Planning Your Japan Golf Trip: Travel Tips & Advice
- swaggolf3923
- Aug 31
- 2 min read
Japan’s peak golfing seasons are spring (Apr–May) and autumn (Oct–Nov), when the weather is mild and foliage is beautiful.
Summers (June–Aug) can be hot, humid and rainy (especially June–July), and typhoons may hit in late summer; winters see snow on inland courses, though coastal courses often stay open year-round.
Green fees are surprisingly reasonable: expect about ¥10,000 (~$90) for a weekday round at a top Tokyo-area club.
Weekends/holidays typically cost 1.5–2× as much. In fact, many clubs post higher fees on weekends, so booking a weekday tee time can save a bundle.
Club rentals (clubs/shoes) run around ¥3,000–5,000 per round.
Tokyo and the Kanto/Kansai metros have the highest concentration of excellent courses,so staying near those cities is convenient, but branching out up to 2–3 hours away often uncovers beautiful countryside courses at lower prices.
Booking: Book teetimes in advance, especially on weekends. Many top clubs released months ahead. English booking services (like JapanGolfTrip) or hotel concierges can help.
Transport: Japan’s rail and bus system is excellent. Example: To reach Fuji Classic (Yamanashi), take the highway bus from Tokyo (Shinjuku) to Kawaguchiko, then a 25-min taxi (≈¥5,000) to the course. Many resort courses (e.g. Hokkaido, Kyushu) are accessible via Shinkansen + car rental or local train+taxi.
Airlines: Japan Airlines and ANA offer extra baggage for sports gear. In fact, JAL’s current campaign allows one golf bag (with clubs) to be checked as an extra item free of charge subject to weight limits). This helps if you’re carrying multiple clubs or shoes.
Hotels: Look for golf packages – many Japanese hotels partner with nearby courses. For example, the Kawana Hotel in Ito (Shizuoka) combines two courses and ocean views. Or consider golf-friendly chain hotels (Prince, ANA Crowne, etc.) where transfers may be included.
Aerial view of Fuji Classic (Yamanashi). Trips to Japan can easily combine city travel with nearby golf: e.g. Kawaguchiko near Mt. Fuji has multiple courses accessible by bus from Tokyo. 📩If you have any questions or special requests, please feel free to contact us at japangolftrip@gmail.com — we’ll be happy to assist you in crafting your perfect family golf adventure in Japan.
Comments