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The Global Golfer Top 100
Kasumigaseki Country Club — West Course
Saitama Prefecture, Japan · #32 in the World
Location: Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan | Ranking: #32 — The Global Golfer Top 100
Type: Mountain Parkland | Partner Stay: The Prince Karuizawa; Hoshino Resorts Hoshinoya
Editor’s Note: Hirono Golf Club near Kobe is widely considered Japan’s greatest course — but its extreme privacy makes it almost inaccessible to visitors. Kasumigaseki Country Club, host of the 2021 Olympic golf, is more accessible and equally deserving of international recognition. Both courses demonstrate the extraordinary quality of Charles Alison’s Japanese designs and the meticulous conditioning standards that define elite Japanese golf. We include Kasumigaseki here as the most accessible of Japan’s finest.
Travel & Logistics
- How to Get There: Kasumigaseki Country Club is in Kawagoe, Saitama — 40 minutes north of Tokyo by car or train. Shinjuku to Kasumigaseki station — 40 minutes on the Tobu line.
- Nearest Airport: Tokyo Narita (NRT) — 1h. Tokyo Haneda (HND) — 1h 15m.
Contact & Booking
- Website: kasumigaseki.or.jp
- Access: Introduction through membership preferred. Society bookings available. Green fees from ¥30,000 (approx. £150). Female caddies assigned to all groups — customary and non-negotiable.
- Course Rating / Slope: 75.1 / 141 (West Course, Olympic)
Championship Scorecard — West Course (Olympic)
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | OUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 |
| Yards | 430 | 570 | 185 | 415 | 405 | 425 | 195 | 440 | 525 | 3,590 |
Par 4
Par 3
Par 5
Total
| Hole | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | IN | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 410 | 430 | 170 | 530 | 415 | 435 | 185 | 420 | 545 | 3,540 | 7,080 |
Key Strategy Notes
- Alison’s Legacy: Charles Alison’s deep cross-bunkers — a hallmark of his Japanese designs — punish anything short and demand precise carry distances. His bunkering at Kasumigaseki is considered among the most strategically brilliant in Japanese golf architecture.
- The Olympic Context: Xander Schauffele won gold on this course in 2021 — playing the West Course in 61 in the final round. Walking the same fairways provides an immediate connection to one of golf’s most historic modern moments.
- The Caddies: Kasumigaseki’s female caddies carry bags, rake bunkers, tend pins and provide yardage information with a precision and care that tournament caddies worldwide would envy. Tipping customs differ from Western golf — follow your caddie’s lead.
The 19th Hole
- Park Hyatt Tokyo: The Lost in Translation hotel — a 40-minute drive from Kasumigaseki. The New York Bar on the 52nd floor for post-round drinks is obligatory. Book via Expedia →
- Kaiseki Dinner: A post-round kaiseki meal in Tokyo — multi-course Japanese haute cuisine — is the finest possible conclusion to a day at Kasumigaseki. Ryugin, Kagurazaka Ishikawa or Araki are exceptional.