Mt. Fuji Golf East Side Guide: Gotemba Highlands Courses and the Most Stable Route from Tokyo
- Feb 6
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 8
Why 90% of First-Time Visitors Choose Gotemba
Taiheiyo Club Gotemba West Course is one of the most representative golf courses in the Gotemba highlands. With rolling fairways and clear views of Mt. Fuji on good weather days, it reflects the character of the eastern side of the mountain.
Why do most golfers visiting Mt. Fuji for the first time choose Gotemba? Why is it often called the “default answer” created by volcanic geography?
Early in the morning, the sky over Gotemba is often covered with a thin layer of grey mist. As the sun rises, the silhouette of Mt. Fuji slowly becomes visible. From this distance the mountain appears calm and balanced. It is close enough to appreciate its scale, yet far enough that it never feels overwhelming.
That distance defines the eastern side of Mt. Fuji. Everything here feels balanced. The elevation is comfortable, the climate is stable, the distance from Tokyo is manageable, and the number of golf courses is large enough to support a thriving golf region.
If someone were asked to design the ideal location for large-scale golf course development near Tokyo, the answer would likely look very similar to Gotemba.
The eastern foothills of Mt. Fuji contain the highest concentration of golf courses in the entire region. This is not simply because the scenery is attractive. It is because the physical conditions here are nearly perfect for golf.
Where is Gotemba and Why is it Important
Gotemba City lies on the eastern foothills of Mt. Fuji at an elevation between 600 and 800 meters. Driving time from Tokyo via the Tomei Expressway is about ninety minutes.
Administratively, Gotemba and the nearby city of Susono are separate municipalities. In reality, however, they function as a single golf region. Within a radius of twenty kilometers, more than fifteen golf courses are located in this area.
The density of golf courses is not accidental. Several natural conditions explain why development concentrated here.
Volcanic Drainage
The eruption of Mt. Fuji in 1707 left large layers of porous basalt in this region. Rainwater quickly drains through the volcanic soil. After heavy rain, many golf courses can reopen within two or three hours, while other regions may require one or two days to recover.
Elevation
At 600–800 meters above sea level, the climate allows golf courses to operate approximately 280 to 300 days per year. This is significantly longer than the northern highland areas around the mountain.
Terrain
The eastern slopes offer relatively moderate terrain. Unlike the steeper southern or western areas, the land here allowed developers to construct large-scale golf facilities.
Distance to Tokyo
Being only ninety minutes from the capital means the region can be supported by the enormous golf population of the Tokyo metropolitan area.
In many ways, geology determines everything.
Gotemba and Susono: Two Personalities in One Golf Region
Although the two cities share the same geographic area, their roles are quite different.
Gotemba: Tourism and Service Hub
Gotemba’s prominence is strongly connected to the Gotemba Premium Outlets. This shopping complex transformed the tourism structure of the entire region.
International visitors gather here, hotels are plentiful, restaurants are abundant, and transportation is convenient.
For travel planners, Gotemba is one of the safest operational bases in the Mt. Fuji region. Golf courses are nearby, accommodation is easy to arrange, and after golf there are many options for dining and shopping.
Because of this convenience, many overseas travel agencies schedule all three rounds of golf around Gotemba. This is not necessarily wrong. It is simply a more conservative itinerary choice.
Susono: A Pure Golf Environment
Susono is less famous internationally but equally rich in golf courses.
There are fewer tourists, fewer commercial attractions, and a stronger focus on golf itself. Several courses in this area were built in the 1960s and 1970s and still retain the atmosphere of Japan’s Showa-era golf culture.
For golfers who prefer quiet rounds and traditional clubhouse environments, Susono can sometimes feel more authentic than Gotemba.
The History of Gotemba Golf
Golden Era (1960–1990)
The opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen in 1964 and the completion of the Tomei Expressway in 1969 transformed access from Tokyo. Suddenly Gotemba became an ideal weekend golf destination for the capital.
During Japan’s economic boom, golf became an essential part of business culture. Corporate entertainment, networking, and employee events frequently took place on golf courses.
The eastern foothills offered ideal conditions: good drainage, convenient transportation, long operating seasons, and iconic views of Mt. Fuji.
Golf courses were built rapidly. In the 1970s a new course opened roughly every two years. During the bubble economy of the 1980s, development accelerated even further.
At the peak of the bubble, membership certificates at certain clubs traded for three to five hundred million yen.
Gotemba became one of the symbols of Japan’s golf boom.
After the Bubble Economy (1991–Present)
When the economic bubble collapsed, membership values fell by more than ninety percent. Many golf clubs went bankrupt or were acquired by large management groups such as PGM and Accordia.
Yet the eastern region survived better than many other areas.
The reasons were simple: good drainage, excellent access, and a massive nearby market of golfers.
Today most courses in the region operate under modern business models. Transparent pricing, online reservations, and openness to international visitors are now common.
A Typical Day of Golf in Gotemba
At seven in the morning, the first groups tee off.
Golf carts line up neatly beside the tee box. Caddies wait quietly as players prepare for the first shot.
The ball leaves the clubface, drawing a smooth arc across the sky before landing on the fairway.
There is no applause and no celebration. The player simply steps into the cart and moves on to the next hole.
The rhythm of Gotemba golf is calm and efficient.
Around nine in the morning the mist lifts and Mt. Fuji appears clearly in the distance. The mountain feels perfectly framed from this side: not too close, not too distant.
Lunch at the clubhouse usually includes classic Japanese golf course meals such as tempura udon, tonkatsu set meals, or sushi plates.
Most rounds finish around two in the afternoon. After changing and settling the bill, players can reach their hotel within fifteen minutes, the outlets within fifteen minutes, or Hakone hot springs within twenty minutes.
Convenience is the defining characteristic of Gotemba.
Recommended Gotemba Golf Itineraries
Standard 3 Days / 2 Nights
Day 1
Arrival in Gotemba
Hotel check-in
Shopping at Gotemba Premium Outlets
Dinner in town
Day 2
Breakfast
First round of golf
Lunch at clubhouse
Second round or shopping
Dinner
Day 3
Breakfast
Third round of golf
Lunch
Return to Tokyo
Advantages
No hotel changes
Large number of golf course options
Strong tourism infrastructure
Limitations
Only one viewing angle of Mt. Fuji
Misses the diversity of other regions
Axis Style 5 Days / 4 Nights Itinerary
Day 1–2
Gotemba
Warm-up rounds and familiarization with the region
Day 3
Kawaguchiko
Forest and lake-side highland courses
Day 4
Hakone or Mishima
Hot springs and cultural elements
Day 5
Izu or Kawana
Oceanfront golf courses facing the Pacific
Advantages
Full understanding of Mt. Fuji’s regional diversity
Different landscapes and golf styles
Limitations
Hotel changes required
More complex logistics and higher costs
Accommodation Options in Gotemba
High Budget
Hotel Clad – Modern onsen hotel next to Gotemba Premium Outlets
Fuji Marriott Hotel Lake Yamanaka – International luxury brand
Mid Budget
Tokinosumika Resort – Multiple restaurants and onsen facilities
Hotel Route-Inn Gotemba – Reliable Japanese business hotel
Budget
Toyoko Inn Gotemba – Business hotel near the station
The Biggest Misconception About Gotemba
After three days of golf in the eastern foothills, many visitors conclude that they have experienced Mt. Fuji golf.
In reality, they have only seen one side of the mountain.
The northern side offers forests and lakes.
The western side reveals closer volcanic terrain.
The southern side connects golf with hot springs.
The Izu Peninsula extends the volcanic landscape directly into the Pacific Ocean.
The eastern side is safe, efficient, and stable. But it represents only part of the full story.
The Correct Role of Gotemba
Gotemba is the beginning, not the entire journey.
It provides efficiency and course density. But the true charm of Mt. Fuji golf lies in experiencing multiple landscapes around the mountain.
If you stay only on the eastern side, you see the market.
If you travel the full axis around Mt. Fuji, you see the structure.
The recommended way to explore Mt. Fuji golf is simple. Start in Gotemba. Learn the rhythm of Japanese golf courses. Then gradually move toward Kawaguchiko, Hakone, and Izu.
When you finally stand on the ocean cliffs of Kawana looking back toward Mt. Fuji, you realize something important.
Gotemba is perfect.
But it is only the beginning of the story.
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