Golf Courses in Japan

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Golf courses in Japan have multiplied at a surprisingly fast rate over the years taking up much of the little land available, squeezed in wherever possible. Golf in Japan is enormously popular and, on top of the many courses around the country, there are a huge array of driving ranges too. Driving ranges often take the place of a course because access to courses can be difficult given distance, cost, or both. Driving ranges can be identified from a mile away, cloaked by huge green nets that protect the surrounding environment. The nets come in especially handy as many driving ranges are built in the middle of cities like Tokyo where there are more than 80 driving ranges, and Kyoto where there are roughly 25.

Some of the best golfing in Japan is at the Kawana Resort in Ito. Often called the Pebble Beach of Japan, Kawana Hotel features two of the best golf courses in Japan, incorporated on a cliff side bordering the Pacific Ocean and showcasing the legendary Mount Fuji in the backdrop. The two courses—Oshima and Fuji—were designed in 1928 and 1932 by Otani Komyo and Charles H. Allison respectively.

Champion golf in Japan can also be found in Miyazaki at the Phoenix Country Club. The course is incorporated into the Phoenix Seagaia Resort Complex, and features 27 demanding holes tucked into a dense ebony pine forest on the coast of the Hitotsuba Pacific. There is also another course, a Tom Watson classic, inside the complex for more choice. The Phoenix is known for hosting many a Japan golf tour and tournament, including the annual Dunlop Phoenix Tournament on the Takachiho and Sumiyoshi. This tournament yields the highest paying prize for golf in Japan.