Bonari Kogen

31^st

The sixth and final Japanese golf project from Ron Fream of Golfplan in the 1990s, the course at Bonari Kogen Golf Club occupies a spectacular location in the foothills of the Azuma Mountain Range.

Taiheiyo (Gotemba)

32^nd

Taiheiyo Club operates 17 golf courses in Japan and its Gotemba course was given the honour of hosting the World Cup in 2001, an event won by the South African team of Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. Originally designed by Shunsuke Kato, the Gotemba was completely remodelled by Rees Jones and Bryce Swanson in consultation with Hideki Matsuyama in 2018.

Keya (Daimon & Kofuji)

33^rd

Once known as Kyushu-Sima Country Club, the modern day Keya Golf Club has hosted the Japan Tour’s KBC Augusta tournament since 1992. Designed by Shiro Akaboshi, the Daimon and Kofuji nines extend to 7,151 yards for this professional event.

Musashi (Toyooka)

34^th

Located an hour’s drive northwest of downtown Tokyo, the 36-hole golf facility at Musashi Country Club celebrated fifty years in operation in 2009 by hosting the 74th edition of the Japan Open on its Seiichi Inoue-designed Toyooka course.

Natsudomari

35^th

Established in 1992, Natsudomari Golf Links lies at the northern end of a peninsula that protrudes into Matsu Bay in Aomori Prefecture. In truth, the course is more seaside than links in nature but don’t expect local golfers to argue about the difference.

Aichi

36^th

Originally laid out by the prolific Seiichi Inoue, the course at Aichi Country Club underwent a major renovation by Taizo Kawata in 2004 to coincide with the club’s fiftieth anniversary. Both the Japan Open and Japan Amateur have been held here.

Chiba (Umesato)

37^th

The Umesato course at Chiba Country Club opened for play in 1960, hosting the Japan Open just two years after its inauguration. Taizo Kawata remodelled the layout at the start of the new millennium, converting old-fashioned double greens to single greens.

Katsuragi (Yamana)

38^th

Situated near the city of Hamamatsu, Katsuragi Golf Club is owned and operated by the Yamaha Motor Company. There’s not much to choose between the club’s Yamana and Ugari 18-hole layouts – even their overall yardages are almost identical.

Daisen

39^th

In the foothills of Mount Daisen – where the sporting pursuits of mountain climbing in summer and skiing in winter are more popular than golf – the fairways at Daisen Golf Club were hewn from heavily forested terrain by Ueda Osamu in 1970.

Nishi-Nasuno

40^th

Laid out by the flamboyant American architect Robert von Haage, the tree-lined fairways at Nish-Nasuno Country Club are framed by tall Japanese red pine trees, providing golfers with a real sense of seclusion when they play here.