The lake stretches about 5 km around and is located about 4 km southwest of downtown Otsu. It is a brackish lake mixed with seawater and separated from the Pacific Ocean by narrow sand dunes.
The flora along the dunes of the lake is designated as a natural monument of Hokkaido, and from spring to early fall, beautiful flowers such as Japanese rose, Ezo kanzo (Gentiana thunbergii), Musharindo (Gentiana japonica), and Sendai hagi (Gentiana japonica) bloom and compete with each other.
Camping with a view of the Pacific Ocean is also recommended. Bungalows are also available. The best time to view the flowers is from late July to mid-August every year, when the area is crowded with many tourists.