The Japanese are crazy about golf and they flock in their droves to the 3,000 multi storey driving ranges and simulators that have sprung up all over the country.
Yet there are well over 2,000 courses in the land of the Rising Sun providing purists with real golf. Many are of very high quality, providing a variety of challenges and some breathtaking views.
While play is mostly confined to locals, there is an effort underway to attract golfing tourists from abroad and despite the long flights from UK and Europe, Japan is an enticing nation in many ways and well worth a visit.
Golfers from abroad need to be prepared for a good number of unusual golfing customs rarely seen anywhere else.
Clubs remain very traditional and almost old-fashioned. Players at many are expected to wear a jacket to enter and leave the clubhouse, although in the summer they may be allowed to drape the jacket over their arm instead.
All players report to the reception to check in like a hotel where they are handed a locker key for the changing rooms. In keeping with Japanese golf tradition you will be expected to stop for a 40 minute meal break halfway through your round. After golf they have the option of communal bathing, a true Japanese custom.
Considering the Japanese expectation of punctuality, slow play is seriously frowned upon, and dropping zones take the place of reloads should you be unfortunate enough to hit out of bounds.
The golf courses, however, if my visit to two courses on the slopes of Mount Fuji is anything to go by, are truly memorable as they are dramatic and extremely well maintained.
Kawaguchiko Country Club
Situated just over 90 minutes by road from Tokyo in a national park near the shores of Lake Kawaguchiko, this splendid resort is set amid a huge pine forest 1,000m above sea level ensuring pleasant golfing weather even in the summer months. On clear days the often snow capped Mount Fuji dominates the vista from many holes.
The course, made up of the 27 holes named the East, West and South loops, opened in 1977, was designed by Robert Von Hagge.
It is a challenging layout with changes in elevation, sloping greens and is dotted with 195 bunkers, many of which are cunningly placed just in front of the putting surfaces.
Modern day Japanese quirks were an interesting side show and a great talking point. We encountered an escalator in the middle of the course at Kawaguchiko to help golfers ascend the steep slope from the 8th green to the 9th tee, and an unnerving driverless five-seater buggy controlled remotely by our knowledgeable and engaging female caddie added to the experience.
Another Japanese tradition we encountered here – again a first for me – was the keeping of two separate greens for each hole – one with grasses more suited to the warmer seasons and the other seeded with varieties better suited to the colder months.
Narusawa Golf Club
This second course with dramatic views of the volcano is an equal to Kawaguchiko in terms of quality. Similarly set amid a large, secluded pine and birch forest, it has wide fairways and fast undulating greens. A feature here is water – and there is plenty of it to catch wayward shots – making more strategic shot making.
The 8th hole, a par 3 over water with Fuji rising in the background, is one of the most photographed holes in Japan.
Conditioning was first rate during my visit in late March and although the fairways were still a drab, dormant pale brown in appearance, they played extremely well.
Opinions varied in our group – some favoured this course over the higher rated Kawaguchiko and found it easier the play due to the fewer bunkers impeding shots into greens – while others found it more of a challenge.
The general view was that both were well worthy of a day’s outing.
As with its neighbour, jackets were required to enter and leave the clubhouse, lunch after nine holes was obligatory, and the driverless buggies kept us entertained.
Hanz Outdoor Resort
The Japanese love getting back to nature and one way to immerse yourself in such a manner is to stay at a glamping resort like this.
It’s a thoughtful, high quality resort, offering comfortable Pao, Villa and guesthouse accommodation in the middle of a forest. With the scent of smouldering pine from camp fires in your nostrils, you can fill up your bottles with spring water that dropped on Mount Fuji 40 years previously and slowly permeated the lava rock before reappearing, naturally filtered, pure and ready to drink.
A total serene experience is enjoyed here by couples and families escaping the hustle and bustle of city life. Visitors can indulge in saunas, traditional onsen, communal public bathing and enjoy evening BBQs while visiting the honkan for breakfast.
The golf-mad owners, who have a huge driving range at Yamashita and Trackman studio at Yokohama, believe it is an ideal base camp for golfers wishing to play the courses nearby and can arrange tee-times and transfers.
Verdict
Japan is well worth visiting for a host of reasons, so there ought to be more on your agenda than just golfing if you are travelling such a long distance, although a round of golf is inexpensive. 18 holes at Narusawa, for example, costs £87 including lunch. The people are so polite and their culture and traditions are fascinating. Cherry blossom season in late March and April brings in tourists by plane load and that view of Mount Fuji is to die for. I never thought I’d take to glamping but I’m a convert after a relaxing and enjoyable stay at the Hanz Outdoor Resort. The owners say it really puts people in the mood for golf and it’s hard to disagree.
Getting There
Multiple airlines fly to Tokyo from the UK and Europe, many taking a stopover in Frankfurt. Total flying time is about 16 hours.
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Andy Waple is Golfshake’s Travel Editor and an experienced journalist with decades of experience reviewing golf destinations worldwide. A member of Hallamshire Golf Club in Sheffield, he has a deep appreciation for courses across the UK, Ireland, and abroad. Andy provides detailed insights into equipment, apparel and travel experiences with his favourite destinations including South Africa, the Dominican Republic and Portugal. His knowledge of international golf travel brings valuable insights for golfers planning trips in search of memorable courses and quality travel experiences.