10 Best Places to Play Golf in Japan

Conveniently situated on the outskirts of Osaka, Ibaraki Country Club features a couple of 18-hole championship courses that are officially known as ‘East’ and ‘West’. Dating back to the 1920s, the club’s West course was renovated in 2011 by famed American golf architect Rees Jones (making this his first golfing project in Japan).

Today, golfers will enjoy playing West’s neo-classical layout around sparkling Kamiga Lake, while the gently sloping East course (designed by Scotland’s David Hood) traverses beautiful woodland that’s abundant with cherry blossom trees. The clubhouse offers meals and refreshments in its elegant restaurant, while a putting green and driving range will help improve your swing.

Part of Japan’s ritzy Prince Hotel Resort (an hour’s drive north of Tokyo), Karuizawa showcases golf on a truly grand scale with 6 spectacular courses. Here, emerald fairways are surrounded by lush Japanese vegetation and majestic mountain views, as envisioned by British-American golf architect R.T. Jones.

The iconic North course is renowned for its pancake-flat tournament layout and innumerable hazards, while the East features the technical Iriyama and Oshitate courses (which have hosted the World Amateur Team Championships of Japan). Each of the 6 courses comes with its own unique clubhouse where you can enjoy traditional Japanese bites in a stylish modern restaurant.

A grand prize winner at the World Golf Awards, Niseko Village Golf Course is set amongst pretty silver birch forests, with stunning Mount Yotei serving as a cinematic backdrop. Across 18 challenging holes, you’ll experience long manicured fairways peppered with a range of strategic hazards including deep maneuverable sand bunkers and pretty, but deadly, ponds.

Situated next to the Hilton resort, players will enjoy a wealth of perks in the surrounding area including wellness experiences, retail therapy and fusion fine dining. After a game, hit popular restaurant The Crab Shack to sample succulent seafood in boathouse-style surroundings or head to the Niseko Village onsen for a warm spring water bath.

Tokyo Golf Club boasts gently rolling fairways and a collection of truly unforgettable bunkers that define this world-famous, 18-hole course. Framed by towering pine trees, this Komyo Ohtani layout was transformed in 2009 by American architect Gilbert Hanse (the legend responsible for the Olympic Golf Course in Rio de Janeiro and the revamp at the Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts).

Players will enjoy a number of practice facility perks including a putting green, a driving range and a chipping area. After a day in the open, head to the Anthony Raymond-designed clubhouse for tasty Japanese cuisine and refreshing beverages in a rustic interior.

Located in Hokkaido, North Country Golf Club is an 18-hole opus designed by celebrated Japanese golf pro Aoki Isao. Intended to rival elite clubs such as St. Andrews in Scotland and Augusta National in America, players benefit from perfectly manicured fairways with subtle elevations, enhanced with mature trees and attractive water hazards.

One of only a few courses in Japan that uses bent grass exclusively, North Country Golf Club is famed for its exhilarating 16th hole – an eye-catching island green that’s surrounded by a lake. After the game, head to the clubhouse restaurant for epicurean delicacies including traditional sake and Hokkaido sirloin steak.

Setouchi Golf Resort in Hiroshima is resplendent with an undulating 18-hole layout, strategically placed water hazards and spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea, which is dotted with tiny islands. Widely considered one of Japan’s most beautiful courses, players also benefit from an expansive outdoor deck where they can indulge in beer, barbeques and chef-prepared buffets.

Designed by esteemed golf course architect Chohei Miyazawa, Setouchi is situated near Takehara, a historic village affectionately known as Hiroshima's "Little Kyoto". Here, you can take in an impeccably preserved townscape that boasts historic wooden buildings that date back to Japan’s Edo period.

18-hole Narita Golf Club is situated a 20-minute drive northeast of the city centre and has received numerous sporting accolades including nods from luxury watch brand Rolex. Designed by golfing legend Taizo Kawata, the course’s wide tree-lined corridors are sympathetic, making it the perfect place for golfing amateurs.

Narita’s stylish clubhouse delivers enchanting views of the forested course as well as an enticing array of traditional Japanese delicacies, heavy on meat and seafood. Try the broiled eel with pickle, the ginger and pork rib roast, the loin cutlet curry or the bluefin tuna tekka bowl.

One of Hokkaido’s premier golf clubs, A-Brand is an 18-hole jewel. It boasts undulating emerald greens, significant elevation changes, tactical bunkers and impressive sea views thanks to the vision of golf course architect Kentaro Sato. Launched in 1994, A-Brand is equipped with a host of luxurious additions including carts, caddies and a well-stocked golf shop.

A major draw is the opulent clubhouse, inspired by the fairy tale castles of northern Europe (the marble hall features taxidermied polar bears and packs of wolves). The adjacent hotel serves delicious cuisine in its swanky restaurant, featuring fresh local ingredients and seasonal produce.

It might be less well-known than some of its more famous golfing counterparts, but Itoigawa Country Club in Niigata has plenty to offer. This 18-hole, par-72 course features exhilarating views of the majestic Northern Alps, the dramatic East Sea and the enveloping picturesque forests.

Supervised by professional golfer Seiichi Kanai, Itoigawa boasts a multitude of hazards including imposing pine trees, strategic sand bunkers and idyllic, but challenging, water features. The clubhouse’s second-floor restaurant serves authentic dishes prepared by the chef, such as sticky udon noodles and aromatic beef curry.

Known for its breath-taking ocean views and hilly undulations, Bel Beach Golf Club in north Okinawa is a dramatic 18-hole course that features stable fairways and a wide field of vision. It’s not just the hazardous bunkers you need to watch out for – your ball can be swept suddenly off course by the sneaky sea winds.

Bel Beach’s contemporary clubhouse boasts a chic and spacious restaurant where players can enjoy freshly prepared sushi after the game. Dabble in some retail therapy at the onsite golf shop where you can buy a range of branded products including caps, shirts and carry bags.