Golfing in Japan as a Tourist
By: Amelia Stoltz Dickerson|Business Development Intern, Tokyo Family Stays
Japan is home to more than 2,000 golf courses. From courses tucked into the mountains to those surrounded by the countryside, each course offers unforgettable views. Combined with Japan’s unique golfing experience and traditions, every round offers an experience unlike anywhere else in the world.
How do I play golf in Japan as a tourist?
As a golfer from Texas spending seven weeks in Japan as an intern with Tokyo Family Stays, I was excited to experience it for myself. However, I quickly learned that getting onto a course as a solo player wasn't as straightforward as I expected. Before arriving, I researched different booking sites like Gora Rakuten that offer single players to join other groups. However, I always ran into the same problem of not being able to read Japanese on the website and not having a Japanese phone number to book the tee time. This made the process even more intimidating and I went to Japan not knowing if I would be able to play.
It all flipped when my boss suggested I look at facebook for groups that golf in Japan. I took her advice and found a group called Tokyo International Golfers, a community of golfers from around the world who live in Japan and organize monthly tournaments around the Greater Tokyo area. I introduced myself to the group and explained my situation of living in Tokyo for the summer. A few days later, I was placed on a team called the Mcmulligans and invited to play in a tournament at Eastwood Country Club in Utsunomiya.
There were around 25 golfers competing on 6 different teams. I met golfers from all over the world but most of whom work and live in Japan. Despite the fact that everyone was the age of my parents, they immediately made me feel welcomed, and many of these connections led to invitations to play almost every weekend for the rest of my internship. This completely changed my internship and ended up being one of the highlights of my summer.
What Should I Expect During a Golf Day?
My golf days started by catching a train to the course. It was intimidating to travel with my clubs at first because they were so big but, it was actually much easier than I expected. On the Shinkansen (bullet train), there was designated luggage storage for larger items like golf bags. On local train lines, I kept my clubs with me. One thing I would definitely recommend is bringing a cover for the top of your golf bag to protect your clubs and keep everything secure during transportation.
Once I arrived at the station closest to the course, I either took the club shuttle bus or a short taxi ride to the clubhouse. After checking in, I was given a locker key, which I quickly learned was used for much more than just my locker. It also worked as my payment method throughout the day, so I made sure to keep it with me at all times.
Before each round, I went to the practice facility to warm up. When it was time to play, the staff loaded my clubs onto the golf cart, and we were ready to start. One thing that surprised me was the golf carts themselves. At several courses, the carts traveled along a guided track instead of being driven manually, which was something I had never seen before.
Another part of Japanese golf that was completely new to me was the lunch break. After finishing the first nine holes, everyone returned to the clubhouse for about an hour to enjoy lunch before heading back out to play the back nine. After completing all 18 holes, I headed back to the locker room where I could relax in the traditional Japanese bath and onsen.
How can I practice in Japan?
During the week, I focused on practicing after work to keep my game sharp. My favorite place I found was Tokyo Jumbo Golf Center in Adachi City, just outside of downtown Tokyo. From Shinjuku, it took me about an hour to get there, but every trip was worth it.
The facility has four floors with around 200 bays in total. Every bay is equipped with TrackMan technology, allowing me to track every shot and watch the ball fly up to 230 yards. The staff were incredibly helpful and made the entire process of reserving and paying for a bay easy, even with the language barrier.
Although it took a little longer to get there, Tokyo Jumbo Golf Center quickly became my favorite place to practice in Japan. If you're looking for a driving range with great facilities and a welcoming atmosphere, I couldn't recommend it more.
Golfing in Japan | Tokkyo Family Stays.jpeg
About the author
Amelia Dickerson is an Economics student at Trinity College, Connecticut. During a six-week internship with Tokyo Family Stays, she explored Japan beyond the typical tourist attractions, including experiencing the country's unique golf culture. As a collegiate golfer, Amelia enjoys sharing practical travel tips and personal experiences to help other visitors make the most of their time in Japan.