Ultimate Japan Tour
11 Days with 6 Rounds of Golf
Special thanks to Katsuragi GC.
JAPAN ULTIMATE 11 DAY TOUR
11 Days 6 Rounds of Golf from NZD13,775pp
The Hotel and Golf Courses
Prince Park Tower Hotel, Tokyo. Arrive Sunday – depart Tuesday
Prince Hotel Takaragaike, Kyoto. Arrive Tuesday – depart Thursday
Katsuragi Hotel, Shizuoka. Arrive Thursday – depart Saturday
Hakone Prince Hotel. Arrive Saturday – depart Tuesday
Prince Park Tower Hotel. Arrive Tuesday – depart Wednesday
10 continental breakfasts served on a daily basis
6 golf lunches with drinks (day 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10)
4 golf dinners served with drinks (day 2, 5, 6, 10)
6 rounds including shared carts (as available) and lunch
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Click on the Courses below for more details.
Seta Golf Course, Kyoto
Yamana Course, Shizuoka
Ugari Course, Shizuoka
Hakone-en Golf Course
Daihakone Country Club
Airport transfers to and from Japan in/out airports.
Luxury air-conditioned private coach golf transfers.
Japanese Tour Conductor for the entire program.
Japan Shinkansen bullet train travel is included.
Your international airfares are not included.
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Sunday Day 1. Arrive. Arrive Tokyo, Japan. Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND)
Welcome to one of the most dazzling cities in the world. Due to staggered arrival times, we have pre-paid your seat on the Airport Limousine Service for you to relax enroute to the Tokyo Prince Park Tower Hotel. The comfortable ride is approximately one hour, subject to traffic conditions. We have a welcome greeting tonight with drinks and canapés in the lobby from 7pm to meet with your fellow travellers. Then the rest of the night is free to enjoy.
Tokyo
Monday Day 2 - Golf. Hirakawa Country Club, Chiba.
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Hirakawa CC is interesting because of its layout and awesome conditions. There is sufficient water and bunkers that protect fast greens and many interesting long holes. Hirakawa CC is 7,206 yards, par 72, built in 1988 affording a reasonably flat terrain surrounded with forests of cedar and cypress trees. These surroundings are sensational so do enjoy the golf.
Here is a top championship course and home annually to the JPGA’s Fujifilm Japan Senior Open. As a private members only course, it is not easy to get on unless you know someone. Hirakawa is one of the Japan courses that does not have power carts. You walk the course and you have a caddy bringing all your clubs to you and your ball. The elevation change is less than 10 metres across the entire course which makes the walk even more pleasant. The fairways are like lush carpets and the greens are tour standard. This is a 2 bent green system. Course maintenance is of high quality and the condition of the turf is very good regardless of the season. The high quality of the greens is part of this well-earned course reputation.
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Special thanks to Hirakawa CC
Tuesday Day 3 – Tour. Tokyo and Kyoto.
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After breakfast we meet in the hotel lobby before we take a further look at Tokyo. The nearby Imperial Palace is a fabulous introduction to this country. One can gaze in awe at the Nijubashi bridge, with imperial castles in the background, to realise that you are in a very different world. The Imperial East Gardens can be enjoyed all year round. These are home to a variety of historic structures including giant stone walls, remains of the castle tower and turrets dating back to the Edo (1603-1868) period. We then make our way to Tokyo Station. You are escorted right onto the platform to board the Shinkansen bullet train bound for ancient Kyoto; 2 hours 30 minutes away. On arrival at Kyoto Station, you’ll be met right on your train’s arrival platform and escorted to the Prince Hotel Kyoto.
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After check in, drop off your bags and have time to refresh. Then your Kyoto tour conductor will lead you on an engaging tour to give an authentic evening view of Kyoto. Visiting the vivid Gion district for an understanding of Japan’s culture and traditions then settle in with dinner at a favourite izakaya restaurant.
Nijubashi Bridge
Wednesday Day 4 - Golf. Seta Golf Course North, Kyoto.
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The Seta Golf Course is a 54 hole course that spreads across a hilly area overlooking Lake Biwa and Mount Hieizan. Designed with Mackenzie bent golf green, the course is kept in best conditions throughout the year. The surrounding golf views are absolutely stunning. The setting of the US annual women’s LPGA tour Toto Japan Classic. This championship course designed by renowned Japanese Seiichu Inoue and measures 7012 yards with a par of 72. This is a highly enjoyable and challenging course with lots of water to watch out for on holes 3, 6 and 11.
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We expect to complete the round by mid-afternoon. We encourage full participation with a soak in the hot baths after the round. You have a free night in Kyoto to explore at leisure.
Special thanks to SETA GC
Thursday Day 5 - Tour. Kyoto to Kakegawa.
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We continue exploring and learning about this ancient capital. We visit two famous sites of Kinkaku-ji Temple and Nijo Castle. Lunch is served along the way. Kyoto actually means ‘capital city’, which may seem a bit odd given that Tokyo is the capital. But that points back to the history. For over 1,000 years, from 794 to 1868, Kyoto served as the capital city of Japan. It originated in the form Heian-kyo (literally ‘peaceful capital’) that was centred around the Imperial Palace. It was from here that Japan’s emperors ruled for centuries. It’s no surprise that Kyoto remains so woven with palaces, gardens, temples and shrines. There’s an endless amount of fascinating things to see, making Kyoto almost like a museum. Kyoto has its own unique charm and atmosphere, attracting millions of tourists each year from Japan and overseas. Historic traditions have been maintained in this cultural capital that may not be experienced elsewhere in Japan – like its geisha district, for example. These sites, these people and these places may well be engraved on your memory forever.
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In the early afternoon we take the shinkansen to Kakegawa and see more of the country. We get a lovely view of the surrounding landscapes during this 2-hour journey. Then a short drive to the resort which is our home for the next 2 nights. Once known as the land of Totomi, the Enshu region of western Shizuoka embraces both the history and culture of Japan. At the heart of this fabled region stands the distinctive Katsuragi Hotel Kitanomaru, an extraordinary modern-day Japanese castle created and developed by the Yamaha Group. This is exquisitely Japanese; a standard you likely have never experienced before. It was created from a historical home built long ago by skilled craftsmen and transported to this site. With attention to every detail, it has been transformed into a facility that combines traditional Japanese aesthetic ideals with discreet modern conveniences, creating a destination of unrivaled luxury and comfort. This is the Japan from which Yamaha arose, and we are delighted to be able to share this sensibility and culture. Relax your body and mind in the peace and beauty of this incredible resort. Breakfast and dinner is included.
Bullet Train
Friday Day 6 - Golf. Yamana Golf Course.
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Located within the Katsuragi Resort is the first of two fine golf courses. Yamana is a course steeped in the traditions and drama of professional competition. Here we witness the handiwork of master golf course designer Seiichi Inoue on the strategically demanding Yamana Course. A grand course carved out of a gorgeous forest, with views of the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Here he will awaken your desire to win as you take on the challenging layout with uniquely positioned lakes and bunkers. Yamana is the setting for the Yamaha Katsuragi Ladies Open and only a short stroll to our accommodation and dinner location. Immerse yourself in an open-air bath that faces a bamboo garden or experience a relaxing mist sauna.
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Special thanks to KATSURAGI GC.
Saturday Day 7 – Golf. Ugari Golf Course
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Again, inside the resort, the spacious Ugari course design highlights the natural rolling hills. With holes that call for massive carry, and others that demand precise shots, the course is punctuated by major changes in rhythm and dynamics. This wide-open hilly course is perfect for casual golfing with friends or clients and extend a charming Japanese welcome.
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After the round we make our way towards Hakone, the heartland of Mt Fuji. If we are lucky, Fuji will be in view today from the left hand side of the bullet train. Our beautiful resort is the Sengokuhana Prince Hotel. Here we have world-famous stunning courses to tackle.
Sunday Day 8 – Tour. Hakone
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Today is a well-earned rest day in the mountains. This resort hotel is located adjacent to our final golf course, with peaceful surroundings and refreshing winds that bring fresh air. The contrast of the mountains, the skies and the lake provide a picturesque backdrop for your stay. Immerse yourself and find relaxation for both body and mind. There is also a range of organised activities we offer in the area, allowing you to appreciate the natural splendour.
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Hakone
Monday Day 9 – Golf. Hakone-en Golf Course
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Perched on a hill top this course was created to take advantage of the sloping land that faces Lake Ashi with Mt. Komagatake as its backdrop. The designers, Komyo Otani and Yasuhiko Asaka, sculptured fewer elevation changes than you might expect, because it is laid out around the foot of the mountain. From most of the holes, you can see magnificent views of Mt. Fuji and Lake Ashi. It's not overly long and at 5,936 yards you might think this is an easy course. But the subtle undulation changes, the narrow fairways and strategic position of bunkers all make this quite the difficult course. Several holes feature twin green options to add variety and more challenge. Accuracy is key to scoring well and the elevation along with the nearby mountain can produce nice refreshing winds from the nearby lake Ashi. As a Prince group golf course, you can be assured of top class food and service offerings in the lovely clubhouse after enjoying a day of resort-style mountain golf.
Special thanks to Hakino-En GC
Tuesday Day 10 – Tour. Daihakone Country Club
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Our hotel is located adjacent to Daihakone Country Club. Spread out on the majestic Sengokuhara plain against the background of the broad mountains of the outer rim of Hakone Crater, the Daihakone Country Club offers 18 holes landscaped with truly unique individuality. A notable feature of the course is the hole No.17 known as the ‘Lotus Flower’ being a difficult hole surrounded with tricky bunkers. The yardage is 7289 par is 73.
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After this round and suitable refreshments, we return to Tokyo and the Prince Park Tower Hotel. Check in and freshen up then prepare for tonight’s included farewell dinner which will be around and under the railway lines at Yurakucho railway station. Thereafter free to enjoy your final evening on the town in Tokyo.
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Special thanks to Daihakone CC
Wednesday Day 11 – Depart
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Hotel checkout time is 10am We make our way to Ginza for lunch at a local izakaya restaurant, visit a department store for any of your last minute shopping then transfer to Narita Airport to arrive in well in time for your airline, customs and immigration procedures.
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We wish you a pleasant flight back to your home. For now we say Sayonara.
THE GOLF TOURIST Ltd
Suite 3, 23 Graham Street,
Auckland Central 1010,
NEW ZEALAND.
