Harper Lin
Japan is a huge golf destination, with around 2,349 golf courses across its 6,852 islands, including the four main islands of Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The sport is popular in the country, with courses catering to golfers of every budget and skill level. While golf was previously an expensive and exclusive sport in Japan, today, most courses are open to the public, with reasonable fees. The country's golf courses offer a unique experience, with beautiful mountain views or coastal scenery, and traditional amenities such as natural hot springs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golf courses in Japan | 2,190 (in 2023) |
| Number of islands with golf courses | More than 6,852 |
| Main islands with golf courses | Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu |
| Cost for 18-hole golf | 7,000-12,000 yen per person |
| Course duration | All-day event with a one-hour lunch break |
| Course dress code | Collared shirt, slacks, shorts/skirt |
| Clubhouse dress code | Jackets may be required |
| Course amenities | Tea houses, spas, and restaurants |
| Course terrain | Mountainous, coastal, and volcanic |
| Popular golf destinations | Mount Fuji, Izu Peninsula, Karuizawa, and Okinawa |
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What You'll Learn
Golf is a popular sport in Japan
Golf courses in Japan offer a unique experience, with beautiful mountain views or coastal scenery, and the opportunity to play year-round except in snowy regions. The country's golfing culture includes a traditional lunch break of around one hour between the first and second halves of the course, and a trip to the clubhouse to relax in the bath after a day of play.
Japan's golf courses are known for their high-quality, delicious, and inexpensive food, with soba or udon noodles being a popular choice to fuel up before returning to the course. Tea houses on the course offer snacks and drinks, and at the end of the day, golfers can enjoy the spa and bar facilities, often fed by natural hot springs.
Golf in Japan has become more accessible in recent years, with a large majority of courses now open to the general public. English-speaking staff are also becoming more common, although English-speaking caddies remain rare. Reservations at golf courses can still be a hurdle for foreign visitors, with only a handful of courses allowing for easy reservations in English.
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Courses are accessible for all skill levels
Golf is a popular sport in Japan, with a large variety of courses catering to golfers of all skill levels. The country boasts over 2,000 golf courses, with something for every budget. In the past, golf in Japan was an expensive and exclusive sport, but nowadays, most courses are open to the public.
For beginners, there are numerous driving ranges where golfers can practice their swing. These can be found all over the country, even in the middle of cities. The driving ranges are often multi-storey constructions, wrapped in tall green netting, and many feature automatic teeing machines. They typically charge around 10 yen per ball, with some offering unlimited balls for a set time.
For those looking to play a round of golf, there are courses to suit all abilities. Some of the best courses are located around famous resort areas such as Mount Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, Karuizawa, and Okinawa, offering beautiful mountain views or coastal scenery. These courses typically require reservations in advance, and it is worth noting that only a handful of courses allow for easy reservations in English. Foreign visitors may find it easier to make reservations via a travel agent or their hotel concierge, or by staying at a hotel resort with its own golf course.
The cost of playing golf in Japan is relatively affordable, with 18-hole rounds including lunch and a golf cart typically costing between 7,000 and 12,000 yen on weekdays. Prices are higher on weekends and during peak seasons, and rental clubs and caddies are usually available for an additional fee. It is worth noting that English-speaking caddies are rare.
Golf courses in Japan generally enforce a dress code, requiring players to wear appropriate golf attire such as collared shirts and slacks or shorts/skirts. Some clubhouses may also require jackets to be worn, so it is always best to check in advance. With a range of courses, affordable prices, and stunning scenery, Japan has much to offer golfers of all skill levels.
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$13.75 $24.99
Courses are open to the general public
Golf is a popular sport in Japan, with over 2,000 golf courses spread across the country, making it the second-largest golf market in the world. The sport can be played year-round, except in snowy regions where courses close during winter.
In the past, golf was an expensive and exclusive sport in Japan. However, nowadays, most courses are open to the general public, with prices ranging from 7,000 to 12,000 yen per person for an 18-hole round, including lunch and a golf cart, especially on weekdays. Prices tend to be higher on weekends, during peak seasons, and near large cities.
While there are many courses to choose from, foreign visitors may encounter difficulties in making reservations due to language barriers. Only a handful of courses allow for easy reservations in English, and it is recommended that visitors use a travel agent, hotel concierge, or stay at a resort with a golf course. There are also websites that offer reservation services in Japanese, including the hitori-yoyaku service, which allows single players to reserve rounds with other single players at selected courses.
Golf courses in Japan cater to a variety of budgets and skill levels, with some of the best located in famous resort areas such as Mount Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, Karuizawa, and Okinawa, offering beautiful mountain or coastal views. Most courses enforce a dress code requiring collared shirts and slacks or shorts/skirts, and some clubhouses require jackets.
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There are spa facilities at golf clubs
Golf is a popular sport in Japan, with over 2,000 courses catering to 10 million golfers in the country. The sport can be played year-round, except in snowy regions where courses close in winter. The country offers a large variety of courses for golfers of every budget and skill level, with some of the best located around famous resort areas such as Mount Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, Karuizawa, and Okinawa, where they offer beautiful mountain views or coastal scenery.
Golf courses in Japan offer breathtaking scenery, top-notch service, and a refined golfing culture. Many of the country's esteemed courses were designed and built in the 1930s by British architect Charles Alison, including the top-ranked Hirono Golf Club, known as the Pine Valley of Japan. Other notable courses include the Tokyo Golf Club, the Osaka Golf Club, and the Yokohama Country Club, which boasts two 18-hole courses.
After a long day on the course, golfers can relax and unwind at the clubhouse, which often offers spa-like facilities. At the end of the day, it is customary for tired golfers to head to the clubhouse to relax in the bath. Towels, soap, and shampoo are usually provided, so golfers don't need to bring their own. Some golf clubs in Japan are known to have hot spring baths, adding to the spa experience.
While golf in Japan has traditionally been an expensive and exclusive sport, it has become more accessible in recent years, with a large majority of courses now open to the general public. It is common to find affordable rates for an 18-hole round of golf, including lunch and a golf cart, especially on regular weekdays. However, prices tend to be higher on weekends, during peak seasons, and near large cities.
When planning a golf trip to Japan, it is important to note that making reservations at golf courses can be challenging for foreign visitors due to language barriers. Most courses in Japan require reservations to be made in Japanese, and only a handful accept easy reservations in English. Foreign visitors may need to rely on travel agents, hotel concierges, or stay at resorts with golf courses to navigate this hurdle. Punctuality is also crucial in Japan, and golfers are expected to arrive 40 to 60 minutes before their tee time.
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Courses have two greens per hole
Golf is a popular sport in Japan, with courses catering to golfers of all skill levels and budgets. There are a large variety of courses spread across the country, with some of the best located around famous resort areas such as Mount Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, Karuizawa, and Okinawa.
Many golf courses in Japan have two greens per hole. This is a common practice in the country, and the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, which hosted the Zozo Championship in 2019, is one such example. The fourth hole of this course presented Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Hideki Matsuyama, and Jason Day with a challenge: play to the left green or the right green.
The two-green system has several advantages. Firstly, having twice as many putting surfaces means reduced wear and tear, as one green can be used while the other undergoes maintenance or renovation. This setup also allows golf courses to remain open during aeration periods, eliminating the need to reduce greens fees. Additionally, having two greens per hole provides some variety for regular golfers.
However, the two-green system also has its drawbacks. Maintaining two greens per hole can be complicated and typically requires a larger maintenance crew. It also results in increased maintenance budgets, which can lead to higher golf fees. In recent years, advancements in turf management have made two greens with two different grass types less necessary, and the percentage of courses in Japan using this system has slightly decreased. Nonetheless, the two-green phenomenon remains a unique feature of many Japanese golf courses.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2023, there are about 2,190 golf courses in Japan, a number that has decreased from previous years.
Most golf courses in Japan are planted with native korai grass, which turns pale yellow in winter, and bent for the greens. Many courses also have natural hot springs, with separate facilities for men and women.
Most courses enforce a dress code that requires players to wear appropriate golf clothes, such as a collared shirt and slacks or shorts/skirt, while on the course. Some courses may also require jackets to be worn in the clubhouse.
Yes, while it can be difficult as only a handful of courses allow for easy reservations in English, there are websites that offer the hitori-yoyaku service, which allows single players to reserve rounds with other single players at selected courses. There are also companies like Golf in Japan that can help with reservations and have English-speaking staff.
It is common to pay between 7,000 and 12,000 yen per person for an 18-hole round of golf, including lunch and a golf cart, especially on regular weekdays. Prices are usually higher on weekends, during peak seasons, and near large cities.
