Driving to Olympic Country Club: Tips for a Smooth Arrival
This is a bonus post to accompany my earlier article, Rain, Rain, and More Rain! My Day at Olympic Country Club.
If you have driven along the Chuo Expressway, you may have noticed the large sign for Olympic Country Club. The course is in Uenohara, Yamanashi, close to Dangozaka Service Area.
On our visit, there were a couple of things about getting there that I was glad to know: where to leave the expressway, and how to stop at Dangozaka SA from the local-road side. There is also a train-and-shuttle option from Shiotsu Station.
Driving to Olympic Country Club via Dangozaka Smart IC
We used Dangozaka Smart IC on the Chuo Expressway. Coming from Tokyo, it can feel as though you are going past the golf course before reaching the exit. I remember wondering whether we had gone a little too far.
That is a useful detail to know beforehand: seeing the golf course or its sign does not mean you should already be leaving the expressway. Keep following the signs for your planned exit.
The Smart IC operates 24 hours. It serves ETC-equipped vehicles in the kei-car and ordinary-car toll categories, with a maximum vehicle length of 6 metres. For visitors renting a car, check that the vehicle has a working ETC unit and that you have a valid ETC card. ETC is Japan’s electronic toll collection system.
On the downbound side toward Nagoya and Nagano, Dangozaka Smart IC connects directly to the expressway, not to the SA parking lot. If you want to visit the service area after leaving the expressway, use its designated local-road entrance.
Visiting Dangozaka SA from the local-road side
Along the route we took from the interchange to the club, I did not spot a convenient shop for a quick stop. If you want breakfast or supplies before your round, Dangozaka SA is worth keeping in mind.
The expressway-side parking can be busy in my experience. Another option is to leave at the Smart IC and approach EXPASA Dangozaka, downbound, using local roads.
Look for the designated Plat Park entrance. This is an official entrance for people visiting the service area from local roads: park in the dedicated lot, then walk into the SA facilities.
NEXCO lists this Plat Park as open 24 hours, with parking for 25 small vehicles. Spaces are limited, so this is an alternative way to visit, rather than a guarantee of avoiding queues.
The parking is for using the service-area facilities. It is not a place to leave your car during a round of golf or to meet for carpooling or bus travel. Follow the local signs and use the designated spaces.
Breakfast, coffee and a little shopping
There is plenty of choice inside, including Sukiya, Starbucks and shops selling supplies and souvenirs. It is a handy place to keep in mind before heading to the club, whether you want something to eat or a coffee to take along.
The entrance being open 24 hours does not mean every shop is. Opening hours vary by store, so allow for that when planning an early-morning stop. We had an 8:30 a.m. tee time on this visit; any stop needs to leave enough time for the remaining drive and check-in.
By train: Shiotsu Station and the club shuttle
If you are travelling by train, the station to look for is Shiotsu (四方津) on the JR Chuo Main Line. From there, the club provides a shuttle connection to the golf course.
The timetable noted during our visit had six morning departures from the station and three return departures from the club. Check the current departure times and whether advance arrangements are needed with the club before fixing your train itinerary.
Journey time from Tokyo Station depends on your train and connections. Plan for your actual travel date, including any transfers, the wait for the shuttle and enough time at the clubhouse before your tee time.
It is worth checking the return shuttle as well as the outward one. With only a few return services in our visit notes, the end of the round matters when planning the journey home.
Access information checked on September 27, 2026. Shuttle counts are from our visit notes; timetables, shop hours and access arrangements may change.
