5 Days Tokyo & Chiba Golf Tour: 3 Rounds in Japan

Konnichiwa (こんにちは)! Welcome to Tokyo, the vibrant capital city of Japan!

Upon your arrival at the airport, our driver will meet you at the exit and escort you to your hotel in Tokyo. The rest of today is free for you to explore this bustling capital city at your leisure.

As one of Japan and Asia's largest economic centers, Tokyo is a hub for Japanese culture and art, boasting numerous museums, art galleries, theaters, and cultural venues. It serves as a vital platform for artistic activities and cultural exchanges. Tokyo also stands as a significant base for technological advancement, nurturing numerous high-tech companies and innovative talents and holding leading global positions in areas like electronics, automotive, and robotics technology.

Situated at the southern end of the Kanto Plain, Tokyo is surrounded by diverse natural landscapes, including Mount Fuji, providing residents with ample spaces for leisure and outdoor activities. At one point, the population of the Tokyo metropolitan area reached 36 million, accounting for one-third of Japan's total population. Despite the high cost of living, Tokyo offers residents convenient living conditions, with a plethora of shopping centers, entertainment facilities, and a rich culinary culture ranging from fine dining to incredible street food.

Free Time Ideas for Today:

1. Shibuya: One of Tokyo's trendsetting centers, famous for its iconic Shibuya Scramble Crossing. This area is packed with large department stores, fashion boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment venues, making it a great place to feel the city's pulse.
2. Shinjuku: Tokyo's major business and entertainment district. You can head up to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck for free panoramic views of the city, stroll through Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, or experience the nightlife in Kabukicho. For a unique atmosphere, explore the small bars of Golden Gai.
3. Tokyo Tower / Tokyo Skytree: You can ascend to the observation decks of these landmark structures for breathtaking aerial views of Tokyo, especially at night when the city lights create a stunning spectacle.

On this day, you and your partners will enjoy your first round in Tokyo, playing 18 holes at Narita Golf Club. Located northeast of Tokyo, it's 1-1.5-hour drive and is Japanese Links Style, Hilly Parkland Course.

Narita Golf Club was personally designed by golf legend and major winner Gary Player.This acclaimed course, listed among Japan's top 100.

Narita Golf Club's design expertly utilizes its exceptional natural geography. As designer Taizo Kawada stated, "Eighteen complete stories form one long narrative. I believe that is what a golf course is." True to his words, each hole is uniquely designed. The course returns to the origins of golf with single bentgrass greens, cleverly placed lakes, and abundant trees, all enhancing its strategic demands. Notably, at Narita Golf Club, the 6-meter wide, 1000-yard long access road is considered in-bounds, with boundary stakes placed on its outer side. If your ball lands on the road, there's no penalty – a feature reminiscent of the sacred 17th hole at St. Andrews Old Course, also known as "Road Hole." It seems Mr. Kawada might have drawn inspiration from British golf courses when designing this one. Take a moment to appreciate this design that subtly nods to the classic links courses of the UK.

Memorable Signature Holes:

Hole 13: This is a particularly challenging par 4 with a pond running from the tee box all the way down the left side of the fairway to the back left of the green. It's often considered the "first entrance" to Narita's own "amen corner," demanding accuracy from tee to green.

Hole 18: A slight S-shaped par 5, this finishing hole presents an out-of-bounds (OB) area on the right for the tee shot, challenging players who tend to slice. The second shot is a gentle downhill, but a water hazard on the left requires precise execution. The large, uniquely shaped green is well-protected by bunkers, making it a memorable and potentially decisive final hole.

Enjoy your golf time here. After your round, you'll be escorted to your hotel in Chiba City.

On this day, enjoy your second round in Chiba. You'll play 18 holes at Tokyo Bay Country Club, a hilly course offering views of Tokyo Bay.

Tokyo Bay Country Club, located in Chiba Prefecture, is a renowned golf course boasting 27 holes with a par of 108 and a total distance of 10,010 yards, making it a considerably challenging course.

Designed by Mitsuo Yoshizaki, the course spans 1.3 million square meters. It's divided into three sections: "Kubota Course," "Kuranami Course," and "Nagaura Course." This design combines older, garden-style holes with more challenging new ones, offering golfers a diverse playing experience. The course skillfully utilizes the natural forests of Kisarazu, with moderate undulations and rich strategic layouts that constantly inspire players to challenge themselves. Furthermore, Tokyo Bay Country Club caters to intermediate and advanced golfers, especially its 18-hole hilly course, which is a par 72. This section is celebrated for its use of natural terrain and strategic design. The course's designer, Shunsuke Kato, is one of Japan's representative architects, and his design ensures the course is both beautiful and challenging.

For golf enthusiasts, Tokyo Bay Country Club provides an ideal setting to enjoy the sport amidst a beautiful natural environment. Its location, distinctive design, and challenging layout make it one of the most popular choices for golf tourism. Whether seeking relaxation or aiming to improve their skills, golfers will find a satisfying experience here.

How to Choose Your 18-Hole Combination:

• Nagaura Course: This is typically considered the most traditional and balanced of the three nine-hole courses. It likely incorporates water hazards and bunkers, offering a moderate challenge suitable for various skill levels.
• Kubota Course: This course is likely known for its strategic complexity, possibly featuring more intricate layouts or unique hazards that demand precise shots. It might be more challenging than the Nagaura Course.
• Kuranami Course: As a distinct nine-hole section, it might offer unique scenery or specific challenges, such as longer fairways, more undulations, or a style completely different from the other two, providing a fresh experience.

Here are some suggested 18-hole combinations:

1. Nagaura + Kubota: This is often a classic and highly recommended 18-hole combination, as it allows you to experience the course's most comprehensive features, blending traditional layouts with strategic challenges.
2. Kubota + Kuranami: If you're an experienced golfer looking for higher difficulty and more variety, this combination might offer more unique challenges.

Enjoy your golf time here! After your round, you'll be escorted back to Tokyo for accommodation.

After breakfast, join us for your third round of golf in Tokyo. You'll head to Daiatsugi Country Club Sakura Course for 18 holes. It's located 63 km away, about 1.5-hour drive.

Daiatsugi Country Club is the largest championship golf course in Kanagawa Prefecture, boasting a total of 45 holes: 27 holes on its main course (South, East, West) and 18 holes on the Sakura Course (front nine, back nine).

The Sakura Course at Daiatsugi Country Club is a classic hilly course, designed by Toshio Kinoshita and opened in 1981. Its fairways wind along naturally undulating terrain, flanked by dense trees.

The Sakura Course's most distinctive feature is its stunning cherry blossoms in spring. Over 5,000 cherry trees of various sizes adorn the course. When spring arrives and the blossoms are in full bloom, the entire course is enveloped in a sea of pink and white flowers, creating a truly dreamlike golfing experience.

The course itself presents enjoyable challenges, potentially including significant slopes, or the need to navigate across small streams and ravines, adding to the game's excitement and difficulty.

Enjoy your great golf time here, which will last 4-5 hours. We wish you good results today. After your round, you'll be transferred back to your hotel in Tokyo. If you have some free time, feel free to explore Tokyo on your own.

After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye to Tokyo as your 5-day Japan Tokyo Golf Tour comes to an end. Today, our driver will escort you to the airport for your departure, depending on your flight schedule.

Golf Trip Extension:

If you’d like to continue your golf experience in other destinations in Japan - such as Kyoto, Osaka, Hokkaido, or Okinawa - just let us know. We can customize your golf tour to suit your interests.

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your Japan Tours. We are committed to enhancing your travel experience and look forward to welcoming you on your next adventure in Asia. Have a safe journey home!