Taiheiyo Club Gotemba
Taiheiyo Club Gotemba sits on the foothills of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka, the flagship of Japan's largest golf club and one of the most revered courses in the country. Shunsuke Kato laid it out in 1977 and Rees Jones later refreshed it, a par 70 of about 7,262 yards that has hosted the Taiheiyo Masters for decades with Fuji towering over the closing holes.
Photo: Ryoichi Shigekawa via Google.
The verdict
Gotemba opened in 1977 to a Shunsuke Kato design on the southeastern flank of Mount Fuji, and quickly became one of the most prestigious courses in Japan. The American architect Rees Jones was later engaged to renovate it, sharpening the bunkering and greens for modern championship play. It has staged the Taiheiyo Masters, one of the Japan Golf Tour's flagship events, almost every year since 1977, and hosted the Asia Pacific Amateur in 2024.
The setting is the draw before a shot is struck. Fuji fills the sky to the north and the broad, tree lined fairways climb and fall across the volcanic foothills, framed by pines and Japanese maples that turn the autumn rounds into something extraordinary. It is a members and guests club of real standing, immaculately kept, and the closing par 5 played toward the mountain is among the most photographed finishes in Japanese golf.
Taiheiyo Club Gotemba at a glance
- Opened
- 1977
- Designer
- Shunsuke Kato, 1977; Rees Jones renovation
- Type
- Mountain parkland
- Par
- 70
- Yardage
- About 7,262 yds
- Green fee
- Members and guests
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Taiheiyo Club Gotemba was designed by Shunsuke Kato and opened in 1977, later renovated by Rees Jones, a par 70 of about 7,262 yards on the foothills of Mount Fuji. The flagship Gotemba course is private; access is by member introduction. Always confirm access arrangements directly before planning a visit.
The holes worth the trip
Gotemba plays as a strategic mountain parkland rather than a brute. At about 7,262 yards off the championship tees it is long, but the test is in the positioning, with tree lined fairways that bend across the slope and approaches that must hold firm, contoured greens. The volcanic ground drains fast and the turf is kept in tournament condition.
Elevation change is constant on the Fuji foothills, and reading the uphill and downhill lies is half the challenge. The Rees Jones bunkering tightens the driving lines and the green complexes ask for precise distance control. In tournament weeks the course shows its teeth, yet from the members tees it is a fair and beautiful examination.
The finish is the signature, a closing run that turns back toward Mount Fuji with the mountain looming over the eighteenth. On a clear autumn morning, with the maples in colour and Fuji capped in snow, it is one of the great views in the world game. The Taiheiyo Masters has crowned its champions here for almost fifty years, and the scene never loses its power.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members and guests club; the flagship Gotemba course is generally played by invitation of a member or through selected agency arrangements |
| Green fee | No public visitor green fee on the flagship course; the affiliated Gotemba West course takes visitors at an indicative 32,590 yen weekday to 43,590 yen weekend in 2025 (indicative, 2025) |
| Booking | Arrange through a member, a luxury golf travel agency or, for the West course, the resort booking channels |
| On the day | Caddie service in the Japanese tradition; jacket and club etiquette expected; carts on managed paths |
| Getting there | About 90 minutes from central Tokyo by car, near Gotemba Premium Outlets in Shizuoka |
| Best months | April to June and the October to November maple season, with the clearest Fuji views in the cooler months |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; the flagship course is private and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
Most international golfers base themselves around Gotemba or Lake Kawaguchi in the Fuji Five Lakes, or stay in Tokyo and make the trip out for the day. The Gotemba area combines the golf with hot spring ryokan, the outlets and the classic views of the mountain, and it is an easy add to a wider Japan itinerary.
Gotemba pairs naturally with Tokyo's championship courses and the resort golf of the Izu Peninsula and Hakone for a fuller Japanese tour. Because the flagship course is private, we build the trip around the access we can secure and the visitor friendly courses in the Fuji region, with the Taiheiyo experience where introductions allow.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Taiheiyo Club Gotemba and Mount Fuji.
Build a Mount Fuji golf trip
We plan golf trips through the Fuji region and greater Tokyo, arranging the courses we can access, including the Taiheiyo group where member introductions allow, and the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Taiheiyo Club Gotemba questions
Who designed Taiheiyo Club Gotemba and when did it open?
Taiheiyo Club Gotemba was designed by Shunsuke Kato and opened in 1977 on the foothills of Mount Fuji, and was later renovated by the American architect Rees Jones.
What is the par and length of Taiheiyo Club Gotemba?
The Gotemba course is a par 70 of about 7,262 yards, a strategic mountain parkland that has long hosted the Taiheiyo Masters.
Can visitors play Taiheiyo Club Gotemba?
The flagship Gotemba course is a private members and guests club, generally played by member introduction. The affiliated Gotemba West course accepts visitors, and a golf travel agency can advise on access.
What tournament does Gotemba host?
Gotemba has hosted the Taiheiyo Masters, a flagship Japan Golf Tour event, almost every year since 1977, and staged the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in 2024.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Opening year, designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.