Options From Tokyo and Return

If you are travelling to Japan and playing golf, both Taiheiyo Club courses in Gotemba should be at the top of your list. The Gotemba West property has a newly renovated, 23 room boutique hotel that is the perfect location to stay while playing both courses. One of the questions I am often asked is to suggest the best mode of transport to get to Gotemba so I decided to share all of the options below.

If your tee time is before 9:15 am on either of Taiheiyo courses then I suggest staying the night before at the Gotemba West hotel as none of the transport from Tokyo will arrive early enough for your tee time (unless you are taking private transport). If your tee time is after 9:15 am then it is very simple to travel to the Gotemba courses on the morning of the game.

Tokyo to Taiheiyo Gotemba courses and return – Private transport

A door to door service that takes about 1.5 hours from the centre of Tokyo and should be considered. For about $800 US with all the tolls and tax included you will have a luxury vehicle that is at your beckon and call. Totally stress free and cost effective if there are a few golfers involved to split the cost. Contact me if you are interested as we work with the best transport company in Tokyo.

Tokyo to Taiheiyo Gotemba courses and return – Helicopter

Door to door service and just a wonderful experience flying over Mt Fuji. Better Space is a very professional helicopter service who can fly 4 golfers to Gotemba in about 35 minutes from central Tokyo. The cost is about $2000 US return and is very much a bucket list trip. Please contact me directly if you are interested.

Tokyo to Gotemba Station - Bus

The Shinjuku bus terminal is a newish building on the 3rd floor above Shinjuku train station. Buses to Gotemba station begin at 6:30 am each morning and leave every 30 minutes. I always suggest purchasing the ticket the day before inside the terminal to ensure you get a seat on the bus for the next morning. The bus ride will cost about $15 US. The buses are very comfortable, all assigned seating with a toilet on board. The belly of the bus has plenty of space for luggage also. The 6:30 am bus will take just under two hours to arrive at Gotemba Station. The Taiheiyo Club shuttle bus leaves at 8:25 am so if you arrive in time please get on. It's free of charge. If you arrive after 8:25 am you will have to get a taxi which is available on both sides of Gotemba station, cost is about $25 US. The Taiheiyo bus will arrive at Taiheiyo Gotemba at 8:45 am and Gotemba West at about 8:55 am.

Tokyo to Gotemba Station – Express train

This is the best option and the one I prefer. Shinjuku station has a train that leaves every morning at 6:40 am which arrives at Gotemba Station at 8:13 am. The train is called the Romancecar Fuji 1 which travels on the Odakyu Line. Make sure you purchase the tickets the day before to ensure you get a seat and also understand the gate you will need to pass through the next morning. DON'T BE LATE as there is no other express train to Gotemba and you will miss your tee time. The cost is about $25 US and all the seats are assigned. There is plenty of space above for golf clubs and luggage so take your seat and enjoy what is a very pleasant ride. Once you arrive at Gotemba station take the Hakone Otome Exit on the right, walk down the stairs where you will see the Taiheiyo Shuttle bus in the parking area. Please get on, it's free of charge and the bus will leave at 8:25 am, arriving at Taiheiyo Gotemba at 8:45 am and Gotemba West at 8:55 am.

Tokyo to Gotemba (Mishima Station) – Shinkansen

Every morning from Tokyo station the Tokaido-Sanyo Kodoma 703 Shinkansen departs at 6:57 am and arrives at Mishima Station at 7:50 am. The cost of the Shinkansen is about $45 US. Make sure you purchase the tickets the day before to ensure you are able to get a seat for the following day. After purchasing the ticket, ask the attendant to show you which gate you need to pass through the next morning because Tokyo station can be confusing. The station will be busy so give yourself plenty of time to find the gate and your platform on the day. Do not be late because if you miss the train you will not be able to get the connecting bus from Mishima station to the Taiheiyo courses. The Shinkansens have plenty of overhead space for golf bags and luggage. Once you exit Mishima station you will see the Taiheiyo Club shuttle bus directly in front of you. The bus leaves at 8:10 am and arrives at Taiheiyo Gotemba at 9am and Gotemba West at 9:10 am.

NOTE. You MUST book this shuttle bus. It's free of charge but if the bus is not booked the staff will not drive it down to Mishima station. Therefore please inform me if you would like to take this bus.

RETURN

Gotemba Station to Tokyo - Bus

The Taiheiyo Club shuttle bus leaves Gotemba West at 5pm, picking up golfers at 5:10 pm at the Gotemba course. It will stop at Gotemba Station at 5:30 pm where you can buy a ticket from the bus ticket counter which is beside where you are dropped off that morning. Buses leave every 30 minutes that will take you back to either Tokyo Station or Shinjuku bus terminal. The journey is about 2 hours.

If you finish golf earlier and do not want to wait for the Taiheiyo shuttle bus then catch a taxi to Gotemba station. The Taiheiyo staff will order one for you and the cost will be about $25 US. The taxi will drop you on the Mt Fuji side of Gotemba Station so take the stairs over the station to the Hakone Otome side and the ticket office will be on your left.

Gotemba to Tokyo – Express Train

The Taiheiyo Club shuttle bus leaves Gotemba West at 5 pm, picking up golfers at 5:10 pm at the Gotemba course. It will stop at Gotemba Station at 5:30 pm.

If you finish golf earlier and do not want to wait for the Taiheiyo shuttle bus then catch a taxi to Gotemba station. The Taiheiyo staff will order one for you, and the cost will be about $25 US. The taxi and shuttle bus will drop you at Gotemba station so take the stairs to the top and purchase the ticket inside the ticket office.

The catch is the express train from Gotemba Station to Shinjuku only runs once in the afternoons during the week. The Romancecar Fujisan 6 leaves Gotemba Station at 6:47 am bound for Shinjuku Station, arriving at 8:20 pm. Weekends have the same train but it runs twice at 4:46 pm and 6:47 am. If the 6:47 pm train is too long to wait then consider taking the bus back (read above) or take the shinkansen back to Tokyo station (see below). If you don't mind waiting there are some cool restaurants on both sides of Gotemba station where you can have a bowl of noodles and a beer before heading back on the 6:47 pm train. There is also a convenience store inside the train station where you can purchase a few snacks and beers for the ride back. I highly recommend it.

Gotemba to Tokyo – Shinkansen

The Taiheiyo Club shuttle bus leaves Gotemba West at 5 pm, picking up golfers at 5:10 pm at the Gotemba course. It will first stop at Gotemba Station at 5:30 pm and arrive at Mishima station at 6:30 pm. Buy your ticket upon arrival at Mishima station as the Shinkansens run every 30 to 40 minutes back to Tokyo station and it takes less than one hour to get there. The cost is about $40 US.

If you finish golf earlier and do not want to wait for the Taiheiyo shuttle bus then catch a taxi to Mishima station. The Taiheiyo staff will order one for you, and the cost of the taxi will be about $70 US.

My personal choice

Gotemba to Tokyo: Taxi from Taiheiyo courses to Mishima station. Shinkansen from Mishima Station to Tokyo station. It's a little more costly than the other options but it's the fastest and the shinkansen ride is always a highlight.