The 5 Day Japan Golf Itinerary
Five days is enough for the two rounds that define Japanese golf within reach of Tokyo: Taiheiyo Club Gotemba, the tournament course that plays beneath Mount Fuji, and Kawana's Fuji course, the 1936 C.H. Alison clifftop classic that golfers call the Pebble Beach of Japan. Add Tokyo at either end, an onsen night on the Izu Peninsula and caddies who run the day for you. Here is the routing, with real drive times and 2026 rates.
Photograph: Kawana Hotel Golf Course, via Google
Why this routing, and who it suits
Most first golf trips to Japan fail by trying to see the whole country. This one stays within two hours of Tokyo and plays the two courses that matter most to a visitor. Taiheiyo Club Gotemba is the modern tournament stage, a par 72 that has hosted top domestic and international tournaments with Mount Fuji filling the sky behind several holes, at published fees of 32,590 yen on weekdays and 43,590 on holidays. Kawana's Fuji course is the historic one: C.H. Alison, 1936, fairways running along Pacific cliffs on the Izu Peninsula, reserved for guests of the Kawana Hotel, walking only, with caddies, at published fees of 47,800 yen on weekdays and 63,700 on holidays.
It suits golfers who want the full Japanese golf ritual, the caddies, the lunch break mid round, the baths afterward, woven into a trip that still delivers Tokyo. The great members clubs like Hirono remain introduction only, and Miyazaki's Phoenix Country Club needs the longer trip covered in our 7 day Japan itinerary; this five day version is the one to book first. All fees are indicative 2026 rates, always confirm directly before booking.
Day by day: Tokyo, Gotemba and the Izu Peninsula
| Day | Golf | Travel | Stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Travel day, no golf | Land at Haneda or Narita | Tokyo | Arrive, walk Ginza or Shibuya off the jet lag, early dinner; collect the rental car in the morning instead of fighting city traffic tonight |
| Day 2 | Taiheiyo Club Gotemba, 32,590 yen weekday published | Tokyo to Gotemba, about 90 minutes to 2 hours | Gotemba or Hakone | Tournament golf under Mount Fuji; play the morning, then the Hakone shrines or an onsen in the afternoon |
| Day 3 | Optional nine, or rest day | Gotemba to the Kawana Hotel, Ito, about 90 minutes | Kawana Hotel, Ito | Cross to the Izu Peninsula, check in to the 1936 grand hotel, baths, and the famous lawn overlooking the Pacific |
| Day 4 | Kawana Fuji course, 47,800 yen weekday published, hotel guests only | None, the first tee is at the hotel | Kawana Hotel, Ito | The Alison clifftop classic; walking with caddies, ocean on one side, Fuji on the horizon; book the tee time with the room |
| Day 5 | Travel day, no golf | Ito to central Tokyo, about 2.5 hours | Fly out, or a last Tokyo night | Leave Kawana after breakfast for an evening flight, or add a Tokyo night and fly in the morning |
Fees and access rules verified June 2026 from club, resort and Japan tourism sources and subject to change. Check Japan tee time availability.
Booking order and logistics
- Book the Kawana Hotel first. The Fuji course is open to hotel guests only, so the room is the tee time; reserve both together and ask for a morning start. Two nights make the stay civilized.
- Book Taiheiyo Gotemba next, midweek if you can: the weekday rate saves about 11,000 yen on the holiday rate and the course is quieter under the mountain.
- Arrange the car or driver. A rental with English navigation handles the whole loop easily; a hired driver removes every friction and suits groups of three or four splitting the cost.
- Respect the rituals. Arrive an hour early, caddies manage the bags and the pace, most clubs pause for lunch between nines, and the post round bath is part of the day, not an option. Soft spikes, collared shirts and a jacket into the clubhouse at traditional clubs.
- Time it for April to May or October to November, when Fuji shows itself most reliably and the turf is at its best. June rain and August humidity are the months to avoid.
Budget roughly 80,000 to 107,000 yen for the two marquee green fees at published 2026 rates, plus caddie fees, and treat every number as indicative. Cash still matters at some clubs; carry yen. For the bigger national picture, our best golf courses in Japan ranking puts Kawana and Taiheiyo in context with the private giants.
Where this trip sits
The Japan destination hub covers seasons, costs and etiquette in full. If five days becomes seven, the 7 day itinerary adds the bullet train south and a Miyazaki leg. To have the rooms, rounds, driver and a Tokyo hotel booked as one piece, start from Japan golf holidays, or go up a tier with luxury golf tours of Japan.
Plan this Japan golf trip
Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge books the Kawana room and tee time together, holds Taiheiyo Gotemba, arranges the driver and costs the trip to the head. We reply within one working day, with no obligation.
Japan trip questions
Can visitors play the Kawana Fuji course?
Yes, but only as guests of the Kawana Hotel. The C.H. Alison design from 1936, often called the Pebble Beach of Japan, is reserved for hotel guests, everyone walks, and rounds go out with caddies in the traditional Japanese style. Published green fees run 47,800 yen on weekdays and 63,700 yen on holidays, with package plans sometimes lower, so book the room and the tee time together and always confirm directly before booking.
How much does a 5 day Japan golf trip cost?
Green fees for the two marquee rounds run roughly 80,000 to 107,000 yen combined at published 2026 rates, with Taiheiyo Club Gotemba at 32,590 yen weekdays and 43,590 on holidays, and Kawana Fuji at 47,800 to 63,700 yen. Add two nights at the Kawana Hotel, a Tokyo hotel either side, and a rental car or driver, and a comfortable trip lands around 2,500 to 4,000 US dollars per head before flights. All figures are indicative, always confirm directly before booking.
Do I need a car for this Japan golf itinerary?
A car is the practical answer. Tokyo to Gotemba is about 90 minutes to 2 hours by road, Gotemba to the Kawana Hotel on the Izu Peninsula about 90 minutes, and the return from Ito to central Tokyo about 2.5 hours. Trains reach both areas, the Odakyu line to Gotemba and the JR line to Ito, but with clubs a car or a hired driver makes the trip far smoother. Caddies and clubhouse customs handle everything once you arrive. Always confirm timings before travel.
When is the best time for a golf trip to Japan?
April to May and October to November. Spring brings cherry blossom and clear views of Mount Fuji from the Gotemba fairways, and autumn brings firm turf, red maples and the most reliable skies. June is rainy season, July and August are hot and humid, and winter can close mountain courses. Kawana on the coast plays well in all but midwinter. Always confirm seasonal conditions directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time releases, access changes and the booking windows worth moving on first. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Fees, access rules and drive times verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.