A Shinkansen ride of just over an hour from Tokyo Station will have you arriving at one of the most beautiful destinations in Japan. Karuizawa is well known for its cool summers and cold winters and acts predominantly as an upmarket mountain resort and summer retreat for wealthy Tokyoites. Karuizawa is a wonderful destination for outdoor types and personally I think one of the best kept secrets in Japan for the travelling golfer. The area boasts around 700 restaurants and cafes, and has a vast array of museums, galleries, first class hotels and also a historical shopping district. It is also a popular destination for people visiting the Prince Shopping mall which sits directly beside Karuizawa Station.

For the golfer the best months to play are the beginning of May to the end of September as from November to March the courses are practically ski runs. Karuizawa has an abundance of golf clubs to choose from yet the ability to book tee times and gather information is rather dependent on your ability to speak Japanese.

Taiheiyo Club on the other hand have an English concierge service who can handle tee time, hotel and restaurant bookings. More than 1000 rounds have been played here by overseas guests since the beginning of 2015 so the english speaking staff members do a fantastic job taking care of their guests.

The Taiheiyo Club resort is one of the gems amongst what Karuizawa has to offer. A delightfully scenic 30 minute private bus journey from the main train station is all that is required to have you inside the property. As you wind up the mountainside towards your destination you will get a great sense of what this beautiful township has to offer. Passing the stilted summer homes and beautiful timber retail shops gives just a glimpse as to why this place is so special.

The Taiheiyo property consists of 36 holes (Asama and Shirakaba courses), a newly renovated clubhouse and 85 room hotel, in house pro shop, 3 new restaurants and wine bar. The wine bar opens daily from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm and because of its popularity, I suggest you make a booking.

The golf courses were both designed by the late Mr. Shunsuke Kato, a prolific golf course architect in Japan and the man who was commissioned to design the original Taiheiyo layouts, including Taiheiyo Gotemba.

The Taiheiyo 36 hole courses slope gently away from Mt. Asama and although intertwined they very much offer a totally different challenge. Resort style courses can tend to look the same after a few holes as they blend into insignificance, yet each and every hole on this property is unique and memorable.

Taiheiyo Karuizawa is diverse enough to give professionals a stern test, yet is also the perfect destination for beginners and families. The courses are free of forced water carries and 500 yard par 4 holes. There are no caddies at Karuizawa so the club management allows buggies to be driven on the fairways at certain times of the year. The Asama and Shirakaba courses have multiple teeing grounds so playing forward for kids and beginners makes the courses very enjoyable.

The courses are cut through a forest of Japanese cedars which makes for an Augusta National type look and the quietness of the courses gives it a real sense of tranquility. Fast greens, manicured fairways, short rough and friendly bunkering is what Karuizawa is known for, and for those reasons, is a genuine favourite amongst Taiheiyo members and guests.

Asama Course

The Asama course plays nearly 7,000 yards off the back tees and is the more difficult of the two courses. The course has a great blend of slightly longer Par 5 holes, mid length par 3 holes and Par 4 holes that don't require you to hit fairways woods for your second shot. As the name suggests the Asama course has spectacular and unobstructed views of Mount Asama. I suggest taking your camera as some of the views of the course and its backdrop are quite breathtaking.

Shirakaba Course

The Shirakaba course is shorter than the Asama playing 6,500 yards but has a very typical Japanese design feature with occasional trees occupying the centre of the fairway. If you can negotiate these trees you will find this course a little easier than Asama and plenty of fun. Shirakaba comes with some really terrific short par 4 holes with the longer holes generally playing downhill.

What excites me about Karuizawa is what awaits you after the round. The restaurants and wine bar are some of the best in the Karuizawa area with the service and attention to detail being first class. Japanese, Korean BBQ and an Italian/French fusion restaurant are the choices which offer a very different dining experience.

Kobushi is the Japanese restaurant which serves traditional or a `Kaiseki’ style of cuisine. Beautifully prepared and thoughtfully presented is the best way to describe the menu. The restaurant's interior and décor has a slightly minimalistic appeal yet exudes that timeless Japanese architecture. Quiet and sophisticated with a casual feel makes everyone feel at home.

The Korean BBQ restaurant `Rokurigahara’ is a yakiniku restaurant. The term `Yakiniku` simply refers to eating bite sized pieces of barbequed meat. It's a great casual form of dining with the restaurant being a little noisier and less formal than the other two restaurants. A few beers or glasses of red wine goes perfectly with this cuisine and please note ... make sure you put on the disposable bib they give you!

Fine Dining is how I would describe the Italian/ French fusion restaurant `Serenade’. One of the attractions of this restaurant is that the vegetables used in the dishes are all grown in the Karuizawa region. Serenade employs a sommelier who will pair your dinner perfectly with one of the 1000 bottles of wine on offer from the cellar. The wines have personally been chosen by the CEO and President of Taiheiyo Club, Mr Shun Han,

Villa The Club – Karuizawa Hotel

In 2019 Taiheiyo Club's management decided to renovate the 85 room hotel which was a massive undertaking but has seen the building totally rejuvenated. Each and every room was renovated with beds, bathrooms and furniture replaced. The rooms which were comfortable are now places you could lounge around in. The superb materials and colour used in each room provides a warm and inviting feeling. The biggest change in the hotel are two suites that have been added which are equal to anything I have ever seen in a 5 star hotel.

The hotel also consists of a karaoke, mahjong, massage room and a very relaxing lobby where you can sit back and enjoy a few drinks. Most importantly the smiling and attentive staff will take care of all your needs.

There are many ways to enjoy golf in Japan but Karuizawa is special. It is a treat in Japan to be able to have a base for a few days where the hotel, golf courses, clubhouse, restaurants are at your doorstep. You will not be disappointed.

If you are interested in playing and staying in Karuizawa please let me know as the staff put together some wonderful packages. The prices do fluctuate depending on the season but whenever you decide to visit I assure you will have an amazing time.

How to get there

The shinkansen travels from Tokyo station about every half hour to Karuizawa. The journey takes about 65 minutes and is a very enjoyable ride. The Taiheiyo Club buses leave from the South side of the station each morning at 7:50 am, 8:25 am, 9:15 am and 10 am. The journey to the course takes about 30 minutes to arrive at the clubhouse.

After golf the club buses leave for Karuizawa station at 2 pm, 3:30 pm and 5 pm. Just make sure you book the buses with me to ensure you get a seat on the bus. I always suggest to organize the tickets a day before travelling to ensure you get the correct train as both Tokyo and Karuizawa stations can be busy places, especially during peak times.