Shaw Memorial Chapel
日本聖公会 軽井沢ショー記念礼拝堂
Karuizawa's oldest church, honouring Canadian missionary Alexander Croft Shaw, the “father of Karuizawa as a summer resort.”
In 1886, the missionary A.C. Shaw arrived in Karuizawa. Drawn by the area's cool climate, he built a villa and recommended the place to foreign friends, launching Karuizawa's history as a summer resort. In 1895 he built this wooden chapel. It is hidden among the trees, and beside it is a reconstructed Shaw villa serving as a memorial museum. A bust of Shaw stands at the entrance. The chapel is free to visit except during services, and the museum is closed in winter. It is about a five-minute walk from the north end of the old Karuizawa Ginza street.
Opening hours
Approx. 09:00–17:00 (closed during services)
Nearby sights
- St. Paul's Catholic Church
- Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza
- Karuizawa New Art Museum
- Kumoba Pond
- Former Mikasa Hotel
- Yagasaki Park
- Usui Pass Observatory (Miharashidai)
- Kumano Kotai Shrine