12 Days in Japan for Golf, Food, and Onsen: Tokyo, Hakone & Kyoto

Tee off with Fuji views, feast through Tokyo and Kyoto’s food quarters, and soak in steamy onsen. This 12-day Japan itinerary blends golf, cuisine, and hot springs with effortless rail travel and unforgettable culture.
Scenic view of Kiyomizu-dera Temple with cherry blossoms in Kyoto, Japan, capturing traditional Japanese architecture at twilight.
Photo by Belle Co on Pexels

Japan marries precision and poetry—Shinto shrines tucked beneath neon, samurai roads repaved as bullet train lines. From Edo-period alleyways to high-tech cityscapes, centuries of tradition live alongside inventive cuisine and functional design.

Onsens (hot springs) have soothed travelers since the 8th century; proper etiquette—rinse before entering, tie up long hair, and keep towels out of the water—keeps the experience tranquil. Golf boomed in the postwar era and today ranges from casual riverside links to storied resort courses with mountain panoramas.

Expect clean cities, punctual trains, and a dining scene that prizes seasonality. Most places take cards; IC cards like Suica/PASMO are widely reissued now and handy for trains and convenience stores. You’ll glide between cities on the Shinkansen, tasting regional specialties en route.

Tokyo

Days 1–4: Street food, neon nights, and a warm‑up round

Tokyo is a city of neighborhoods: lantern-lit alleys in Asakusa, glassy towers over Marunouchi, and pop-culture sprawl in Shibuya. It’s also a world capital for coffee, ramen, and sushi—perfect for fueling sightseeing and a first golf day.

Arrive and get around
  • Fly into Haneda (HND) or Narita (NRT). Search flights on Kiwi.com or Trip.com.
  • Haneda to Shinjuku: ~35 min, ~¥700 by monorail/JR. Narita to Tokyo Station: ~55 min on Narita Express, ~¥3,070.
  • Trains and subways are easiest. Check Japan rail options on Trip.com Trains.
Eat and drink (local picks)
  • Breakfast: Turret Coffee Tsukiji for a robust espresso and cream puffs before you graze the market stalls.
  • Tsukiji Outer Market lunch: Try Sushi Zanmai (reliable, all-day) or a chirashi bowl at Tsukiji Itadori Uogashi Senryo; sample tamagoyaki at Yamachō and grilled scallops on skewers.
  • Ramen run: Afuri (yuzu-shio ramen) or Mensho (creative, rich broths) with seasonal specials.
  • Standing sushi: Uogashi Nihon-ichi serves pristine neta at wallet-friendly prices—great for a quick bite between sights.
  • Izakaya night: In Omoide Yokocho (Shinjuku), slide into a 10-seat yakitori den; order negima skewers, tsukune, and highballs while trains rumble above.
  • Coffee: Onibus Coffee (Nakameguro) for single-origin pour-overs; KOFFEE MAMEYA (Omotesando) for bean geeks with barista guidance.
Golf in Tokyo
  • Wakasu Golf Links (Tokyo Bay, public 18): Breezy seaside fairways with skyline views; accessible via Shin-Kiba Station + short taxi. Expect ~¥8,000–13,000 weekday green fees; carts optional; limited rental clubs—reserve in advance. Ideal for a first Japan round without membership hoops.
Soak before bed
  • Spa LaQua (Tokyo Dome City): Natural hot spring drawn from 1,700m underground; indoor/outdoor baths and saunas—a convenient urban onsen experience.
  • Thermae‑Yu (Shinjuku): Late-night bathhouse with silky carbonated tubs; great after an izakaya crawl.
Signature experiences (bookable) Where to stay (Tokyo)

Travel to Hakone (Day 5)

  • From Tokyo Station, take the Shinkansen to Odawara (~35 min, reserved seat ~¥3,500). Continue via Hakone Tozan Railway/bus to your onsen area (30–45 min). Or ride the Romancecar from Shinjuku direct to Hakone‑Yumoto (~85 min, ~¥2,470).
  • Check schedules and buy rail tickets via Trip.com Trains.

Hakone (Izu Peninsula base: Atami)

Days 5–7: Fuji views, onsen nirvana, and coastal golf

Hakone is Japan’s classic hot-spring getaway: sulfur steam, cedar forests, and Lake Ashi reflecting Mt. Fuji. Base in Gora or Hakone‑Yumoto for mountain baths—or in coastal Atami for ocean‑view onsens and access to one of Japan’s most scenic golf courses.

Onsen and nature
  • Hakone Yuryo: Day‑use onsen with serene rotenburo (outdoor baths); splurge on a private suite after hiking the old Tokaido Road.
  • Tenzan Onsen: Rock pools shaded by maple; atmospheric and photogenic.
  • Ride the Hakone Ropeway over Owakudani’s volcanic valley; try kuro‑tamago (black eggs) said to add years to your life.
  • Lake Ashi: Pirate-ship cruise and cedar-lined Hakone Shrine torii kissing the water.
Golf with a view
  • Daihakone Country Club (Sengokuhara): CAT Ladies LPGA venue with broad fairways and Fuji scenery. Visitors welcome with advance booking via concierge; expect ~¥15,000–25,000 green fees depending on day/season.
  • Kawana Hotel Golf Course – Fuji Course (Ito, Izu Peninsula): Japan’s legendary cliffside track, often ranked among Asia’s best. Typically prioritizes hotel guests; book early. Fees are premium, but the Pacific panoramas are unforgettable.
Local bites and cafés
  • Near Hakone‑Yumoto: Hatsuhana Soba Shinkan for handmade noodles and crisp tempura; Yubadon Naokichi for delicate tofu‑skin rice bowls.
  • Gora: Naraya Café with a footbath terrace and hot-spring steamed buns.
  • Atami: Uogashi Sushi (seasonal coastal nigiri), Katsuretsu-tei for panko‑light tonkatsu, and morning pastries at retro Kissa Sakae.
Bookable highlight Where to stay (Hakone/Atami)

Travel to Kyoto (Day 8)

  • From Odawara Station take the Hikari Shinkansen to Kyoto (~2 hr 10 min, ~¥11,500 reserved). From Atami, ride the Kodama/Hikari with an easy transfer (~2.5–3 hr).
  • Check fares/times via Trip.com Trains.

Kyoto (with an Osaka day trip)

Days 8–12: Temples, tea, kaiseki—and two classic Kansai rounds

Kyoto’s thousand temples glow at sunrise: vermilion gates at Fushimi Inari, the hillside stage of Kiyomizu‑dera, Zen gardens of Ryoan‑ji. At dusk, lanterns flicker along Gion’s alleys where kaiseki chefs turn seasons into courses.

Culture and strolls
  • Fushimi Inari Taisha: Hike through tunnels of 10,000 torii—go early for quiet paths.
  • Arashiyama: Bamboo Grove at dawn, river views from Togetsukyo Bridge, and Tenryu‑ji’s gardens.
  • Kiyomizu‑dera: The wooden stage has wowed travelers since 1633; sip from the Otowa waterfalls for luck.
Onsen and baths
  • Tenzan‑no‑Yu (Arashiyama area): Spacious baths fed by natural spring, plus rotenburo and salt sauna—great post‑hike recovery.
  • Funaoka Onsen: A century‑old tiled bathhouse (technically a sento) with character to spare.
  • Optional day trip: Arima Onsen (near Kobe), famed “gold” and “silver” springs (~1.5–2 hr from Kyoto). Ideal if you shift one afternoon/evening to Osaka/Kobe.
Golf in Kansai
  • Seta Golf Course (Otsu, Shiga): 54 holes overlooking Lake Biwa; hosts pro events and accepts visitors with advance tee times. From Kyoto Station: ~20–30 min to Ishiyama/Otsu by train + short taxi. Typical green fees ~¥12,000–22,000.
  • Kuzuha Golf Links (between Kyoto and Osaka): Historic riverside public course—fun, walkable, and easy to book. Ride the Keihan Line to Kuzuha (~30–40 min) and stroll over; budget‑friendly green fees.
Kyoto eats (specific, tasty, and varied)
  • Breakfast & coffee: % Arabica (Higashiyama) for crema‑perfect shots; Weekenders Coffee hidden behind a parking lot; pastries at Walden Woods Kyoto.
  • Market grazing: Nishiki Market—try soy milk donuts at Konnamonja, fresh yuba, dashimaki at Miki Keiran, and pickles from Murakamike.
  • Lunch: Honke Owariya (since 1465) for soba sets; Katsukura Sanjo for perfectly fried tonkatsu with mortar‑ground sesame sauce.
  • Dinner: Seasonal kaiseki at Gion Nanba (book ahead), or a relaxed obanzai feast at Engine Ramen & Bistro where Kyoto vegetables steal the show.
  • Sake: Fushimi district tasting rooms—ask for junmai and ginjo flights to compare aroma, acidity, and umami.
Osaka in a day (from Kyoto)
  • Train: JR Special Rapid (~30 min, ~¥580) or Shinkansen (~15 min). Hunt snacks in Dotonbori: takoyaki at Aizuya, okonomiyaki at Mizuno, and kushikatsu at Daruma.
Bookable highlights Where to stay (Kyoto)

Departure

  • From Kyoto to Kansai International (KIX): Haruka Express ~75 min (~¥3,000–3,500). Search flights on Kiwi.com or Trip.com.

Suggested 12‑Day Flow (at a glance)

  • Days 1–4: Tokyo — markets, ramen, izakaya, Wakasu Golf Links, Spa LaQua. Optional tours: Tsukiji walk, city bus, Shinjuku night tour, Shibuya go‑karts.
  • Days 5–7: Hakone & Atami — ropeway, Lake Ashi, Daihakone CC or Kawana Fuji, long soaks at Yuryo/Tenzan; kaiseki dinners.
  • Days 8–12: Kyoto — temples, Gion, Fushimi sake, Seta Golf Course and Kuzuha Golf Links; Osaka street food day trip.

Across 12 days you’ll taste Japan’s culinary heart, swing on fairways with mountain and ocean backdrops, and ease tired legs in mineral-rich baths. With fast trains and strategic bases, this itinerary balances play, plates, and peaceful onsen evenings.

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