2026 Japan Golf Tour
9 Golf Games (With Option to Play Less Games)
17 days/16 nights – 14 to 30 October 2026
AUD 18,000 pp twin share – golfer (AUD 12,000 pp twin share – non golfer)
AUD 36,000 per golfing couple (AUD 30,000 golfer/non golfer couple)
AUD 24,500 for Single Golfer (Own Room)
Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours invites you to join its 2026 Japan Golf Tour. Japan, with over 2,100 golf courses, has more golf courses than any other country excepting the USA. We hope this tour will interest you.
In selecting where to stay and play, our journey concentrates on 4 key golf/tourist regions in central Japan to minimise travelling time and maximise your Japan experience, with ample time for both golf and sightseeing. Our tour begins in the exciting metropolis of Tokyo (4 nights – 2 golf games), then travels to the Izu Peninsula, home of the famous Kawana Golf Resort (3 nights – 2 golf games). After Kawana, we travel to the beautiful Hakone where views of Fuji are ever-present (4 nights – 2 golf games). After Hakone, we move to Lake Biwa, 30 minutes from downtown Kyoto (5 nights – 3 golf games).
In between golf, we have 3 days of dedicated guided touring and 3 leisurely travelling days. All 4 hotels are 4/5 star and in each, we have selected upgraded room categories to ensure an acceptable room size of 35-40 sqm (large in Japan).
While daily breakfast, 4 lunches and 2 dinners are included, we have left plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy evenings out at the many restaurants available in each area. Much of the fun of Japan is exploring the local areas in the evening and picking out your preferred restaurants – tourists are significantly assisted by accurate window displays of the cuisine and menu options. You will be encouraged to join your hosts in finding interesting dining options near your hotel. Outside of hotels, dining out in Japan is not expensive (certainly less expensive than Australia) and offers good value.
Autumn is stunning in Japan, and we have selected an attractive collection of beautiful golf courses – among the best in the 4 regions where we will stay – to increase your enjoyment. Each is generally located within one hour of our hotel or in the case of Kawana, a short walk from the hotel. The three Seta courses are only 15 to 20 minutes from our base at Lake Biwa. Most are either private members golf courses with specially negotiated access rights or in the case of Kawana and Lake Biwa, usually only playable in conjunction with a stay at the onsite/associated hotel. You can expect high-end golf on immaculately conditioned courses with excellent club house facilities. Management of golf at all 9 x golf courses is 2nd to none and better than you would experience on any NZ or Australian golf course, private or public.
Golf in Japan is generally quite a unique experience when compared with golf in Australia. It is usually with caddies, mostly with a compulsory break for lunch after 9 holes (50 to 60 minutes). On ALL courses, we have been able to secure 2 tee starts so a typical day will start with the first tee off between 8.30 am and 10 am, 60 minutes stop for lunch after 9 holes, play the final 9 holes and then time for drinks and prize giving. A great day !
We have hired motorised carts at all golf courses. Motorised carts differ from what you are used to as they take all 4 x golfers plus golf clubs and your caddie, i.e. one caddy per 4 players (although some courses do not include a caddie). Your caddie will provide advice on distances and course management. On a majority of golf courses, the carts must stay on the cart paths, and your caddie will select, collect, deliver and return your golf clubs between you and the cart (although you can do this yourself). With one cart between 4 golfers, you will walk further than if travelling in the more familiar 2 golfer cart.
Trendsetter has included the cost for all caddies, motorised carts, lunches and all drinks. Gratuities are not customary and are not expected.
As with all Trendsetter Travel golf tours, the primary focus is on golf. However, we do offer you the flexibility to elect to play fewer than the scheduled 9 games (in advance of final payment), with an equitable pricing adjustment. However, we do not offer alternative activities if you choose to not golf on any of the 9 scheduled golf games.
In three of the four locations, we have included a break from golf with a scheduled day of guided sightseeing to include key local attractions. Each of these touring days (9 am to 4/5 pm) will be broken up with an included lunch and beverages (including beer and wine), typically at a local Japanese restaurant. All our included group lunches and dinners will generally be Japanese cuisine (we will check menu preferences prior). There is plenty of choice in Japan, and on the nights when dinner is independent of the tour, the hotel and/or Adrienne will recommend local restaurants.
All travel will be by coach with our luggage/golf clubs transferred by a luggage van between hotels.
We believe our Japanese tour differs from those offered by other Australian golf operators in that it concentrates on high end Japanese golf, provides accommodation in large rooms at some of the best available hotels and offers a fine balance of golfing and sightseeing time. Importantly, as Adrienne has lived in Japan and speaks very acceptable Japanese, you have 24/7 assistance on tap (except when she is asleep). Apart from your 2 hosts, the tour is strictly limited to a maximum of 34 golfers (unlimited non-golfing partners are welcome) and is guaranteed to operate, there being no minimum number of guests.
Your tour leaders are Adrienne Witteman and David Cooper, both Directors and Co-Owners of Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours. Both are enthusiastic golfers and longstanding members of one of Sydney’s most prestigious golf clubs. They have golfed extensively throughout the world (including 4 golfing visits to Japan) and have jointly hosted over 55 international golf tours arranged by Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours.
Itinerary
Wednesday 14 October 2026 – Tokyo – MESM Tokyo Hotel
Make your own way to the MESM Tokyo Hotel in Tokyo. This 5-star high rise hotel is part of the Marriott managed Autograph collection of hotels and was constructed in 2021.
Your stay will be in a Chapter 1 Room (large at 40 sqm) with King bed and a separate shower and bath.
Tonight, you will meet your fellow tour companions over drinks and welcome tour dinner in an expected private room of the MESM Tokyo Hotel.
Accommodation: MESM Tokyo Hotel (4 nights) including breakfast daily
Thursday 15 October 2026 – Tokyo – MESM Tokyo Hotel - Golf at Gary Player Course – Manna Country Club
For our 1st golf game, we travel a little over 60 minutes east of our hotel, starting with a drive over Tokyo Bay, to play the Gary Player Course at the Manna Country Club (1996). The course is described as offering thrilling features for visiting golfers,
such as a downhill par-4 hole that overlooks Kujukuri seashore and a par-3 hole with red sand waste areas on both sides (refer image right). Importantly, the course is so well drained that passenger golf carts are allowed on the fairways all year round. We think this is a great course to start our tour with Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours having played many memorable Gary Player designed courses throughout the world, most recently in South Africa and near Casablanca.
Friday 16 October 2026 – Tokyo – MESM Tokyo Hotel - Golf – The Country Club, Japan
Our drive to The Country Club, Japan (1988) also includes a scenic 2 km drive over the Rainbow Suspension Bridge, across Tokyo Bay. Today we visit one of Tokyo’s most prestigious golf clubs, famous for its impressive club rooms, immaculately presented golf course and extensive practice facilities. Caddies are compulsory.
Saturday 17 October 2026 – Tokyo – MESM Tokyo Hotel – Day of Touring
Today, we have a dedicated guided tour of Tokyo (9 am to 4 pm) including a cruise on Tokyo Bay. Your included lunch (including drinks) will be on the cruise. Tokyo City has a population of circa 15 million but the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area has over 40 million, the largest populated area in the world. Tokyo, and its port city of Yokohama have been built around Tokyo Bay.
Sunday 18 October 2026 – Tokyo/Kawana – Kawana Hotel
Late this morning, we will transfer south to the Izu Peninsula and our home for 3 nights, the iconic Prince Kawana Hotel (130 km – 2 hours, 40 minutes), the hotel located adjacent to the famous Fuji Golf Course. The hotel has only twin bedded rooms and we are booked in Ocean facing large 40.5 sqm Ocean View Superior Twin bedded rooms (refer image of both room and floor plan) which cannot be converted to King Beds. There is a shower over bath but we found the shower easy to use with strong water pressure. This room layout is standard for most Japanese hotels catering predominantly for the Japanese market. All our 2025 tour guests were happy with the rooms – most, but not all, of the rooms had terraces looking out over the golf course to the ocean. This is a high end Japanese golf resort hotel
While built in 1936, the Kawana Hotel has been modernized many times since. Fast fact: in 1954, Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio spent two nights at Kawana Hotel during their honeymoon.
This is perhaps the most famous Japanese golf resort and staying at the hotel is the only way we can play the Fuji Course, consistently ranked in the world’s top 100 golf courses and one of the top 2 golf courses in all Japan. The resort offers a second course, the Oshima Course, which while less famous, is an enjoyable counterpoint to the Fuji Course and was in excellent condition when we played in October 2025. Both courses offer stunning ocean views.
The Fuji course was designed by Hugh Alison and opened in 1936. It follows an undulating path along the coast with one magnificent view after another – the course is built above the cliffs overlooking the coast – and on a clear day you will be able to sight Mount Fuji, as you might expect from its name.
Hugh Alison was one of the three partners of Colt, Alison & Morrison Ltd, the British golf course architecture firm formed in 1928, and a prolific player in golf design throughout the 1930s until the start of the Second World War. With his partners Harry Colt and John Morrision, this firm was then arguably the most famous of all architectural firms and designed over 300 golf courses in every continent where golf is played.
Alison visited Japan in the early 1930s and was responsible for the design and build of a number of golf courses in this country, and is still viewed as the father of golf in Japan. Two of his designs, Hirono and Fuji, continue to be ranked as the two top courses in Japan and consistently rank in the top 100 golf courses in the world. To highlight the significance of the Colt/Alison/Morrison partnership, the firm designed the world’s # 1 golf course in Pine Valley and is responsible for designing 2 of the top 3 ranked European golf courses.
Dining is independent on all 3 nights at Kawana with the resort offering two dinner options, a Grill and a French restaurant. There is also an Italian restaurant a short walking distance of the hotel and a number of restaurants in the town of Ito, a short 5 to 6 km taxi ride from the hotel. Most of our 2025 tour party ate at least one meal away from the hotel but we all ate at the Grill restaurant on the 1st night.
Accommodation: Kawana Hotel (3 nights) including breakfast daily
Monday 19 October 2026 – Kawana – Golf – Oshima Golf Course
Today we play the Oshima Golf Course (1928), the 12th oldest golf course in Japan and a course which pre-dates the Fuji course. This is a fine opportunity for you to hone your golf game in preparation for the Fuji Course tomorrow. This course has a pleasant half way house but you will stop for around 15 minutes, not the more usual 50 to 60 minutes. There is no caddie and we should be able to drive on most fairways. We have been accorded a 2 x tee start from 8.35 am. After golf, we will have drinks and prize giving at a private section of the Grill Restaurant.
Tuesday 20 October 2026 – Kawana – Golf – Fuji Golf Course
Today, assisted by compulsory caddies and 4 x player golf carts, we will experience the Fuji Course. This is essentially a through-play golf course although there is a half way house where limited food and drinks are available for purchase.. The carts can only be driven by your caddie but carts can drive on the fairways. We have been accorded a 2 x tee 8.35 am start for this course. After golf, we will have drinks and prize giving at a private section of the Grill Restaurant.
Wednesday 21 October 2026 – Hakone – Indigo Hotel
We have a late morning 90-to-120-minute transfer (92 km) to Hotel Indigo in Hakone (with a 30 minute convenience stop half way at a large Japanese road house with an interesting large tourist shop), our base for the next 4 nights. Hakone is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park which is famous for its hot springs, natural beauty and views of Mount Fuji. It is also famous for its many fine golf courses of which we will play two of those courses.
Hotel Indigo is a 4 ½ star property, a member of the Intercontinental Hotels group and one of the leading hotels in the Hakone region. Our tour will be accommodated in Deluxe King Riverside rooms (38 sqm) with private open-air bath on the terrace and separate shower. The rooms are sensational as is the restaurant. There are two restaurants, including an excellent reasonably priced Japanese Restaurant, only a short walk from the hotel. We received excellent service at the hotel during our 2025 tour.
Accommodation: Indigo Hotel (4 nights) including breakfast daily
Thursday 22 October 2026 – Hakone – Indigo Hotel - Golf – Fuji Kagosaka Golf Club
Today, we play Fuji Kagosaka Golf Club (1961), a semi-private club featuring 36 holes across two courses: the Fuji and the Kagosaka courses. Both golf courses were fully renovated in 2021.
We will play the Fuji Course (not to be confused with the Fuji Course at Kawana), known for its strategic layout and well-maintained greens. Located at 850 metres above sea level, it is also one of the closest courses to Mt Fuji with breath taking views.
Friday 23 October 2026 – Hakone – Indigo Hotel – Golf - Dai-Hakone Golf Club
Today we enjoy a short 15-minute coach transfer to Dai-Hakone Golf Club (1954), annual host of the Japanese LPGA event sponsored by Caterpillar. With a layout offering beautifully landscaped fairways and strategic bunkering, this is nevertheless a very challenging course.
Saturday 24 October 2026 – Hakone – Indigo Hotel - Guided Tour
Today we have a full day guided tour of the Hakone region, with included lunch and drinks.
Sunday 25 October 2026 – Otsu - Lake Biwa Hotel
Today is our only long coach transfer which will take around 5 hours depending upon traffic conditions. We will break our drive with lunch (included) approximately midway to Lake Biwa in Otsu. We will stop at a road side restaurant centre for lunch and all will be provided JPY cash to make their food and drink purchases. Due to congestion issues within Kyoto and a desire to minimise driving distances to golf, we are staying at Prince Lake Biwa Hotel, 30 mins from downtown Kyoto. Our accommodation is in Sky View Double rooms (36 sqm), located on level 32 to provide stunning views of Lake Biwa, and beyond. Staying at this hotel has provided us access to the three Seta golf courses. In addition to the restaurants at the hotel, there are many restaurants within a 5 to 10 minute walk of our hotel – all reasonably priced and all favorably reported on by our 2025 tour party.
Accommodation: Prince Lake Biwa (5 nights) including breakfast daily
Monday 26 October 2026 – Otsu – Lake Biwa Hotel – Golf – North Course – Seta Golf Club
Today we play the Seta Golf Club, comprising three 18-hole golf courses and part of the Prince Group, owners of the Lake Biwa Hotel. Our game today is on the North Course, home to the annual USLPGA event played in Japan. Our 15 to 20 minute transfer to the North Course will be provided by Lake Biwa Hotel with our golf clubs transferred the prior evening. We have a two tee start from 9.38 am with an hour for lunch after 9 holes. We will all play with motorised carts assisted by a caddie. Carts are allowed on fairways at the discretion of the Seta Golf Club. The course offers a stunning layout.
Tuesday 27 October 2026 – Otsu – Lake Biwa Hotel – Guided Tour
Today enjoy a guided Highlights of Kyoto with included Japanese lunch and beverages.
Wednesday 28 October 2026 – Otsu - Lake Biwa Hotel – Golf – East Course – Seta Golf Club
Today we return to Seta Golf Club and play the East Course, again with transfers provided by the hotel. We play with carts but without caddies and the carts must remain on the cart paths. This course has a great layout and is demanding even though we will play from relatively short tees.
Thursday 29 October 2026 – Otsu – Lake Biwa Hotel – Golf – North Course – Seta Golf Club
We will return to Seta Golf Club and play their # 1 course, the North Course as it is a sensational course and, is considered, the better option than playing the West Course (the 3rd course at Seta Golf Club) or travelling over an hour to play one of the golf courses near Osaka.
Tonight we have our final group drinks and farewell dinner. We plan to book a private room at the Lake Biwa Hotel.
Friday 30 October 2026 - Kyoto – Tour Conclusion
Today, after breakfast, we say sayonara as our Japan Golf Tour concludes. From our hotel, there are a range of transfer options involving flights or bullet train back to Tokyo or elsewhere for onward travel. Our recommended approach is to transfer by a large taxi arranged by hotel to the Kyoto airport – the journey is less than 60 minutes with the cost of your large taxi/hire car around JPY 20,000 (approximately AUD 200). Flights out of Kyoto are reasonably priced including golf clubs.
PRICING, TERMS & CONDITIONS
Inclusions
- Meals as specified to include breakfast daily and welcome/farewell dinners and substantial lunches on our 3 days of guided tours and one long coach transfer;
- 9 games of golf as specified with green fees, lunches/drinks (where lunch stops are compulsory), carts, post golf drinks and prize money and caddies where available;
- Coach transfers to and from golf courses, between hotels and otherwise where specified;
Cost of Tour
- The full cost of the tour is AUD 18,000 per golfer and AUD 12,000 for a non-golfer on a twin share basis (AUD 36,000 per golfing couple/pair – AUD 30,000 per golfer/non golfer couple/pair).
- For single golfers, the full tour cost is AUD 24,500.
- If you elect to miss any of the 9 golf games, you must advise us before final payment is due to receive an equitable adjustment in the tour price. After that date, refunds are not possible as our golf games will have been pre-paid.
- A non-refundable deposit of AUD 5,000 per couple/pair or AUD 3,500 for single guests is required at the time of booking. Your deposit needs to be increased by a further AUD 5,000 per couple/pair or AUD 3,500 on 30 September 2025. If for whatever reason you elect to cancel from the tour, we will refund 80% of your deposit payment subject to a replacement guest/s being found.
- The non-refundable balance of payment will be due in full by 10 June 2026. If the AUD/YEN rate falls below 100 at that date, Trendsetter Travel will make an upwards pricing adjustment to the tour price (but only in relation to the final tour payment). Conversely, if the AUD/YEN rate exceeds 110 on this date, an equitable reduction in the final tranche of the tour price will result.
- Payment may be made as follows:
- Trendsetter Travel & Cruise Centre Pty Ltd
- ANZ Bank – Client Account
- BSB – 012 003
- Account – 8334 12763
- or by credit card using the following link: http://pay.travelpay.com.au/trendset
Insurance
- Comprehensive insurance is strongly recommended – and is recommended at the time of deposit to fully protect your payments in the unfortunate event of cancellation. Please ensure you are covered for any pre-existing illnesses.
Special Conditions
- Tee times have not been booked at all golf courses. In the unlikely event that a golf course subsequently advises that play is no longer possible, we expect to book a replacement course of a similar standard.
- In paying your deposit, you are deemed to have accepted the above terms and conditions.
For further information, please contact either David Cooper by email david@trendsettertravel.com.au, on mobile 0413 010 638, or Adrienne Witteman adrienne@trendsettertravel.com.au, or 0413 010 639.
