Japan's Greatest Golf Courses

December 22, 2009 | Article Posted By - Travel Great, London

There are over 2,500 golf courses in Japan. afterabc.com's travel section has many of the very best, including many of Japan's most private and exclusive clubs.

The courses you will play have all been ranked as the finest courses Japan has to offer. No other tours can offer these golf courses to you at any price.

Japanese golf courses are known for their outstanding beauty and are maintained like perhaps no other courses in the world. The attention to the minutest details is truly remarkable. Unlike many courses around the world, they are built to commune with nature, not to conquer it. The Japanese have a reverence for nature and you will sense it as you play their marvelous golf courses.



The courses included on our tours are indicated below along with some of the others we will be offering in upcoming tours. In 2010, we will offer a broader assortment of tours to suit every taste and budget. Come join us for the golf and cultural experience of a lifetime.

The Courses

Abiko Golf Club
Abiko is one of Japan's oldest and most famous private clubs. It is also famous for being the course where legendary Japanese golfer, Isao Aoki learned the game. Designed by Rokuro Akaboshi in 1930. Known for its lightning fast small greens, strategically placed bunkers and brilliantly conceived undulations, Abiko is a course you will never forget.

Dai-Hakone C.C.
Dai-Hakone is located in the Hakone area, one of Japan's most beautiful and popular recreation areas. It is located in Fuji Hakone Izu National Park and is almost a mile above sea level. The terrain is rolling and is surrounded by mountains, including Mt. Fuji. The fairways are open and the holes are lined by magnificent pines and cypress. This course has hosted many major golf events in Japan and is the home of the JLPGA Championship every year.

Ibaraki Country Club
Ibaraki Country Club is conveniently located near Osaka and features 36 holes with a great variety of golfing challenges. The East Course opened in 1925 and was designed by Robert Ford and Seiichi Inoue. It is built on gently rolling terrain and was completely built by hand. It is not a long course but there is a premium on accuracy. The West Course is newer, longer and there is more variation in the terrain. The courses are very different but both are challenging and enjoyable. Ibaraki is ranked #40 in Japan's Top 50 Courses.

Musashi Country Club (Sasai Course)
Located in Saitama, the Sasai course opened in 1959 and was designed by legendary Japanese golf course architect Seiichi Inoue. The course is located in the Musashino forest and the abundance of red pines maintains that forest atmosphere. The course plays long but, even with all of the trees, there is room to negotiate the long distances. The Sasai Course is ranked #22 in Japan's top 50 courses.

Musashi Country Club (Toyooka Course)
The Sasai Course's sister course, the Toyooka Course was also designed by Seiichi Inoue. The courses have a similar feel but are really quite different. The Toyooka Course features strategically placed fairway bunkers that place a premium on well placed tee shots. The Toyooka Course is ranked #20 in Japan's top 50 courses.

Ono Golf Club
Ono Golf Club opened in 1961 and is located in Hyogo, Japan near Osaka. The course has several interesting ponds which work their way in and out of the layout. Ono is known for its excellent greens and gentle rolling terrain. The "out" nine has several ponds of varying sizes and the "in" nine is more heavily treed. It is a challenging course and fun to play.

Taiheyo Golf Club (Gotemba Course)
Taiheyo Golf Club is located in Shizuoka, near the foot of Mt. Fuji. Founded in 1977 and designed by Shunsuke Kato, this private club is heavily wooded course yet affords expansive views of the surrounding area and Mt. Fuji itself. The layout is not too hilly but the natural undulations make club selection difficult. It features undulating greens and strategic bunkering. This course is ranked as Japan's #2 golf course in Golf Digest's Top 100 World Rankings. It was also the site of the 2001 World Cup whre Tiger Woods and David Duval won in dramatic fashion. It is also one of Japan's most beautiful locations with Hakone, Lake Ashi, Mt. Yamanaka and, of course Mt. Fuji all nearby.

Chiba C.C. (Umesato Course)
Located in Chiba, this is a true champions course. Each hole is separated by pine trees and a good score here is something to be proud of. Well placed hazards, narrow fairways and difficult doglegs put a premium on keeping the ball in play.
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Hirono Golf Club
Hirono Golf Club, founded in 1932 is Japan's highest ranked golf course. This private club is located in Kobe, not far from Osaka. It was designed by the great Charles Allison, who designed many of Japan's finest courses. The course is beautiful yet very challenging. It has been host to all of Japan's biggest championships. The course is heavily treed and there is plenty of water. The landscape of several holes is reminiscent of some of the British Isles' great parkland courses. It is also famous for its three very difficult finishing holes which have seen the demise of many would be champions over the years.
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Naruo Golf Club
Naruo is one of the oldest and most distinguished private clubs in all of Japan. It is located in the Kansai area near Osaka. Founded in 1920 and designed by H.C. Crane and Charles Allison, Naruo is really fun to play, with great rolling to hilly terrain and wonderful bunkers. The bunkers are beautiful to look at but not much fun to be in. The whole course is great but the par 3's are especially memorable. Accurate approach shots are a must as all greens are well protected. A good score at Naruo is quite an achievement. Naruo is ranked #36 in Japan's top 50 courses.

Oarai Golf Club
Oarai Golf Club was designed by legendary Japanese golf course architect, Seiichi Inoue in 1953. It is the 3rd ranked golf course in Japan and has hosted many major Japanese championships. It is a seaside course facing the Pacific Ocean in Ibaraki. Wide lush fairways are bordered by ancient pines. The greens are big but the course is made difficult by the wind which is always a factor on this unforgettable course.

Sayama Golf Club
Sayama Golf Club is a private course with 27 holes located in Saitama. Founded in 1959, this course, like Musashi Country Club maintains the atmosphere of the old Musashino Forest. It is basically flat but with wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Each hole has a pond which adds both beauty and difficulty. Numerous bunkers will test your play from the sand.

Tokyo Yomiuri C.C.
Tokyo Yomiuri is one of Japan's finest private clubs and yet another gem by Seiichi Inoue. Built in 1964, it is a challenging and sometimes windy course that uses the hilly terrain to its full advantage. It is a "shotmaker's" golf course with many doglegs and interesting undulations. Many major Japanese championships have been held here over the years. Tokyo Yomiuri is ranked #46 in Japan's top 50 golf courses.

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