Kawana Fuji Course

The verdict

Kawana sits on the Izu peninsula south of Tokyo, where the land tumbles down to Sagami Bay, and it was here that Japan built its first true golf resort. The Fuji Course, opened in 1936, was the work of Charles Hugh Alison, the English architect whose bold, deep bunkering left such a mark on Japanese golf that bunkers there are still sometimes called Arisons. On a clear day Mount Fuji rises across the bay, and the holes that run along the cliffs give the course its enduring nickname, the Pebble Beach of Japan.

It is not a long course by modern standards, a par 72 of around 6,701 yards, but length was never the point. Alison used the dramatic, mountainous terrain to ask questions of angle, elevation and nerve, and the scenery does the rest. Consistently ranked among the very best courses in Japan, the Fuji Course is the round to build a Japanese golf trip around, a piece of golfing history in one of the country's loveliest settings.

The holes worth the trip

The Fuji Course is a study in how a great architect uses dramatic land. Alison routed it up and down the folds of the Izu hills, so blind crests, downhill tee shots and approaches played to greens perched on the slope are constant, and the strategy is as much about controlling your ball on the contours as carrying a hazard. His trademark deep bunkers frame the greens and punish the bailout, a style so influential it changed Japanese course design for good.

The stretch along the cliffs above Sagami Bay is the reason people travel here. The par 5 fifteenth, sweeping downhill toward the sea with the bay opening up beyond, is the signature hole and one of the most photographed in Asia, the moment when the Pebble Beach comparison makes complete sense. Throughout the round the views of the water and, on a clear day, of Mount Fuji, are part of the test, pulling the eye and the swing off line.

It is a walking course in the Japanese tradition, played with a caddie, and the elevation makes it a genuine hike, so come prepared to earn the views. Play it for the history and the scenery as much as the card, respect Alison's bunkering, and the Fuji Course delivers one of the most complete experiences in world golf.

Where to stay nearby

The Kawana hotel is the heart of the resort and by far the most sensible base, both for the views and because staying there is the surest route onto the Fuji Course. The classic hotel building, the gardens and the second Oshima Course give you more than enough for a multi day stay on the Izu coast.

The wider Izu peninsula is a popular hot spring escape from Tokyo, so the surrounding towns of Ito and Atami add onsen ryokan, seafood and coastline if you want to extend the trip. The resort sits around two to two and a half hours from the capital, which makes the Fuji Course a natural centerpiece for a few days away from the city.

Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts at Kawana and on the Izu peninsula.