Karuizawa Part 1

Aug 27, 2019 15:30
Karuizawa Part 1

Yesterday, I introduced you to the term 'hishochi' (避暑地), which means cool places where people visit to avoid the summer heat.

Among various places called 'hishochi', 'Karuizawa' (軽井沢) is one of the most famous and popular ones.

Karuizawa flourished as a post station in the past, but it declined with changes in transportation conditions.

However, in 1885, things changed when a Canadian Anglican missionary incidentally visited Karuizawa -- his name was Alexander Croft Shaw.

Shaw felt that the climate of Karuizawa was similar to his hometown, Toronto, and he built a villa and a church to make Karuizawa his lifetime summer resort.

To be continued.
軽井沢 Part 1

昨日は「避暑地」という言葉を紹介しました。

日本の避暑地として代表的なものに「軽井沢」があります。

軽井沢はかつて宿場町として栄えた土地ですが、交通事情の変化に伴って衰退しました。

しかし、1885年、カナダ人の聖公会宣教師アレクサンダー・クロフト・ショーがたまたま軽井沢を訪れることで、一変します。

彼は軽井沢の気候が故郷のトロントと似ていると感じ、生涯の避暑地とすべく別荘や教会を建てました。

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