The Tokyo Golf Itinerary
Amongst the epic natural landscapes and sprawling metropoles, Japan is home to a golf culture that is both vast and unique. On the surface, it can seem difficult to navigate, so we put together a list of suggestions for the golf explorer heading to Tokyo. To watch the full film click here.
Narita Golf Club
This is one of Tokyo’s premium golf destinations. We realised that when we bumped into Shigeki Maruyama and a Japanese Olympian on the driving range before our round. The golf course is impeccable, a forecaddy tends to your every need along fairways that roll through dense pines. But the golf course is just the start. Lunch is mandatory after 9 holes in Japan. That doesn’t mean a quick sausage roll at the halfway hut, it means katsu, gyoza, ramen and soba noodles. After the round its time for Onsen: naturally heated baths that offer spiritual spaces for relaxation. This is golf, but not as you know it.
Lotte Kasai Driving Range
The closest place to get a practice session in if you’re in central Tokyo. Lotte Kasai Driving Range is about 40 minutes east of the city centre. 300 bays stretch around a 3 storey, semi circle building that points toward a vast green plain. At the back of the range, trains and helicopters pan from right to left at regular intervals.
Convenience Store
This isn’t your average corner shop. Japanese convenience stores are central to everyday life here. From new underwear, to a perfectly heated katsu, to the most obscure and delicious snacks imaginable: they’ve got it all. It might sound silly, but these are a cultural staple for your visit. 7/11, Lawson and FamilyMart are the best of the bunch.
Nikki Golf & Golf Effort
Japan is renowned for its multi storey second hand golf stores, impressive in scale but moreso for the gems that can be found inside. Think brands like Miura but more specialised and niche. These stores are a golf geek's dream, and at these prices, you’ll want to factor in some time to do a deep dive.
Fuji Classic
On a clear day, you would be hard pressed to find a more jaw dropping golf course than this one. Located at the foot of the iconic Mount Fuji, the course offers views across Fuji National Park. With an ornate clubhouse that overlooks the course and a fearsome katsu lunch, this is a must for the golf explorer.
Nightlife
Tokyo is littered with amazing nightlife experiences, we stumbled across a few gems that we know you’d love. Bar Record sits on the second floor of an inconspicuous residential block, run by a 20 something with an envious music palette, and open til 3am every day. Bar Martha isn’t your normal bar experience, no photos, an endless wall of vinyl records, and strict instructions to keep your chatter to a minimum. Knock back a whisky and melt into the dark wooden interior. Golden Gai is the more lively must visit, rows of streets littered with 10 seater bars.
Urban Mini Golf
In a city of 40 million, a quick 18 isnt always on your doorstep. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get your fix. Beneath an underpass in a suburb called Kameido, lies an under the radar 9 hole mini golf course. Free of charge and run by an old lady who hands out putters and fluorescent golf balls from her shack. This little oasis of green needs to be seen to be believed.
Shibuya Crossing
2.5 million people pass through Shibuya Crossing everyday. That might not sound appealing, but you still need to go. Its chaotic, its full of people holding their selfie cameras at arms length and doing TikTok dances, but it is also mind-blowingly energetic.
Chureito Pagoda
Chureito Pagoda is part of the Arakura Sengen Shrine, and offers almost undoubtedly the best view of Mount Fuji in the entire country, providing you go on a clear day.
Hakone Ryokan
It would be foolish to go to Japan and not stay in a traditional Ryokan. Hakone, around 1.5 hours outside of Tokyo is an onsen epicentre. Enjoy a traditional meal in the comfort of your peaceful room, roam the Japanese gardens and unwind in the heated baths. Bliss.
Kagosaka 36 Golf Club
This was everything I hoped Japanese golf would be. Tight, tree lined fairways, perfectly manicured greens and a low rolling mist descending over the dark green hills. Lunch at the halfway point hit the spot again.
Golf Shopping
The shopping in Tokyo is on another level. From niche Japanese makers, to some of the best vintage shops in the world. The golf shopping is no different. Hypegolf in Ebisu is the only place in the world to see their product, Rufflog stocks a range of Japanese brands including their own in house label whilst The Divot Store has one of the best vintage golf collections I’ve ever seen.
Food
You can’t get a bad meal in Tokyo (you can hold me to that). Stumble into any authentic looking ramen spot and you’ll be blown away. That being said, we stumbled across a few gems that are worth stopping by. Ebisu Yokocho Food Hall was energetic and lively, and the food was delicious. Manpuku in Ginza topped the gyoza charts. Tonkatsu Saito knocked the katsu out of the park, all in an authentic setting. That being said, this is a city where you don't need to plan every meal.