Looking for routing suggestions between Fujikawaguchiko and Nagano?

I’ll be driving from The Five Lakes Region to Nagano on October 8th and would appreciate rooting suggestions? looking forward to great scenery, perhaps some interesting stops along the way, lunch stop….thinking about going to The Venus Line, Utsukushigahara Highlands route through Ueda and onto Nagano? Karuizawa is also on my radar , any thoughts on that?