It's a nice place to enjoy nature in a well-maintained garden. There are paths, bridges, a nice cafe for coffee or a fruit drink, many different kinds of plants. It's a bit far, but a bus leaves from Karuizawa Station and returns. Be sure to check the times if you take a bus. The cafe can call a cab if you ask. Look for the huge koi in the lake and moats. Enjoy the lush vegetation.
I love this place in season, if i remember correctly that is second half of June and July. Still nice at other timers. If you are driving suggest you go on the way to the Karuizawa Intersection or coming from it. I strongly recommend Nakagawa Restaurant (European) and Hotel Rose for tea (their rose jam is amazing)
I visited more tha ten times of this place. You should check the official home page and/or FB of this very popular travelers spot. Near-by restaurants are very reasonable and recommendable.
Closed in winter but beautiful in every other season, the Lake is one of the loveliest in Japan. It has a French and English rose garden, a path around the edge with little bridges and waterfalls and reed beds, a sit-in wooden pergola with a far view of Mt. Asama, and even a punt from Oxford which on weekends guests can be poled around on while they enjoy the scenery. There's an admission fee but it's worth every yen.
