Jackson Reid
Golf is a popular sport in Japan, with a large player base numbering in the millions. In 2023, it was reported that there were over 10 million golfers in the country. The sport is especially popular among the working population, particularly executives, and is considered a status symbol. However, golf's popularity in Japan has been declining. Since 1996, golf participation has dropped by 40%. This is partly due to the perception of golf as an expensive and exclusive sport, with private courses requiring hefty membership and initiation fees. To counter this, Japanese golf courses are trying to attract non-Japanese players and relax strict dress codes and etiquette rules to appeal to younger golfers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of golfers | 10 million |
| Number of golf courses | Over 2,000 |
| Popularity of the sport | Golf is one of the most common hobbies among executives and is the number one corporate sport. |
| Golf participation trend | Golf participation has dropped by 40% since 1996. |
| Average money spent on golf per year | 180,000 Japanese yen |
| Average cost of a round of golf | 7,000-12,000 yen for an 18-hole round |
| Comparison with the U.S. | Golf in Japan is more expensive than in the U.S. |
| Dress code | Strict dress code requiring collared shirts, slacks or shorts/skirts, and sometimes blazers. |
| Golfing culture | Golfing is an all-day event with a long lunch break in between halves of the course. |
| Professional scene | Vibrant domestic professional scene with various associations organizing high-level tournaments. |
| Viewership | Around 12.7% of people watch golf on TV or the internet. |
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What You'll Learn
Golf's popularity in Japan
Golf is a popular sport in Japan, with a rich history in the country dating back to the early 1900s. It is said that the game was introduced to Japan by a group of British expatriates who established the Kobe Golf Club, with the first nine-hole course opening in May 1903. The course was expanded to 18 holes within a year, and by 1924, the Japan Golf Association was born.
Over the years, golf became an integral part of Japan's business culture, particularly among executives and the elite. In the 1980s, Japan witnessed a boom in golf course construction, with thousands of courses built across the country. However, since 1996, golf participation in Japan has declined by 40%, and private courses, which account for about 90% of the country's courses, have struggled to survive.
Despite this decline, Japan still has one of the largest player bases for golf in the world, with over 10 million golfers in the country. The sport's popularity can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, golf can be played year-round in most parts of Japan, except for snowy regions where courses close in winter. Secondly, golf is relatively accessible to people of all ages and physical abilities, especially at the amateur level. Additionally, golf is seen as a status symbol in Japan, and it is considered an expensive sport, with golfers spending an average of 180,000 yen per year on their hobby.
The country offers a wide range of courses catering to different budgets and skill levels, with some of the best located around famous resort areas such as Mount Fuji, the Izu Peninsula, Karuizawa, and Okinawa. These courses provide stunning views and are often accompanied by relaxation facilities like bathhouses. While strict dress codes and etiquette rules have traditionally been a part of golfing culture in Japan, some courses are now relaxing these rules to appeal to a wider audience and stay relevant.
Japan also has a vibrant domestic professional golf scene, with associations organizing high-level amateur and professional tournaments. Major events, such as the Japan PGA Championship, offer significant prize pools, and golfing competitions attract a large viewership, with around 12.7% of people watching on TV or the internet.
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Golf's history in Japan
Golf is a popular sport in Japan, with the country boasting more golf courses than the rest of Asia combined. However, this was not always the case.
The history of golf in Japan began in the early 20th century when, in 1901, British expat Arthur Hesketh Groom built a four-hole course in Kobe, which expanded to nine holes in 1903. This was the first golf club in Japan, known as the Kobe Golf Club. In 1913, the Tokyo Golf Club was established in Komazawa, Tokyo—this was the first golf club in the country founded by and for Japanese golfers. Junnosuke Inoue, who had learned to play golf in New York, proposed the club, which received full support from Aisuke Kabayama and Shinjuro Arakawa.
During the 1920s and early 1930s, several new courses were built, but the Great Depression and increasing anti-Western sentiment limited the sport's growth. By 1941, there were 23 courses in Japan, most of which were requisitioned for military use during World War II. After the war, the courses came under the control of the occupying forces.
In the postwar period, golf in Japan enjoyed a surge in popularity. From 1960 to 1964, the number of golf courses increased from 195 to 424, and by the early 1970s, there were over 1,000 courses. The 1987 Resort Law, which reduced protections on agricultural land and forest preserves, further fuelled this boom, and by 2009, there were over 2,400 courses.
However, Japan's golf industry has faced challenges in recent years. Since 1996, golf participation has dropped by 40%, and private courses, which make up about 90% of the country's courses, have started to disappear due to declining membership and high fees. The industry is now hoping to attract a new generation of players and has relaxed strict golf etiquette to appeal to younger golfers.
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Golf's cost in Japan
Golf in Japan used to be a luxury sport, with private clubs requiring hefty membership and initiation fees. During the bubble era in the 1980s and early 1990s, golf became a luxury product in Japan, with clubs requiring deposits of $400,000 or more for membership. However, the industry has changed since then, and golf is now much more accessible and affordable for golfers of all budgets and skill levels.
While it is still considered more expensive than playing golf in the United States, where the average cost of a round of golf is under $50, golfing in Japan no longer requires exorbitant fees. Today, it is not uncommon to pay between 7,000 and 12,000 yen (approximately $80 to $150) per person for an 18-hole round of golf, including lunch and a golf cart, especially on regular weekdays. Prices may vary depending on the location, with higher prices near large cities, and they tend to be somewhat higher on weekends and during peak seasons.
Driving ranges, which can be found across Japan, typically charge around 10 yen per ball, although this price may also vary. Some driving ranges offer practice sessions with unlimited balls for a set amount of time.
Golf courses in Japan often include additional fees for services such as caddies and rental clubs, which can increase the overall cost of playing golf. However, English-speaking caddies are rare and may come at an extra cost.
The total cost for a day of golfing in Japan, including transportation, food, and drinks, can be around $200 USD. While the perception of golf as an expensive sport in Japan persists, the reality is that there are many reasonably priced courses accessible to those willing to make the effort to find them.
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Golf's culture in Japan
Golf is a popular sport in Japan, with the country hosting some of the world's best golf courses. The sport is baked into Japan's business culture, with clubhouses serving as venues for socializing with important business contacts.
Japan has over 2,000 golf courses, about half of Asia's golf courses, with a large variety of courses catering to golfers of every budget and skill level. The courses are known for their beauty, quality, and exclusivity, offering immaculately maintained courses with stunning views of Mount Fuji, the Pacific Ocean, and other coastal and mountain scenery.
The rules and etiquette of golf in Japan are similar to those in other countries, with a focus on traditional, conservative golfing attire. Most courses enforce a dress code requiring collared shirts and slacks or shorts/skirts. Some courses may also require blazers or jackets to be worn in the clubhouse. Golf courses in Japan also have rules for timely play and behavior, with strict tee time bookings and expectations for efficient play.
The cost of playing golf in Japan is typically higher than in other countries, with the average cost of a round of golf being under $50 in the US, while in Japan, it can range from 7,000 to 12,000 yen per person for an 18-hole round, including lunch and a golf cart. The price varies depending on the day of the week, with higher prices on weekends and during peak seasons.
Golf in Japan is often an all-day event, with a traditional hour-long lunch break between the first and second halves of the course. This break is considered an important part of the golfing culture, allowing golfers to rest, refuel, and enjoy the scenery and company. After the game, golfers typically head to the clubhouse to relax in the bath, where towels, soap, and shampoo are provided.
While golf in Japan used to be an expensive and exclusive sport played mainly by the upper class, it has become more accessible in recent years. The industry is trying to attract a younger generation of players and relax some of the strict rules and etiquette to appeal to a wider audience, including non-Japanese players and tourists.
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Golf's future in Japan
Golf in Japan has a rich history, dating back to the early 1900s when British expatriates established the game at the Kobe Golf Club. Over the years, golf became an integral part of Japan's business culture, particularly among executives and affluent individuals. However, in recent times, the popularity of the sport has been on the decline, with a 40% drop in participation since 1996.
The decline in popularity has led to the disappearance of private golf courses, which previously made up about 90% of the country's courses. The high membership and initiation fees associated with these private clubs became increasingly unsustainable, especially after the Japanese economic crash in 1989. As a result, many courses have been bought out, redeveloped, or forced to close down.
Despite this downward trend, Japan still boasts one of the largest player bases in the world, with over 10 million golfers in the country. The sport's accessibility, year-round playability (except in snowy regions), and the existence of numerous driving ranges have contributed to its enduring appeal. Additionally, the return of golf as an Olympic sport in 2020, with Japanese golfer Hideki Matsuyama winning the US Masters, has sparked a renewed interest in the game.
To attract a younger generation of golfers, courses in Japan are relaxing their strict dress codes and etiquette rules. The Musashigaoka Golf Course, for example, has remained successful by operating as a public course and allowing golfers to wear short socks, a departure from the traditional long socks rule. Some courses are even branding themselves as "American-style," where players can wear more casual attire.
The future of golf in Japan appears bright, with the country ranking as the second-biggest golf market globally. The combination of prestigious tournaments, vibrant domestic professional scenes, and the potential for more significant international victories may contribute to a resurgence in the sport's popularity.
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Frequently asked questions
There are over 10 million golfers in Japan.
Golf is one of the most popular sports in Japan, especially among the working population. In 2023, it was found that golfers spent on average about 180,000 Japanese yen per year on their hobby, the highest expenditure among practitioners of major sports disciplines.
There are over 2,000 golf courses in Japan, second only to the UK and the US.
Golf is considered an expensive sport in Japan. It is not uncommon to pay between 7,000 and 12,000 yen per person for an 18-hole round of golf, including lunch and a golf cart.
Golf's popularity in Japan appears to be decreasing. Since 1996, golf participation has dropped by 40%. However, there is hope that this trend can be reversed, especially with the return of golf as an Olympic sport in 2020.
