Top Seven Popular Golf Courses in Japan

1. Sun Park Sapporo Golf Course

This golf course is approximately seven minutes on a free club bus (requires reservations) from Kitahiroshima Station on the JR Chitose Line. Here, you can enjoy playing on a flat course amidst the grand nature that Hokkaido is known for. It is a course with many large and small ponds, where everyone from beginners to advanced golfers can fully experience the joy of golf.

2. Miho Golf Club

This is a golf course that the world famous golf course architect, R.T. Jones Jr., created with the theme of "risk and reward." It is located near Kasumigaura, and you can enjoy playing in a temperate climate. One advantage is that you can go without any equipment as you can rent full sets of clubs and shoes.

3. Kawagoe Green Cross

This is a golf course you can enjoy casually as you can reach it on a free club bus from Minami-Furuya Station on the JR Saikyo and Kawagoe Lines, and you can also rent full sets of clubs and shoes. The boat that takes you from the club house to the course adds to the fun. Overall, it is a flat course, but requires accurate shots as there are undulations all along the fairway.

4. Moon Lake Golf Club Mobara Course

This golf course is about 20 minutes by taxi from Mobara Station on the JR Sotobo Line. It is a course you can casually enjoy night golf at. Both full sets and single clubs are available for rental. The club also offers rental clubs for women and for lefties, as well as rental shoes for both men and women, so it is recommended for couples who want to go unencumbered.

5. Kasagi Golf Club

This golf course is about 30 minutes by taxi from Kintetsu Nara Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line. Here, you can enjoy golf in an environment surrounded by rich nature. Each hole in its beautiful, flat course is unique. The club offers full sets of rental clubs as well as rental shoes so you can go without any equipment.

6. Hirakata Kokusai Golf Club

This is an oasis-like, city-style golf course built in the foothills of Ikoma. It is in a convenient location, within 30 minutes by car from Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, and offers free club buses from Hirakatashi Station on the Keihan Main Line and Tsuda Station on the JR Gakkentoshi Line. The club offers full sets of clubs and shoes for rental, so you can stop by casually.

7. Takebenomori Golf Club

This is a golf course where you can play while enjoying the views of the clear Asahi River and the grand Kibikogen Highlands. It is in a convenient location just eight minutes by taxi from Takebe Station on the JR Tsuyama Line. The club has rental clubs for women as well as men, so it is a great place for couples to enjoy.

There really are a great many golf courses around Japan. You can go to many of them without any equipment, so do try them out!