Golfing Around Tokyo

Mar 31, 2022

Golfing Around Tokyo

Being so filled with people, one could be forgiven for thinking that Tokyo is not the best place to spoil a good walk, to paraphrase Mark Twain. However, there are many fantastic and world-class golf courses around the capital. Of course, there are many roof-top driving ranges where you can hammer balls into nets mere feet away, but there are also a vast range of top quality, well, ranges on which to work on your handicap just outside the city.

Lakewood Golf Club

Surrounded by Mt. Fuji, Hakone, and the Tanazawa mountain range, this prestigious club is considered a course not only for leisure but for business. So much so that the club claims that very few Japanese executives over the age of fifty have not trodden this 36 hole course. Cut from the mountainous forest by renowned golf course architect Theodore G. Robinson,  Lakewood Golf Club boasts fine cuisine and gracious hospitality.

Distance from Tokyo: 75km

Website:  https://www.lake-wood.co.jp/lakewood/

Sakawa Royal Golf Club

Sakawa Royal Golf Club has around 3000 members, however, if you are not fortunate enough to be a member of this course with Mt Fuji views from nearly every hole, prices have recently been lowered, and they allow non-members on weekdays. There are four holes with water for golfers seeking a challenge, 18 sand traps, and a dogleg. There is also a practice putting area, night-lights, a minimum of one English speaking staff member on duty at any one time, and they are open all year round.

Distance from Tokyo: 89km

Website:  www.riversakawa-gc.jp

Windsor Park Golf and Country Club

If weekdays are busy and you don’t play often enough to warrant a membership, then Windsor Park Golf Club is ideal. While still having the facilities of a membership club, such as a putting green, driving range, clubhouse, a business center, and overnight accommodation, it is a member-free club and thus operates an open access policy. Also, as well as providing playing space for individuals and groups, they will close the club to guarantee exclusive use for groups of 120 or more.

Distance from Tokyo: 127km

Website: https://www.wpgcc.com/index_e.html

Gotemba Golf Club

Gotemba is one of Japan’s most famous retreat areas, and this hillside golf club offers beautiful views of Mt Fuji. A little over an hour outside of Tokyo, another advantage of Gotemba Golf Club is that club rental and all-around lessons are available in English. A free shuttle bus from JR Gotemba station makes it easily accessible for those without personal transportation.

Distance from Tokyo: 108km

Website:  www.gotembagolf.com

Tokyo American Club 19th Hole

But perhaps the great outdoors isn’t your thing. The 19th Hole at Tokyo American Club has two top-of-the-line golf simulators with images of the world’s top courses. Access is for members, but don’t worry if you are not from the USA, as their membership includes over fifty nationalities. The use of the simulators costs JPY 2,750 per hour and can be booked online for up to two hours. Members are free to bring their clubs, or the club can provide them.

Distance from Tokyo: 5km

Website:  https://www.tokyoamericanclub.org/index.php/en/golf

Distances from Tokyo Station via private transport using Google maps.

The above details are provided for information purposes only and are not endorsements.

Yuki Shimazu, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons