Declaration
The quality resort environment of Karuizawa is a precious asset of Japan.
= Declaration of the Karuizawa Method for Condominiums =
Our town Karuizawa was introduced by a Canadian-born missionary, Alexander Croft Shaw, in
1930 as a summer resort to regions both at home and abroad. For the past 115 years since
its introduction, Karuizawa has grown as an international health resort with its rich
green environment and wonderful culture inherited from its many forefathers, while having
overcome numerous challenges at times. It also continues to grow as an international
tourist town of goodwill and culture sustained by both the resort house owners' deep
insight and the town residents' desire to nurture the community.
Also, the resort of Karuizawa has created a unique landscape that we are proud to show to
the world, where the rich culture, abundant nature and low buildings are blended.
The Nagano Shinkansen (Hokuriku Shinkansen) was opened in October 1997, which enabled
quicker distant commutations to Tokyo as well as facilitation of the interchange of goods
and people. Accordingly, the demand for condominiums increased in the areas centering
around Karuizawa Station, which is responsible for the incredibly high speed of
construction and development rush of condominiums, despite recent economic stagnation in
Japan.
The citizens and resort house owners strongly urge that the quality resort environment of
Karuizawa, a valuable asset of Japan, would be disrupted if we pursue a shortsighted
profit, ignoring this harmonious landscape especially at this time when condos throughout
Japan face problems of total refurbishment. In response to these strong voices, we amended
the Summary of Nature Conservation Measures (hereinafter "Summary") and the Gist
of Nature Conservation Measures Management (hereinafter "Gist") to be practiced
from January 1, 2002. Under these amendments, condominiums shall not be higher than two
stories not only in the first-class exclusive residential district for low buildings but
also in the first class residential district. Also, in cases where condominiums with more
than 20 units are constructed, each unit shall be required to be more than 110㎡ in area
and one complex building shall have less than 20 units.
With regard to the projects that have already been filed at the town authority, Summary
and Gist will not apply. However, impacts incurred by condominiums to the surrounding
environment are extremely big, and the existing Summary sets consensual understanding from
residents as a premise. Therefore, we hereby strongly call for an appropriate and discreet
manner toward condo-construction projects that are exempt from the application of the
above amended regulations for the sake of conservation of this excellent resort
environment which we take pride in.
We, the town residents of Karuizawa, urge contractors that try to abuse Karuizawa's
precious environment for the construction of condominiums to have corporate responsibility
and high ethics that deserve this environment.
We declare "the quality resort environment of Karuizawa is a precious asset of
Japan," in order to hand over this environment that we have enjoyed for more than 100
years to the following 200 years. We earnestly hope that the condominium projects that
have already been filed will be reviewed in consideration of Karuizawa's superb landscape
that has been nurtured by people and beautiful nature itself, and will be constructed
within two stories in accordance with the amended Summary and Gist requirements.
December 11, 2001
Masayoshi Sato
Town Mayor of Karuizawa
Yasuo Tanaka
Governor of Nagano Prefecture
Witness in Approbation
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