on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from July 15th to July 31st, and every day from August 1st to August 31st. Normally, it is a round-trip flight between Karuizawa Station and the Hoshino area, but during this period, the traffic is so heavy that it cannot run on time, so it will depart from Naka-Karuizawa Station. If you take the free shuttle bus from Nakakaruizawa Station, which is about an 8-minute walk from Pension Lilac, to the Hoshino area, 1) it's convenient even if you don't have a car, 2) you don't have to worry about parking, and 3) you can enjoy drinking with peace of mind! There are benefits such as Pension information
Karuizawa Stone Pension & Cottage tel 0267-45-4021 Registration date: 2017/02/28/(Tue) 18:29 This is a family-only inn where children are welcome. 10 minutes by car to Karuizawa Ginza and the outlet, 7 minutes by car to Harunire Terrace, 2 minutes by car to Lake Shiozawa and Karuizawa Taliesin, 1 minute by car (5 minutes walk) to the local supermarket Tsuruya, convenient for families. Location ♪ Will you teach me how to avoid congestion? I will do it (^^) The park-like garden and kids room are very popular with children! There are plenty of toys and picture books, so your kids will never get bored.We also have many Japanese-style rooms, all with air conditioning, a refrigerator, a kettle, and a TV. There are too many facilities for children to mention, such as a coin laundry and a microwave oven that can be used freely. Pension information	Cottage & Pension Love Thirty tel 0267-45-3270 Registration date: 2016/12/11/(Sun) 18:46 National Route 18 and the bypass can be very congested during holidays and during the summer, so we recommend renting a bicycle or using the Shinano Railway. Our pension's parking lot is available before check-in and after check-out. Pension information
Pension Karuizawa Forest tel 0267-46-3064 Registration date: 2013/09/04/(Wed) 10:18 National Route 146 is always congested during Golden Week, Obon holidays, and autumn holidays! 　The parking lots at Harunire Terrace and Tombo no Yu are often full and there are lines of cars waiting for a space. During the heavy traffic season, we recommend leaving your car at the pension and walking or cycling. 7 minutes walk to Harunire Terrace. You can use the parking lot before check-in and after check-out. Please feel free to contact us. Pension information

KARUIZAWA

There are areas in Karuizawa that are congested depending on the season.