New commercial facility directly connected to the north exit of Karuizawa Station scheduled to open in spring 2026

2024.03.06 Press Releases
Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. / Aquaignis Co., Ltd. / Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd.

- Construction begins on the "(tentative name) Karuizawa Station North Exit East Side Idle Land Utilization Project" -

On March 1st, Hishi Estate Co., Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Executive Officer and President: Atsushi Nakajima) began construction of a new building for the "(tentative name) Karuizawa Station North Exit East Side Idle Land Utilization Project."
The project utilizes the former Shinetsu Main Line track site, which was owned by Shinano Railway Co., Ltd. and closed when the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened in 1997. Mitsubishi Estate will lease the site and develop a commercial facility directly connected to the Karuizawa Station free passageway, while Aqua Ignis Co., Ltd. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tachibana Tetsuya) and Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President and COO: Takahashi Yoshinori) will operate the hot spring facility, accommodation facilities, food and beverage outlets, retail stores, etc. It is scheduled to open in spring 2026.

Taking into account the location in front of Karuizawa Station, the project aims to create a gateway that will "pique curiosity and spread the essence of Shinshu," and we will continue to consider detailed plans.
Furthermore, through this project, we will further our collaboration with the local community and contribute to promoting and revitalizing Karuizawa and the entire Shinshu region.

(Tentative name) Karuizawa Station North Exit East Side Idle Land Utilization Project Plan

Address: 1293 Nakayachi 1178-ban, Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku-gun, Nagano Prefecture, etc.
Access: 1 minute walk from Karuizawa Station on the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen and Shinano Railway
Site area: Approximately 13,000 m²
Zoning: Neighborhood commercial district
Landowner: Shinano Railway Co., Ltd.
Building area: Approximately 4,400㎡
Total floor area: Approximately 5,400 m²
Structure and size: Steel-framed, single-story and two-story (some three-story) buildings, 6 buildings in total
Main uses: hot spring facilities, accommodation facilities, restaurants, retail stores, etc.  
Client: Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.
Designer: Taiyo Kogyo and Arai Design Joint Venture
Contractor: Taiyo Kogyo Co., Ltd.

About each company

Mitsubishi Estate is a comprehensive real estate company established in 1937. Our basic mission is to "contribute to society through urban development," and we are engaged in a wide range of businesses, including the development, rental, and operation and management of offices, residential buildings, commercial facilities, hotels, logistics facilities, etc., as well as design supervision, real estate brokerage, overseas businesses, airport businesses, and area management.
In Nagano Prefecture, we have concluded a partnership agreement with the Hachijuni Bank, a Mitsubishi Group financial institution, and Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. regarding regional revitalization in Nagano Prefecture. In addition, we are collaborating with investee companies to hold programming classes in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, launch an impact investment fund and disseminate information about it with the aim of raising funds for the renewal of Shinano Railway's rolling stock, concluded an agreement with Karuizawa Whisky Co., Ltd. to brand and promote the local whiskey brand "Karuizawa," and operate the workation facility "WORK×ation Site Karuizawa."
Regarding this project, Shinano Railway held a competition in February 2019 to utilize unused land east of the north exit of Karuizawa Station, and our company was awarded the right of first negotiation, leading to the start of construction work on the new building.
　Mitsubishi Estate will continue to work with its group companies and investment partners to promote measures to revitalize the areas along the Shinano Railway line in Nagano Prefecture.
【Company Profile】
Company name: Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.
Established: May 7, 1937
Capital: 142,414,266,891 yen
Number of employees: 1,013 (Consolidated): 10,655 *As of the end of March 2023
Head office address: Otemachi Park Building, 1-1-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Representative Executive Officer, President and CEO, Atsushi Nakajima

Aquaignis develops and operates a complex hot spring resort that attracts many visitors from all over Japan, including restaurants by world-renowned chefs and pastry chefs, and hot spring facilities and accommodation designed by creators active both in Japan and overseas. In Latin, aqua means water and ignis means fire, and the contrast between water and fire, ``Aqua x Ignis,'' represents hot springs, ingredients, and men and women nurtured by the earth.
In 2012, we opened a complex hot spring resort facility with the themes of "healing" and "food" in Yunoyama, Komono-cho, Mie Prefecture, and in 2021 we opened VISON (Beautiful Village), a combination of urban development and commerce that brings together all of Japan's food culture, lifestyle, and technology, attracting visitors from both Japan and abroad, while also serving as a community space for local residents to gather. We will continue to connect local ingredients, food culture, chefs, creators and producers, and revitalize the region through "healing" and "food."
【Company Profile】
Company name: Aquaignis Co., Ltd.
Established: September 2005
Capital: 90 million yen
Number of employees: 400 *As of the end of January 2024
Head office address: 1-14-9 Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Representative Director Tachibana Tetsuya

Culture Convenience Club (CCC) is a company that creates cultural infrastructure. With this mission in mind, the company plans a number of internet services and new platform services, as well as platform businesses, database marketing businesses, businesses related to public services and community coexistence, and proposes new lifestyles through its platforms.
In the Karuizawa area, following the loss of the town's only bookstore in 2015, Karuizawa Bookstore opened in 2018 and has remained a beloved local bookstore for the residents of Karuizawa to this day. In addition, Karuizawa Commongrounds (Toriibara, Nagakura, Karuizawa Town), which opened in March 2023, operates a complex of approximately 12,000 square meters, with Karuizawa Bookstore Nakakaruizawa Branch as its core store and eight other facilities scattered throughout, including an international school, a wine shop, a general goods store, and a deli. Karuizawa Commongrounds is a place where a diverse range of people, including those who live, work, and visit Karuizawa, come together to foster cultural exchange and excitement across generations, and it hosts a variety of events and activities with the aim of becoming a local community hub that will enrich the lifestyles and lives of Karuizawa residents in the future.
As a planning company, CCC aims to propose new experiences at Karuizawa Station through this facility, aiming to increase the value of the region and serve as a gateway to convey the charms of Shinshu. We will also be implementing various initiatives to allow local residents and tourists to gather and interact with each other.
【Company Profile】
Company name: Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd.
Established: September 20, 1985
Capital: 25,397 million yen *Total amount of capital and capital surplus (CCC alone).
Head office address: 16-17 Nanpeidaicho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Representative: President and COO, Takahashi Yasunori

Above

Materials related to this matter

New commercial facility directly connected to the north exit of Karuizawa Station scheduled to open in spring 2026

Inquiries regarding this matter

Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. Public Relations Department TEL: 03-3287-5200
Aquaignis Co., Ltd. Public Relations TEL: 059-394-7733
Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. TEL: 03-6800-4764
*This material will be distributed to: the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Press Club, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Construction Specialist Press Club, the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry Press Club, and others.