THERE’S a special allure – or magic if you like – about golf in Japan.
Of course, the fact that so many in this country worship the game – and all who play it – may have something to do with it.
Yet their secret is out … Japan contains some of the best courses you’ll find anywhere in the world.
And this nation prides itself on presentation as well, so the condition of the courses is also unparalleled.
The good news is, Japan is taking its golf courses to the world, with tempting tours now making some of their very best layouts both available and accessible.
Last month Inside Golf revealed some of the attractions – on and off the golf course – of the renowned Ibaraki region, north-east of Tokyo.
From flower plains to a myriad of Sake breweries, Ibaraki holds some of Japan’s richest and secret spots until now, not that familiar to most Australians.
It is an area with an abundance of Japanese culture and its tradition flows from its beautiful natural surroundings, multitude of shrines and delicious food.
The good news is golf courses in Ibaraki are within easy reach of Tokyo and Narita/Haneda International Airports.
Surrounded by diverse nature including sea, mountains, rivers and lakes, it is no surprise that Ibaraki is renowned as the ‘treasure trove of golf courses.’
A quick check reveals Ibaraki boasts an incredibly diverse range of golfing challenges with 114 golf courses in just that one prefecture alone.
The truth is the Ibaraki region boasts the fifth largest number of golf courses in Japan.
And in planning your perfect golfing holiday, bear in mind this is an area blessed with a warm climate and few snowfalls, making it just as enjoyable to play golf year-round.
Here’s a preview of what you can expect and enjoy if you visit the area.
1. Oarai Golf Club:
Oarai Golf Club, nestled along the Pacific coast, stands as one of Japan’s premier seaside courses.
Established in 1953 by the renowned designer Seiichi Inoue, Oarai GC has become a favourite destination for golf enthusiasts seeking a unique and challenging experience.
The picturesque setting boasts ancient black pine trees lining the wide, doglegged fairways, which also serve as aerial hazards.
Golfers must navigate these obstacles while contending with the strong ocean winds that add an extra layer of difficulty to the game.
To excel at Oarai GC, players must perfect accurate tee shots and master techniques such as low balls, fades, and draws.
The club gained international attention during the 1998 Japan Open, where Hidemichi Tanaka secured his first victory despite the relentless sea breezes.
The challenging nature of the course is a testament to its creator, Seiichi Inoue, Japan’s most famous golf course architect.
Inoue, who designed 40 courses in Japan and two abroad, considered Oarai his crowning achievement.
Oarai Golf Club presents a captivating blend of history, beauty, and challenge in a breathtaking coastal setting.
It is an unforgettable experience that will entice golfers to return time and time again, testing their skills against the elements and the course’s unique layout.
For more information check out their website: www.oarai-golf-club.co.jp/
2. Shishido Hills Country Club:
Shishido Hills CC has been hosting the Japan Golf Tour Championship on the same course since 2003.
Boasting two 18 holes courses, some might prefer the Higashi (East) course which plays through a forest, featuring spacious and flat fairways lined by old trees.
The Nishi (West) course required a more strategic golf game with undulating fairways and some cleverly placed bunkering.
While the East course is the older of the two, the West course has hosted many professional events.
It (West) has been extensively developed as a championship course and is famous for its’ high standard of design and difficulty.
For further information check out their website at https://hillsgolf.jp/shishido/
3. PGM Ishioka Golf Club:
Here’s one of the signature courses for the man regarded as the best golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus.
And Jack Nicklaus, aka The Golden Bear, rates it as one of Japan’s best courses and a personal favourite.
This course makes full use of the natural terrain and requires strategic playing; in short, golfers need every club in the bag.
Like Shishido Hills CC, the PGM Ishioka Golf Club has hosted many national and world tournaments including the Acom International men’s professional tournament, the Honma Tour World Cup, and others, and in April they successfully hosted the first European tour in Japan.
This club also prides itself on an extensive restaurant menu, including both Japanese and Western dishes.
Guests can enjoy flavourful seafood and hamburger menus, beef steaks, soba noodle dishes with tempura, and a wide range of desserts.
For more information check out their website: www.pacificgolf.co.jp/ishioka/
While golf is what this feature is all about, sightseeing will also play a major role in any tour of this great country.
So be sure to include sightseeing in your itinerary.
Kairakuen and Kobuntei:
Kairakuen is a garden established by Nariaki Tokugawa, the ninth feudal lord of Mito domain, during the Edo period.
The name “Kairakuen” embodies Nariaki’s desire to create a space for enjoyment shared by him and his people.
The garden has 3,000 plum trees and various other plants, as well as a bamboo grove, so you can enjoy the picturesque views throughout the year.
The garden showcases a variety of gates, springs, bridges, and garden stones, offering a delightful environment for walks.
Kairakuen was created as a complementary educational facility to Kodokan, a place for literature study and martial arts practice (tension), while Kairakuen served as a place for relaxation during leisure time.
Kobuntei, located in the main garden of Kairakuen, was the place where Lord Nariaki Tokugawa invited writers, artists, vassals, and his people and held “Yoro no kai”, a gathering to care for the elderly, and poetry ceremonies.
The exterior of Kobuntei exemplifies Japanese architectural beauty and overlooking a stunning Japanese garden, Kobuntei is designed to provide panoramic views of the garden’s splendour.
Within the building, visitors can find tea rooms and tatami rooms where they can immerse themselves in traditional Japanese culture.
Hitachi Seaside Park:
Hitachi Seaside Park, Ibaraki’s renowned tourist attraction, is famed for its photogenic flower fields.
The expansive park is primarily recognised for its striking blue nemophila flowers in spring (starting mid-April) and kochia bushes in summer and autumn (July – October).
Year-round, visitors can appreciate various blossoms such as daffodils, tulips, sunflowers, and oil-seed rape.
Besides flowers, the park features an amusement park and traditional Japanese style houses.
Upon entering, guests can choose to walk, hire a bicycle, or take the coastal train for transportation.
The park is wheelchair accessible.
Additionally, Hitachi Seaside Park’s proximity to other attractions like Aquaworld Aquarium, Nakaminato Fish Market, and Kairakuen Park makes it convenient to plan a one or two-day trip to visit all these major sites.
Nakaminato Fish Market:
Frequented by both locals and tourists, this fish market is renowned for its affordable prices and eateries offering regional seafood dishes.
Absorb the lively market atmosphere and eat around oysters and sea urchins before settling down at one of its dining establishments.
Culinary choices include conveyor-belt sushi, sashimi, and seafood rice bowls.
Numerous restaurants also accommodate group bookings.
The fish market can be reached via a brief drive from Oarai area where Oarai GC and Aqua World Oarai are located as well as from Hitachinaka area where Hitachi Seaside Park is located, which makes it an ideal attraction in central Ibaraki.
Kasama Inari Shrine:
Established in 651, Kasama Inari Shrine is among Japan’s renowned Inari shrines, drawing approximately 3.5 million pilgrims and visitors each year.
The revered site venerates Ukanomitama-no-Mikoto, believed to grant wishes for business success and protection against fires.
The shrine’s grounds exhibit breathtaking beauty during late spring when wisteria flowers blossom and again during the chrysanthemum festival in autumn.
The streets approaching the shrine offer an array of shops to discover, ranging from traditional soba eateries to chic cafes and sake breweries.
Local specialities include Kasama Inarizushi, which is walnut rice and seasonal ingredients wrapped in deep-fried tofu, as well as roasted chestnuts.
Kasama City is celebrated for its pottery, ensuring visitors will find an abundance of galleries to select a keepsake before departing.
Kiuchi Brewery and Yasato Distillery:
Nestled in Naka City, Ibaraki prefecture, Kiuchi Brewery is a renowned sake manufacturer known worldwide for its craft beer “Hitachino Nest Beer”.
The brewery manufactures various alcoholic beverages such as beer, sake, shochu, whisky, and liqueur, through traditional brewing techniques.
They are committed to quality ingredients, as evidenced by their efforts to cultivate Yamadanishiki, the pinnacle of sake rice, locally.
Their ‘Junmai Daiginjo’ sake is a favourite among Japanese sake connoisseurs.
Kiuchi Sake Brewery, which was founded 200 years ago, began making whiskey in 2016.
Located in the mountains of Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Yasato Distillery is a distillery that produces whiskey and Sake and beer brewing engineers designed their own distillation system to produce their unique character to the whiskey.
Visitors can partake in guided tours to learn about the distillery’s production process and history and enjoy tastings.
So where to now?
Well, you can book a Tokyo and Ibaraki fully escorted eight-day golf tour at CGE Golf.
Simply log onto www.cgegolf.com.au/golf-experiences/tokyo-ibaraki-golf-experience-2024
Want to enjoy Ibaraki to the fullest?
The look at booking a seven-day Ibaraki golf tour with five rounds of golf at Gimme Golf.
Log onto www.gimmegolf.com.au/itinerary/itinerary_details/98/67/Ibaraki-Golf-Tour
