A Reggio-inspired, child-centered forest program for ages 4–7. Time outdoors is how children learn; by noticing, trying, and growing more independent each day.
Karuizawa Nature Exploration is rooted in our year-round work at Tokyo Children’s Garden in Minato-ku, Tokyo.
Karuizawa Nature Exploration is led by the same educators who work year-round at Tokyo Children’s Garden. It reflects the same approach to independence and curiosity and is open to all children, including both our school families and those joining us for the first time.
Moving toward the pond, the children adjust their steps to the uneven stones, watching the path and one another.
The group gathers around the net, looking closely as something small comes into view.
Spring in Karuizawa is cool, quiet, and constantly changing. Before the summer season begins, children experience the forest in its early stages, noticing new growth, adjusting to the weather, and learning how to move comfortably through a landscape that shifts from week to week.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Ages | 4–7 years old (3-year-olds considered case-by-case) |
| Tuition | ¥30,000 per day |
| Location | Rising Field, Karuizawa |
| Transportation | Parents are responsible for travel to and from Rising Field each day |
| Requirements | Children should walk and climb independently and be toilet trained |
At the edge of the stream, children test the snow’s depth and watch how the water moves beneath the thawing surface.
Standing in the current, the children test where to place the net, watching how the water shifts around the stones.
Eight one-week sessions offer children the time and space to build shelters, form strong friendships, and become familiar with the forests of Karuizawa.
| Week | Dates |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | June 22 – 26, 2026 |
| Week 2 | June 29 – July 3, 2026 |
| Week 3 | July 6 – 10, 2026 |
| Week 4 | July 13 – 17, 2026 |
| Week 5 | July 20 – 24, 2026 |
| Week 6 | July 27 – 31, 2026 |
| Week 7 | August 3 – 7, 2026 |
| Week 8 | August 10 – 14, 2026 |
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Ages | 4 to 7 Years Old (3-year-olds considered on a case-by-case basis) |
| Camp Time | 9:00am – 3:00pm |
| Location | Rising Field Karuizawa |
| Ratio | 1:3 to 1:5 |
| Fee | ¥200,000 per week |
After time outdoors, the group gathers to eat together, serving themselves and settling into conversation around the table.
You won’t find worksheets or a tightly scripted schedule here. Our focus is on experience rather than output. Growth shows up in how children move, decide, and relate to the world around them.
Adjusting the flame with care, practicing distance and control.
Testing balance in moving water.
Sharing quiet excitement over something small and alive.
Working together, the children adjust their grip and lift, testing both the weight of the container and their ability to carry it as a team.
In 2020, during the pandemic, we moved our program from Tokyo to a house in Kawaguchiko so children could continue learning outdoors. Many of our families chose to join us.
That summer showed us something important. With time and space in nature, children grew more capable, more steady, and more connected to one another.
What began as a temporary relocation gradually shaped the program we now run in Karuizawa.