Japan has over 2,000 golf courses, with many of them set amongst the scenic views of mountains, forests, and hot-spring towns that visitors miss out on.
Our guests agree that spending a day on these Japanese golf courses was one of their most memorable moments in Japan. Getting that tee time, however, is a different matter.
Why Is It Hard to Book Gold in Japan as a Visitor?
Most golf courses in Japan require you to make reservations in advance, often by phone and during local business hours. In-house rules also further complicate the reservation process, such as Japanese-only contracts, rejecting single players, or accepting guest reservations only on certain days. Even if you’re a golfer used to making reservations abroad, booking a golf course in Japan comes with a new set of challenges.
At TokudAw, we work with Golf Caddie Japan, an English-speaking golf booking service. Golf Caddie Japan contacts the establishment on your behalf, confirming their availability and all minor details before proceeding with the booking. TokudAw handles your golf transport with a private driver, ensuring that you leave and arrive back at your hotel safely and comfortably.
How It Works: Booking a Golf Course in Japan in 4 Steps
1. Tell Golf Caddie Japan about your round.
Share your dates, group size, where you are staying, and your budget through their booking request form. They reply in English within 24 hours.
2. Golf Caddie Japan finds and books the course.
You receive course options and a written quote. Their service fee is ¥6,000 per player per round, tax included. Green fees are paid directly to the course on the day.
3. Book your private vehicle and driver with TokudAw.
Book your private vehicle directly with TokudAw. Let us know your pick-up point and tee time, and we’ll arrange a 10-hour charter for you. You’ll be able to travel wherever you want during those 10-hours, whether you’re planning additional sightseeing stops or even a relaxing onsen stop.
This arrangement works even if you’re the only golfer in your group. Your friends and family can utilise the van for other purposes, after the driver has dropped you off at the golf course.
4. Play your round.
Golf Caddie Japan sends you a guide written in English for the day with check-in steps and course etiquette, so you know exactly what to expect.
Best Golf Courses in Japan for Visitors: Top Picks by Season and Scenery
Japan’s seasons change the golf experience a lot, so golfers often choose their course by the time of the year and their preferred view. Here are some popular golf courses across Saitama, Shizuoka, Yamanashi, and Nagano.
Famous Golf Courses in Japan
Kasumigaseki Country Club (Kawagoe, Saitama): Japan’s oldest 36-hole club, which also hosted the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Golf Competition. Its East Course is particularly known for deep “Alison bunkers” and immaculate tournament conditioning.
Taiheiyo Club, Gotemba Course (Gotemba, Shizuoka): A premier championship resort-style layout, known for their sweeping views of Mt. Fuji, tree-lined fairways,a nd challenging water hazards.
Mt. Fuji View Golf Courses
Fuji Classic (Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi): Best known as the closest golf course to Mt. Fuji, with unobstructed views of Fuji’s peak from all 18 holes. The course is also heavily inspired by Hokusai’s famous woodblock prints, including a signature 17th hole echoing the Great Wave of Kanagawa.
Narusawa Golf Club (Narusawa, Yamanashi): A championship-level forest course at the foot of Mount Fuji, roughly 1,100 meters above sea level. A frequent host of JLPGA tour events, with the course’s signature 8th hole being a par 3 playing a lake directly towards Mt. Fuji.
Fuji Country Club (Gotemba, Shizuoka): A historic, hilly 18-hole par-72 course designed by Shiro Akaboshi, with Mt. Fuji as a backdrop of every hole. The Antonin Raymond Clubhouse has also been registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
Fuji Golf Course (Yamanakako, Yamanashi): Opened in 1935 as Yamanashi Prefecture’s first golf course, this parkland course features wide, flat fairways lined with Japanese red pines and fast greens.
Golf Courses in Karuizawa, Nagano
Nagano is one of Japan’s best-known summer golf destinations, especially since highland courses stay cooler than the Kanto plains. As Karuizawa is a longer drive away from Tokyo, it’s best suitable for guests staying overnight in the area or building the area into a multi-city itinerary.
Karuizawa 72 Gold (Karuizawa, Nagano): Japan’s largest resort golf facility, with six courses and 108 holes designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. The North Course is the facility’s top-grade tournament venue, hosting professional events (e.g., NEC Karuizawa 72).
Taiheiyo Club Karuizawa Resort (Kitakaruizawa, Nagano): Situated in the northern Karuizawa highlands at an elevation of 1,300 metres, with 36 holes across the Asama and Shirakaba courses.
Best Seasons to Play Golf in Japan and Where To Go
| Season | Where to Play |
|---|---|
| Winter (Dec to Feb) | Kyushu (Southern Japan), Kyoto, Osaka, Yokohama, Tokyo |
| Spring & Autumn | Kanazawa, Shizuoka, Yamanashi |
| Summer | Karuizawa, Hokkaido, Yamanashi, Shizuoka |
What a Golf Day in Japan Looks Like
As tee times are early, our drivers will pick you up at your hotel around sunrise. TokudAw’s drivers are experienced and well-versed with the routes, so you don’t have to concern yourself with anything. Golf courses near Tokyo are typically an hour or two’s drive away, so you’ll have time to relax and discuss the game plan while traveling on-site.
Many Japanese courses still keep a tradition that surprises visitors: a sit-down lunch between the front nine and the back nine. After the round, most clubhouses have a large Japanese-style bath (onsen-style) where players wash and soak before heading home. Your car will be waiting when you are ready, with no train timetables to worry about and no golf bags to carry through stations. Read our blog article on onsens to learn a bit more about the benefits of soaking in an onsen.
Want to combine golf and sightseeing or shopping in Japan? TokudAw can arrange that too. With our 10-hour private charter, you’ll have the flexibility to choose the locations that you’d like to visit for the day, at your preferred pace and timings. Whether you want to see the sights after your round or have family members explore while you golf, your driver stays with you.
For one of our previous clients, we arranged a morning round of golf at a course in Chiba, followed by late lunch at a local seafood restaurant. Before heading back to the hotel, the client also visited GOLF5, a golf shop chain that stocks clubs, apparel, and accessories, to pick up some extra gear.
Stopping by a sports store before you hit the greens is also something that should be planned if you do not have a ball marker, tees, and gold balls with you.
Who This Japan Golf Service Works Best for
Golf groups. Groups of 4 to 8 golfers who want the whole day handled, door to door. A TokudAw Hiace van fits a full group with their golf bags, while an Alphard suits smaller groups.
Families. Families where some members golf while others would prefer spending their day sightseeing nearby.
Corporate and incentive travel. Business and incentive groups looking for a round of golf as part of a wider itinerary in Japan.
Solo golfers. Traveling alone? Golf Caddie Japan also takes single-player requests, subject to each course’s rules for visitors on that date.
Before You Book: a Few Tips
Japan's golf dress code.
Most clubs expect a collared shirt, and a jacket on arrival at some traditional clubs. Golf Caddie Japan will tell you what your course expects, so you don’t have to worry about being rejected entry due to inappropriate wear.
Golf club rentals in Japan.
Looking to rent golf clubs instead of bringing your own? Most Japanese golf courses do offer rental services for full sets. Simply let Golf Caddie Japan know, alongside with any special requests or comments, and they’ll put in the request with your booking.
Bringing your own golf clubs instead? Let TokudAw know during your booking, so that we can dispatch the appropriate vehicle size for your group.
Best time to book.
Popular courses near Tokyo fill up quickly on weekends, particularly during spring and autumn. Early reservations are essential, especially if there’s a specific course that you’d like to visit.
Tee-time punctuality.
Punctuality is also extremely important in Japan. Many places in Japan only provide a short grace period, canceling your reservation if you’re more than 15 minutes late, which can be stressful for first-time golfers in Japan.
At TokudAw, we are committed to ensuring that you arrive on time. If there are delays due to unexpected circumstances, our team will also help you negotiate with the establishment to obtain the best outcome.
Explore Japan with TokudAw
Golf can be the centrepiece of a day, or one part of a longer journey. TokudAw plans private tours, airport transfers, and multi-city itineraries across Japan. We are more than happy to build your golf day into a trip that also includes the places you came to see.
Contact TokudAw with your plans and we will put together a proposal for your golf trip in Japan.
FAQ
Can visitors play members-only golf clubs in Japan? Some private clubs accept visitors on certain days or under certain conditions; others do not. Golf Caddie Japan checks each club's current rules for your dates before booking.
How much does a round of golf cost in Japan? Green fees vary by course, day and season. Golf Caddie Japan's service fee is ¥8,000 per player per round, tax included (as of Nov. 1 2026), and they confirm the final course price with you before anything is booked (check Golf Caddie Japan’s website for the most accurate price information). Transport is quoted separately by TokudAw.
Should I tip the caddies or staff? No. Tipping is not customary or expected in Japan, so there’s no need to tip your caddy. However, if you wish to show your appreciation, a gracious thank you is well received.
Can we combine golf with sightseeing on the same trip? Yes. Golf Caddie Japan books the golf, and we can arrange transport, accommodation and sightseeing around it.
Can we combine golf with shopping on the same trip? Yes. Japan is one of the best places to purchase golf equipment, with domestic brands that stock Japan-exclusive products.These stores are also good stop by for tees, markers and balls. Many stores, especially in Tokyo, also offer tax-free shopping for tourists. However, as of late 2026, the tax free rebates are no longer processed on-site at the store, and instead at the airport. Be sure to plan extra time at the airport for the rebate processing. Making tax-free or duty-free purchases means if you wish to use any products while in Japan you can not receive the tax free discount. Some popular stores include:
GOLF5: a golf essentials chain with multiple outlets over Japan.
BEAMS GOLF: Japanese golfwear chain that balances functionality with design.
Victoria Golf: another golf essentials chain, offering both domestic and international golf brands.
Niki Golf (Ueno): a wholesale golf shop offering great discounts on international brands like Callaway, Yamaha, FootJoy, etc.
Kotobuki Golf (Ueno): three-storey building offering golf essentials for men, women, and children.
Mizuno, Bridgestone, and Dunlop stores: offers custom fittings for golf clubs.
What’s the best time to play golf in Japan? Spring and autumn are popular seasons amongst golfers, so book early to avoid disappointment. Refer to our course guide above for specific picks and recommendations.