Karuizawa St. Paul's Catholic Church 軽井沢聖パウロカトリック教会

Historic institution, fascinating back story

The wayfinding signs at Church Street complex, with a hotel and shopping centre, lead visitors to St. Paul's. The church, built in 1934, was designed by Antonin Raymond, a Bohemian-American (actually born in Bohemia Bohemian) who worked with Frank Lloyd Wright. Raymond is considered as one founder of Japan's modern architecture. The sanctuary combines elements of Czech, Japanese, and modernist architecture. The church got attention due to celebrity weddings, resulting in the boom in church weddings. Another footnote is that the church is part of the Catholic Diocese of Yokohama. I arrived too late to see the gorgeous wood interior. The church is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Contact the church to attend mass.