A scenic spot to visit in Karuizawa is Karuizawa Lake Garden (軽井沢レイクガーデン). The spacious ground of around 33,000㎡ is divided into 8 areas. Each of them is skillfully designed so that while the plants grow freely with minimal human touches, the gardens still appear to be picturesque. So as you stroll around Karuizawa Lake Garden, you will be amazed by the skills of the gardeners as to how they accurately predicted when and how the plants would grow!
What to Expect When You Visit Karuizawa Lake Garden
Besides HARUNIRE Terrace, Karuizawa Lake Garden is another spot that is the most beautiful in the middle of the rainy season. The garden boasts the longest and biggest rose-decorated path in Japan. So when more than 400 kinds of roses reach full bloom from mid to late June in the English and French Rose Garden, it is the spot in Karuizawa that you shouldn’t miss out on. And the best way to enjoy the flower’s beauty is by having a traditional English scone in the tea room, surrounded by roses.
Because Karuizawa Lake Garden has a Western setting, the café, restaurant, and hotel are all in Western style, giving you the illusion that you have travelled back to medieval Europe!
In addition to the roses, around 300 different kinds of plants are planted in Karuizawa Lake Garden, so if you have an hour to spare, come and explore seasonal flowers and fall foliage colors! When you need a rest, enjoy a cup of coffee and a scone at Cafe Elevenses Tea Rooms (カフェ イレブンシス ティールームス)!
If you fancy staying in such a beautiful garden, book a night with Ruze Villa (ルゼ・ヴィラ). The hotel situated at the side of the lake in the garden is like an aristocratic villa. All of the hotel’s five suite rooms are decorated with European-style antique furniture, allowing its guests to spend some quiet and elegant time during their stay.
Tips:
☛ A relaxing stroll will take around 60 to 90 minutes to explore Karuizawa Lake Garden fully. But some might spend up to 2 and a half hours in the beautiful garden.
☛ During the rose’s peak season, from mid-June to early July, the garden opens from 7 am on weekends. In 2023, the period is from the 17th of June to the 9th of July.
☛ If it rains suddenly, check with the reception staff if they have umbrellas you can borrow.
☛ If visiting an English Garden makes you want to have scones with a cup of tea, visit Elevenses Tea (イレブンシス ティールームス) for an English-style afternoon tea!
☛ The fall foliage season peaks from mid-October to early November.
Karuizawa Lake Garden’s Opening Hours, Admission Fees, and Access Information
- Karuizawa Lake Garden is open from 9 am to 5 pm from late April to the beginning of November.
- The admission fee is 1,000 yen for adults (500 yen for elementary and junior high school students).
- The adult admission fee increases by 500 yen from mid-June to early July during the rose season.
- From Karuizawa Station, take Shinano Railway and get off at the next station, Naka-Karuizawa Station.
- From Naka-Karuizawa Station or JR Karuizawa Station’s north exit, take Karuizawa Town Loop Bus, East/South Line (町内循環パス 東・南廻り線) and get off at New Town Iriguchi (ニュータウン入口).
- You can also board the bus from Karuizawa Station, but it will take longer.
- Refer to HERE to search for the bus’s timetable.
- From Naka-Karuizawa Station or JR Karuizawa Station’s north exit, take Karuizawa Town Loop Bus, East/South Line (町内循環パス 東・南廻り線) and get off at New Town Iriguchi (ニュータウン入口).
Tip: The admission fee is reduced by 200 yen if you enter the garden an hour before it closes.
Discover Other Attractions in Naka-Karuizawa
As you may have guessed, Karuizawa Lake Garden isn’t the only spot in Naka-Karuizawa that you might be interested in. There are a few cafes and restaurants that serve mouthwatering cakes and vegetarian dishes, unordinary but amazing church buildings, hot spring facilities, and even a wild bird sanctuary!
So refer to our article on Naka-Karuizawa to plan your visit!
Discover Other Fascinating Attractions Karuizawa
As you might already know, Naka-Karuizawa is just a part of the wider Karuizawa town. So your visit to Japan’s best highland resort, Karuizawa, won’t be complete without exploring the area close to Karuizawa Station. The town has amazing natural spots, several Western-style villas, amazingly designed churches, and unique cafes and restaurants awaiting your visit.
So refer to our Guide to Karuizawa article for more attractions to include in your itinerary!
