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A driverless golf buggy glided up to my ball on a fairway framed by Mount Fuji — a small surprise that quickly made clear how different golf in Japan can feel. At Kawaguchiko and nearby Narusawa, modern kit and strict tradition combine to turn a round into a slow, sociable ritual rather than a quick sport.
High-tech caddies and autonomous buggies
At Kawaguchiko Country Club, about a two-hour drive west of Tokyo, I watched a four-seater buggy steer itself along the path and stop beside my drive. The machine was guided by an electromagnetic strip beneath the tarmac, preventing it from wandering onto the fairways and helping keep the turf in excellent condition even after rain.
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Each buggy carries an electronic screen showing hole graphics, distances, suggested approach lines and a scorecard. My caddy, Midori, controlled the vehicle with a small button and anticipated shots with impressive accuracy, selecting and cleaning clubs and wiping balls before putts. Other buggies on the property include heated seats.
A deliberately unhurried game
Golf here is paced differently. Rounds commonly stretch past six hours because play pauses for a lengthy lunch after nine holes. That break is part etiquette, part social time — and many players follow it with a soak in an Onsen to relax sore muscles.
Courses are maintained to a meticulous standard. Some holes feature two greens rotated on alternate days to aid upkeep. I also spotted an escalator built into a steep embankment — one of several practical oddities that felt both clever and very Japanese.
Not all the holes are forgiving. Kawaguchiko’s 18th is a par three guarded by nine large bunkers on a steep slope. Faced with that gauntlet, I played conservatively and laid up on two approaches. Midori’s guidance on club choice and putting lines, however, was unfailingly useful.
Narusawa: landscaped, scenic and serene
The next day at Narusawa Golf Club, a quieter course favoured in the past by ex-prime minister Shinzo Abe and sometimes used for JLPGA events, the experience had a stripped-back, almost Zen quality. The course resembles a carefully tended Japanese garden, with translucent ponds, arched bridges and clipped hedging.
The signature view comes on the par-three eighth, where Mount Fuji is reflected in the pond before the tee. Fairways here have little rough; instead, red pines and birch line the corridors, ready to swallow errant shots. Bunkers remain plentiful. A moving walkway eases a gentle incline, and, like Kawaguchiko, play stops for lunch — choices include soups, ramen, curries and fried set meals.
Etiquette, service and where to stay
Etiquette is treated seriously. Standard dress codes require collared shirts and tailored trousers, and a jacket is expected inside the clubhouse. Tipping is generally discouraged; staff pride themselves on attentive service without expecting extra payment.
The rounds I played were organised by Hanz Outdoor Resort, part of Hanz Golf Club, which also runs an indoor golf facility and driving range in Yahashita, Tokyo. The resort sits in woodland with clear views of Mount Fuji and offers villas, a guesthouse and glamping Paos — tent-style domes — plus an outdoor sauna and both mixed and single-sex Onsens.
My villa had two bedrooms, a wood-burning stove, a high-end barbecue, a private Jacuzzi and an automatic toilet with a heated seat and wash functions. Meals can be supplied for cooking on-site. On my first night I had a Sukiyaki hot pot prepared with local seasonal vegetables and Wagyu beef, slow-cooked in a cauldron.
The following evening featured a private tasting dinner prepared by the resort chef: small courses including abalone with avocado, smoked Fujinosuke salmon, grilled lobster and sea urchin, grilled beef with grated daikon sauce, deep-fried tofu cooked over an open fire, and matcha panna cotta.
Activities beyond the fairway
The resort markets itself to visitors seeking outdoor escapes rather than the usual city attractions. George Han, our host, noted growing interest from overseas travellers wanting authentic, nature-based experiences.
- Cycling and forest hikes
- Canoeing on Lake Kawaguchiko
- Winery visits and wood-chopping lessons
- Evening stargazing
For those arriving from abroad, golf in Japan offers a distinctive mix of tradition and gadgetry. Once you factor in local prices, many mid-to-high tier courses here can be noticeably cheaper than comparable rounds in Europe, while delivering immaculate conditions and service rooted in cultural ritual.
