Business Traveler, Dec/Jan 2021
D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 1 4 1 WE L L B E I N G KAWANA HOTEL WHERE 75 miles south of Tokyo one hour by bullet train plus 15 minute minibus WHY The Kawanas first course Oshima opened in the 1920s Then followed a visit from revered course architect CH Allison Staying at the Kawana Hotel he persuaded Anglophile owner Baron Kishichiro Okura to create the Fuji Course named for the mountain seen from the 11th fairway This course laid out through mature parkland with changes of elevation and deep bunkers opened in 1936 The opening tee shot is steeply downhill begging the question What comes next The answer is a grueling three hole climb After the halfway house a compulsory 15 minute stop fairways cross a plateau towards the finishing stretch along spectacular cliffs The 11th is the longest hole while the 15th which slopes down towards the shore is the most dramatic No carts on Fuji but Oshima allows them Some holes have robot carts to carry players up steep inclines an eerie taste of the automation to come PRICE Fuji weekdays 26000 248 weekends 34000 325 play fee includes caddie and range balls Oshima weekdays 12300 118 includes cars with GPS and range balls weekends 14300 137 Club rental 6480 62 Japanese brands HOURS Fuji stay and play tee times 8 10 30 AM Oshima visitors any time from 8 AM until sunset FACILITIES Fuji 18 holes 6701 yards par 72 Oshima 5711 yards par 70 No outdoor practice area Underground electronic driving range Putting green MAX HANDICAP 24 FOOD AND LEISURE The Kawana Hotel built in the 1920s has 100 rooms and was stayed in by honeymooners Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio Not all rooms are nonsmoking so reserve ahead There are two grass tennis courts swimming pools and billiard and mahjong rooms The restaurant serves sashimi and sushi CONTACT 1459 Kawana Ito shi Shizuoka 414 0044 tel 81 557 45 1111 princehotels com The Tokyo Olympics may be delayed but the golf courses around Japans capital arent slowing down b u s i n e s s t r a v e l e r u s a c o m
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