Semba lake is a wonderful place surrounded by beautiful nature. The lake is three kilometers around. There are two types of tracks, one for jogging and an ordinary path. It’s a good place to stroll or jog. There are a few facilities such as a café, playground equipment and boats. At the café, you can enjoy a taste of Ibaraki’s famous shop foods while looking at the beautiful view. All generations will have a good time there. You’ll be able to enjoy Semba lake in all seasons. I especially think spring and summer are the best times to visit, but you should avoid going there on rainy days. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find a place out of the rain at the park. Also, there are too many birds. They can sometimes bother you. In spring, a lot of cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Also, it is lit up at night, so it looks completely different at night from how does in the daytime. In July or August, a fireworks display is held around the lake. Various kinds of events are also held throughout the year. Before visiting, you should check the event schedule online. If you have enough time to visit other nearby places, I recommend going to Kairakuen-park. This park, which right next to Semba lake, is one of the three most outstanding gardens in Japan. The view of the lake from Kairakuen-park is also beautiful!

水戸市民の憩いの場として親しまれている湖。湖周辺は特に高い建物や山並みの風景が広がっていないため、良く晴れた日には目いっぱいに青空と澄んだ空気を楽しむことが出来る。一方で曇りの日はやや殺風景に映り、また周囲には雨宿り出来る設備が乏しいため、雨の日の利用はいまいち。西側に芝生の広場があるが、遊具らしいものはほとんど見られない。それが却って余計な騒音無く比較的静かに利用できる公園にもなっている。ジョギングや散策にうってつけの場所ともなっている。道がやや狭い箇所があるので、自転車の走行には注意を払いたい。 湖を散策していると白鳥をよく見かける。産卵・子育ての時期は気性が荒くなるので不用意に近づかないようにしたい。 The lake is a popular resting place for the citizens of Mito. On a clear, sunny day, you can enjoy the blue skies and clear air, as the area around the lake does not have a particularly high building or mountainous landscape. On the other hand, on cloudy days, the scenery can be somewhat bleak, and on rainy days, the number of users is low because there are few facilities for sheltering from the rain in the surrounding area. There is a grassy area on the west side of the lake, but there is little playground equipment. The space is widely used, so there is little noise. It's a great place to stroll or jog. On the other hand, there are a few places where the roads are a bit narrow, so cyclists should be very careful. As you stroll around the lake, you may see swans. But don't approach them carelessly. Swans are very temperamental during their spawning and rearing seasons.