Enjoy a Curling Experience at Karuizawa Ice Park! How to Join and What to Expect on the Day
If you're looking for a one-of-a-kind experience in Karuizawa, curling is the perfect activity. You may have seen it on TV, but very few people have actually slid a stone across the ice themselves.
At Karuizawa Ice Park in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, you can enjoy a full curling experience with no equipment or special clothing needed — just show up empty-handed. Instructors will guide you through the basics from scratch, so beginners who don't know the rules, children, and international visitors who don't speak Japanese can all feel at ease.
In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need to know — from the basic rules and terminology of curling, to how to join a session at Karuizawa Ice Park, what to expect on the day, pricing, and how to get there from Tokyo and Osaka. Make curling — the sport often called "chess on ice" — a highlight of your Karuizawa trip.
Table of Contents
1. What Is Karuizawa Ice Park?
2. What Is Curling? A Beginner's Guide for Travelers
2-1. Common Curling Terms
2-2. Basic Rules of Play
3. How to Enjoy a Curling Experience at Karuizawa Ice Park
3-1. How to Book a Curling Experience
3-2. What to Expect on the Day
3-3. Can Children and Non-Japanese Speakers Participate?
3-4. Pricing for the Curling Experience
3-5. What Do You Need to Bring?
4. Getting to Karuizawa Ice Park from Tokyo and Osaka
Summary
1. What Is Karuizawa Ice Park?
Karuizawa Ice Park is a sports facility located within Karuizawa Kazakoshi Park in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture. At the heart of the complex is an indoor curling hall featuring six sheets of ice. While the facility hosts major domestic and international competitions, it also offers beginner-friendly experience classes. With instructors on hand, even first-time visitors with no curling experience can feel confident joining in.
Inside, you'll also find a community hall where you can watch matches or take a break, as well as locker rooms with showers. The facility is open year-round, with only two days of closure — December 31 and January 1 — making it a great place to enjoy curling in any season.
2. What Is Curling? A Beginner's Guide for Travelers
Curling is a winter sport in which two teams compete to score points on ice. Players slide stones — large, handle-equipped granite discs — along the ice toward a circular target called the house, located approximately 37 meters away, aiming to land their stones as close to the center as possible. Originating in Scotland, the sport is often referred to as "chess on ice."
Having even a basic understanding of the rules before your session can make the experience far more enjoyable. Below, we'll cover the key terminology and the fundamental rules of play.
2-1. Common Curling Terms
Curling has its own set of unique terms for equipment and areas of play. Here are the most important ones to know.
Stone | The disc-shaped object slid across the ice. Each stone weighs approximately 20 kilograms and measures about 30 centimeters in diameter. Stones are made of granite and are delivered by gripping the handle on top and applying a rotating motion. |
|---|---|
House | The circular target area used to determine scoring. Points are awarded based on how many of a team's stones lie closer to the center than the opponent's nearest stone. |
Sweep | The act of scrubbing the ice surface with a broom (brush). Sweeping can extend the distance a stone travels and influence how much it curves. |
Sheet | The long, narrow lane of ice on which the game is played. Each sheet is approximately 45 meters in length. |
Slider | A slippery pad attached to the sole of a shoe to allow smooth gliding on the ice. Participants wear sliders during the experience when moving across the ice. |
End | A round of play. One end is completed when both teams have delivered all of their stones. |
2-2. Basic Rules of Play
In curling, players take on one of two roles: delivering the stone or sweeping.
Each team consists of four players — the Lead, Second, Third, and Skip — who deliver stones in that order. Teams alternate, with each player delivering two stones per end. That means eight deliveries per team, and a total of 16 per end across both teams.
While a stone is being delivered, the other team members sweep the ice with brooms to control the stone's distance and direction. The Skip acts as the team's strategist, reading the ice conditions and calling out instructions.
Once all stones have been delivered, scoring for that end is determined. Only the team with the stone closest to the center of the house scores points, earning one point for each of their stones that lies closer to the center than the opponent's nearest stone. Any stones that come to rest outside the house do not count toward scoring.
Please note that the curling experience at Karuizawa Ice Park covered in this article accommodates teams of up to eight players each.
3. How to Enjoy a Curling Experience at Karuizawa Ice Park
During the curling experience at Karuizawa Ice Park, instructors carefully explain the basic rules and movements, so even first-time visitors can step onto the ice with confidence. Here is a detailed guide to what the experience involves.
3-1. How to Book a Curling Experience
The curling experience is popular, so advance reservations are required. Walk-in registration on the day is not accepted, so once your schedule is set, be sure to book early.
Reservations can be made directly online through a dedicated booking site. Sessions are group lessons with a maximum of 15 participants. Simply choose your preferred date, time, and session length when booking. You can also check availability and make a reservation via the link below.
The Ultimate Ice Entertainment-Karuizawa Curling Experience-Ticket List for
3-2. What to Expect on the Day
On the day of your session, you'll check in at reception, get changed, collect your shoes, and then move on to the lesson and mini-game.
Plan to arrive at the venue at least 20 minutes before your session starts and complete the check-in process. During busy periods, the reception area can get crowded, so arriving with extra time to spare is a good idea. Use the time between check-in and the start of your session to visit the restroom and get ready.
When the session begins, you'll first receive an explanation of the curling shoes and collect your pair. After that, you'll head to the curling hall and change into your curling shoes along the way. Once inside, you'll enjoy a lesson and mini-game within your booked session time. You'll be taught how to walk and fall safely on ice, how to deliver a stone, and how to use the broom — then, once you've got the hang of it, you'll try your hand at a real mini-game.
3-3. Can Children and Non-Japanese Speakers Participate?
Yes — both children and international visitors are welcome to join the curling experience. Families and travelers from overseas can book with confidence.
Participants must be at least 5 years old. Children under 10 may join as long as an adult accompanies them. Forming a team with family members of similar ages is a great way to make the experience even more enjoyable.
Lessons are conducted in Japanese, but instructors use gestures and demonstrations to convey movements, so visitors who don't speak Japanese can follow along and fully enjoy the session.
3-4. Pricing for the Curling Experience
Pricing for the curling experience is divided into four tiers based on session length. Longer sessions give you more time to enjoy the mini-game at a relaxed pace.
Session | Price |
|---|---|
60-minute session | ¥7,000 |
90-minute session | ¥8,000 |
120-minute session | ¥9,000 |
150-minute session | ¥10,000 |
All session prices include rental of a jacket, long pants, knit hat, gloves, socks, and shoes. If you want plenty of time to enjoy the mini-game, a 90-minute session or longer is recommended.
3-5. What Do You Need to Bring?
You can come completely empty-handed — no special equipment is needed.
A full set of clothing is available to rent, with sizes for both children and adults, so there's no need to worry about what to wear. To help protect against injury in case of a fall, wearing a knit hat, gloves, jacket, long pants, and socks is mandatory.
The temperature inside the hall drops to around 5°C (41°F), so bringing an extra warm layer for added insulation will help you stay comfortable throughout your session.
4. Getting to Karuizawa Ice Park from Tokyo and Osaka
The most convenient way to reach Karuizawa Ice Park from Tokyo or Osaka is to take the Shinkansen to Karuizawa Station, then travel to the facility by car or bus. Below, we outline the routes from both Tokyo and Osaka, as well as how to get to the facility from Karuizawa Station.
From Tokyo Station, the Hokuriku Shinkansen takes approximately 65 to 80 minutes to reach Karuizawa Station, with a one-way fare of around ¥6,000. If you're looking to save money, highway buses also run from Ikebukuro Station to Karuizawa Station, taking about three hours and costing between ¥2,300 and ¥2,900 one way.
From Osaka, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo Station, then transfer to the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa Station. Overnight highway buses also operate from Osaka and Kyoto to Karuizawa Station, with one-way fares ranging from approximately ¥6,000 to ¥11,000 and a journey time of around eight hours.
Karuizawa Ice Park is approximately a 15-minute drive from JR Karuizawa Station and about a 10-minute drive from Nakakaruizawa Station on the Shinano Railway. If you're traveling by car, the facility is approximately 11 kilometers from the Usui-Karuizawa Interchange (IC) on the Joshinetsu Expressway, and parking is available on site.
Summary
Karuizawa Ice Park is a year-round curling facility featuring six sheets of ice and beginner-friendly experience classes. Familiarizing yourself with the basics — such as stones and sweeping — before you arrive will make your time on the ice even more rewarding.
Advance reservations are required and can be made through the booking site by selecting your preferred session and time. On the day, complete check-in at least 20 minutes before your session starts, then collect your shoes, join the lesson, and take on the mini-game. Since all clothing and equipment can be rented, there's no need to bring anything with you.
Choose a session that fits your travel plans and discover the depth and excitement of curling — an experience you can only truly have on ice.
※ The information in this article is based on data available as of July 2026.
