5 Best Ski Resorts in Nagano
10 Best Places to Play Golf in Japan
Where to Go in Japan to Play Golf?
Playing golf in Japan has long been considered a bucket list vacation thanks to the country’s vast array of outstanding clubs. This ancient island nation has maintained a fervent love affair with all things golf, opening more courses than every other Asian country put together in the past century alone.
From award-winning resorts boasting fine-dining restaurants to layouts revamped by American legends, there’s never been a better place to land your dream hole-in-one. Whether you want to swing your clubs in Osaka or hit the green in Hiroshima, Japan’s remarkable golf courses are designed to have it all.
1. Ibaraki
A duo of dream golf courses
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Luxo
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.
Localização: 25 Nakahozumi, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0034, Japan
Abre: Tuesday–Saturday from 7.30 am to 5 pm, Sunday from 7 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)
Telefone: +81 (0)72-625-1661
Ibaraki
2. Karuizawa Golf
Golfers will be spoiled for choice
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Luxo
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.
Localização: 1016 Karuizawa, Kitasaku District, Nagano 389-0102, Japan
Abre: Daily from 8.30 am to 5 pm
Telefone: +81 (0)26-742-8811
Karuizawa Golf
3. Niseko Village Golf Course
A Hokkaido golfing haven
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Luxo
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 manoeuvrable 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.
Localização: Niseko-cho, Higashiyama Onsen Abuta-gun 048-1592, Japan
Abre: Daily from 7 am to 4.30 pm
Telefone: +81 (0)13-644-2211
Niseko Village Golf Course
4. Tokyo Golf Club
Elegant course with old-school etiquette
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Luxo
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 drinks in a rustic interior.
Localização: 1984 Kashiwabara, Sayama City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
Abre: Hours vary by season
Telefone: +81 (0)42-953-9111
Tokyo Golf Club
5. The North Country Golf Club
A golfing paradise designed by a pro
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Luxo
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.
Localização: 26 Rankoshi, Chitose, Hokkaido 066-0068, Japan
Abre: Daily from 6 am to 6 pm
Telefone: +81 (0)12-327-2121
The North Country Golf Club
6. Setouchi Golf Resort
Sublime seaside club
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Luxo
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.
Localização: 831 Yoshinacho, Takehara, Hiroshima 725-0013, Japan
Abre: Daily from 7 am to 4.30 pm
Telefone: +81 (0)84-623-4141
Setouchi Golf Resort
7. Narita Golf Club
Award-winning golf with authentic Japanese bites
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Luxo
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 grilled eel with pickle, the ginger and pork rib roast, the loin cutlet curry or the bluefin tuna tekka bowl.
Localização: 127 Omuro, Narita, Chiba 286-0821, Japan
Abre: Daily from 7 am to 5.30 pm
Telefone: +81 (0)47-636-0111
Narita Golf Club
8. A-Brand Golf Club
Glamorous golf with a fairy tale castle
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Luxo
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.
Localização: 2358-1, Noboricho, Yoichi-cho, Yoichi-gun Hokkaido, Japan
Abre: Hours vary by season
Telefone: +81 (0)13-522-0011
A-Brand Golf Club
9. Itoigawa Country Club
A unique golfing challenge in stunning surrounds
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Luxo
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.
Localização: 1550 Rendaiji, Itoigawa, Niigata 941-0055, Japan
Abre: Daily from 7 am to 5.30 pm
Telefone: +81 (0)25-552-3800
Itoigawa Country Club
10. Bel Beach Golf Club
Unforgettable coastal course serving succulent clubhouse seafood
Ideal para: Casais, Famílias, Luxo
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 on-site golf shop where you can buy a range of branded products including caps, shirts and carry bags.
Localização: 5151 Sakimotobu, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0225, Japan
Abre: Daily from 11 am to 9 pm
Telefone: +81 (0)98-047-3111
Bel Beach Golf Club
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