Kawana Hotel & Golf Resort Japan

Ito City - Izu Peninsula - Shizuoka Pref. - Honshu Island - Japan

A two hour journey Southwest of Tokyo by Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train, Kawana Hotel & Golf is located on the east coast of the Izu Peninsula. Know as the Pebble Beach of Japan, this grand hotel and its two golf courses sits on a pine covered plateau bordered by red cliffs dropping into the Pacific Ocean.
Kawana is a timeless grand hotel with whitewashed walls, red tiled roofs and manicure lawns gently sloping towards the sea. The place has changed little since it was founded in 1936 by late Baron Okura, one of Japan's most famous businessman and a pioneer of tourism development - Kawana was the country's first golf resort and still the most exclusive.

An English country estate atmosphere prevails throughout the hotel, the lobby lounge setting the trend with its soaring ceiling, large fireplace, coat of arms, wooded details, cosy leather seats and antique furniture. Accommodation is comprised of 140 rooms and suites, available both in Western and Japanese style. Some of the rooms have a balcony and enjoy dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean, while the others look onto the soothing wooded slopes of the Izu mountains.

Both Western and Japanese cuisine are served. The Main Dining Room offers a true French Cuisine featuring seasonal dishes prepared with local ingredients, while the Grill features casual western style dishes and fresh seafood. Authentic Japanese cuisine is served at Inakaya, a 350 year old thatched roof farmhouse transported piece by piece from the mountain and reassembled here.

Kawana boast two exceptional golf courses, both laid out on a ripped elevated promontory with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, sunken folded fairways and plateaux greens surrounded by mature woodland. The turf is Korai grass, a strong kind of Bermuda grass where the ball sits as if on a tee while providing deadly rough and tricky putting surfaces. Another particularity at Kawana are the mandatory female caddies.

Laid out in 1928 by Japanese architect Komyo Otani, the first course was name Oshima after the spectacular views of Oshima Island and its active volcano. The second course was named Fuji for the views to the legendary Mt. Fuji. It is the most famous of the two and was designed by British golf architect Charles H. Allison, former partner of legendary Harry S. Colt and responsible for two of Japan's best courses, Hirono and Kawana. The Fuji course demands considerable technique and skills, especially in coping with Allison's deep bunkering - a H. S. Colt trademark!

Kawana Hotel & Golf
1459, Kawana
Ito City
414-044 Shizuoka Pref.
Japan
Tel: +81 (577) 45 1111
Tel: +81 (577) 45 3834
www.princehotels.co.jp

Season
All year (Hotel & Golf)

Climate
Temperate maritime climate, with four marked seasons. Mild winters and hot, humid summers

Location
Kawana, 15 min. S of Ito
Izu Peninsula (Pacific Ocean) Shizuoka Prefecture (Honshu Island)
2 h. SW of Tokyo and 3 h. NE of Osaka by Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train (to Atami) + Regional train Atami-Ito
Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)
Osaka Kansai International Airport (KIX)

Accommodation
Japan 1st Golf Resort (inaugurated 1936) Ocean front location
140 Rooms & Suites, including the Imperial Suite
Western & Japanese style rooms available + Ocean & mountain view rooms

Rates
Twin Room: 32,400 to 57,800 YEN
Double Room: 37,000 to 41,600 YEN
Triple Room: 69,300 YEN
Japanese Room: 41,600 to 83,200 YEN
Suite: 86,700 to 104,000 YEN
Imperial Suite: 288,800 YEN

Amenities
Room service
Laundry/Valet service
Concierge

Dining
Main Dining Room (French cuisine)
Grill Room (Western dishes)
Inakaya (Japanese cuisine - 350 years old farmhouse)
Sun Parlour (Tea room)
Main Bar (Hotel)
37th Hole (Coffee Counter)

Leisure
2 All-weather tennis courts
3 Outdoor swimming pools (25 m. + 15 m. + children's pool)
Fishing boats available
Billiard room
Panoramic observatory tower
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park

Business
Convention Hall (806 m2)
Western Banquet Room (205 m2) + Japanese Banquet Room (146 m2)
Conference room + 2 Meeting rooms
Full conference, seminar and banquet supporting services

Kawana Golf Courses

Fuji Course
Charles H. Allison (1936)
18 holes - 6,691 yds - Par 72
Access restricted to hotel guests
Eisenhower Trophy - World Amateur Team Championships (1962)
Fuji-Sankei Ladies Classic (annual)
Golf Magazine "World's Top 100 Courses"
Weekday greenfee: 26,500 YEN
Weekend greenfee: 33,900 YEN
including Caddie fee (mandatory)

Oshima Course
Komyo Otani (1928)
18 holes - 5,711 yds - Par 70
Weekday greenfee: 21,000 YEN
Weekend greenfee: 28,400 YEN
including cart fee (mandatory)
Soft spikes only on both courses
Clubs and shoes rental available

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the pictures.