Japan is probably not the primary vacation spot that involves thoughts when planning your subsequent golf journey. Nevertheless it needs to be. For many years, golfers have flocked to the legendary programs of Scotland, the sun-soaked fairways of the U.S., and the breathtaking layouts of Australia. However in recent times, Japan has quietly emerged as some of the thrilling and sought-after golf locations on the earth.
With its wealthy golf historical past, meticulously maintained programs, and unparalleled hospitality, Japan affords an expertise not like every other. Right hereโs a better look into why golf in Japan is on the rise โ and the place you must tee it up.
Why Japan is Changing into a Premier Golf Vacation spot

Do you know there are greater than 3,100 golf programs in Japan? Thatโs greater than every other nation exterior the U.S. And the standard of golf is simply as nice as the amount. You may tee off beneath the towering Mount Fuji, beneath a cover of cherry blossom timber, or alongside the shores of the Pacific Ocean โ the choices are countless.
However, how do you get from coast to coast? Japanโs ultra-efficient transportation system makes it simple to hop from a spherical in Hokkaidoโs cool summer season local weather to a sun-drenched course in Okinawa. Bullet trains whisk you between main locations with barely a secondโs delay, home flights make even the farthest programs really feel shut, and native trains, shuttles, and even taxis make sure youโre by no means removed from the primary tee.
And since Japan takes omotenashi, or โhospitalityโ because itโs usually translated, to a different degree, each step of the journey feels easy. From the second you arrive, youโll discover the little issues: employees greeting you with a bow and a smile, and a clubhouse expertise that feels extra like a five-star resort than a typical nineteenth gap. Each element is dealt with with care, not as a result of itโs anticipated, however as a result of itโs ingrained within the tradition. Whether or not itโs a superbly raked bunker, a heat towel ready for you post-round, or the best way no request ever looks like an inconvenience, golf in Japan isnโt simply concerning the course โ itโs concerning the expertise, and that begins lengthy earlier than you step onto the primary tee.
Japanโs place on golfโs world stage continues to develop, because of marquee occasions just like the Baycurrent Traditional (previously generally known as the Zozo Championship) and homegrown stars like Hideki Matsuyama. However a golf journey to Japan is about extra than simply the sport. After your spherical, you possibly can unwind in an onsen, letting the nice and cozy mineral waters soothe you, or take a stroll by means of centuries-old temples, soaking within the peaceable environment. And when itโs time to refuel, Japanโs meals scene gainedโt disappoint. From sushi and bowls of steaming ramen, to kaiseki, a standard multi-course meal thatโs an artwork type in itself, thereโs one thing for each style.
The Golf Tradition in Japan
Consideration to element, respect for custom, and a deep appreciation for nature make enjoying golf in Japan a refined and chic affair. Many personal golf golf equipment in Japan are recognized for his or her strict adherence to etiquette, the place formal apparel, comparable to collared shirts, trousers, and correct footwear, is required. This costume code isnโt nearly trying the half โ itโs a part of a broader tradition that emphasizes respect for custom and a deep reverence for the sportโs historical past.
The normal two-part golf spherical is one other distinctive side of golf in Japan. In contrast to the continual 18-hole rounds within the West, Japanese golf golf equipment usually have a compulsory break after the primary 9 holes, the place gamers take pleasure in a meal earlier than persevering with their spherical. This break is supposed to boost the general expertise slightly than disrupt the rhythm of play.
Uncover extra distinctive methods the very best golf programs in Japan differ from the U.S. โ you gainedโt imagine how high-tech the automated golf carts are!
5 Finest Golf Programs in Japan
1. Hirono Golf Membership (Hyogo Prefecture)
Hirono Golf Membership, based in 1932, is a trademark of Japanese golf. Designed by Charles Alison, a well-liked architect of Japanese golf programs, itโs a course that checks each talent and technique, with dramatic inexperienced websites and deep bunkers. Regardless of struggling harm throughout World Struggle II, Hirono stays among the finest golf programs in Japan, recognized for its mix of pure magnificence and difficult design.
2. Kawana Resort Golf Course โ Fuji Course (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Typically known as โJapanโs Pebble Seaside,โ the Fuji Course at Kawana Resort boasts dramatic coastal views, with Mount Fuji standing proudly within the background. Famend for its putting โAlison bunkersโ โ named after course designer Charles Alison โ this format is one in all Asiaโs greatest. The courseโs cliffside holes and ocean vistas make it a must-play for avid golfers searching for each a visible and technical problem.
3. Naruo Golf Membership (Hyogo Prefecture)
This unique, old-school course is one other masterpiece by Charles Alison. Whereas it might appear simple on paper because of its comparatively brief yardage, Naruo has enamel โ particularly within the type of undulating terrain, blind photographs, small greens, and Alisonโs trademark bunkering.
4. Kasumigaseki Nation Membership (Saitama Prefecture)
Kasumigaseki Nation Membership is probably most well-known for its function in internet hosting main worldwide tournaments, together with the 2021 Olympic Golf Competitors. Its design, initially created by, you guessed it, Charles Alison, was later refined and reshaped to mirror a uniquely Japanese aptitude. This mixture of Western affect and native sensibility ends in a format thatโs each strategic and delightful, with pure hazards and the encircling panorama enjoying a pivotal function within the courseโs problem.
5. Tokyo Golf Membership (Saitama Prefecture)
Very like its counterparts, Tokyo Golf Membership is among the greatest golf programs in Japan. Initially laid out by Charles Alison, Tokyo Golf Membership was relocated throughout the struggle, and Komyo Ohtani performed a pivotal function in its reimagining, fastidiously restoring Alisonโs routing as a lot as doable. However some of the distinctive (and barely outdated) points of Tokyo Golf Membership is its dual-green system. Every gap boasts two fully totally different inexperienced websites, one for summer season and one for winter, to handle course put on and tear and permit the greens ample restoration time.
Planning Your Golf Journey to Japan
For these contemplating a golf journey to Japan, itโs greatest to plan upfront. Most of the greatest golf programs in Japan are personal and require introductions or particular preparations. Luckily, golf tour operators may help safe tee instances and create custom-made itineraries that embody golf, cultural experiences, and sightseeing.
And in terms of getting your gear to Japan, ShipSticks makes it simple to ship your golf equipment on to your vacation spot. Say goodbye to lugging heavy luggage by means of airports โ with ShipSticks, you possibly can journey hassle-free and give attention to having fun with your spherical of golf in some of the distinctive {golfing} locations on the earth.
With its rising worldwide attraction and unparalleled consideration to element, itโs time to place the very best golf programs in Japan in your bucket listing for an unforgettable golf getaway.