Rolling hills of Hidaka, made for every golfer

Shin-Musashigaoka Golf Course sits in the green hills of Hidaka in western Saitama, a Prince Hotels course that opened in 1999. Its 18 holes play to a par of 71, and the layout follows the philosophy of Japanese golf great Ayako Okamoto: a course that every player can enjoy. Each hole has moderate elevation changes, with creeks and ponds placed at key points and a few deep-faced bunkers to keep better players honest. Play is fully self-service, in GPS-equipped carts, straight through 18 holes.

A strategic hillside round an hour from the city, with the Chichibu mountains on the horizon.

Highlights include the downhill par-4 3rd through a ravine-like valley, the par-3 2nd played over a rock garden of seasonal plants, and the 11th tee, which looks out over Hidaka toward the Chichibu range. After the round, the semi-open-air bath is a relaxing finish, and lunch comes with a view of the 18th. Just seven minutes by car is Kinchakuda, famous for the carpets of red spider lilies that bloom from mid to late September. Getting here is easy without a car: take the Seibu Ikebukuro Line from Ikebukuro to Hanno and hop on the free club shuttle from the south exit, about 15 minutes to the clubhouse. Drivers exit the Ken-O Expressway at Sayama-Hidaka IC, around 12 minutes away. The historic town of Kawagoe and its Prince Hotel make an easy overnight base.