JAPAN TOP 50
Japan’s Top 50 Golf Courses: 2026 Rankings
2026 Edition
Contents
The UK-based course review site Top 100 Golf Courses updated its Japan rankings in January 2026. Hirono Golf Club placed first, Kawana Hotel Golf Course’s Fuji Course second, and Naruo Golf Club third (accessed September 2026).
This guide presents the top 50 courses, with locations and course designers, from among Japan’s 2,110 operating golf courses (Ikki Publishing, April 2025).
HOW TO READ
Understanding the ranking
About Top 100 Golf Courses
Top 100 Golf Courses is a UK-based website that periodically reviews world, continental and national course rankings. Its Japan ranking expanded from a Top 30 to a Top 50 in 2018, reached a Top 80 in 2020 and returned to a Top 50 for 2026 (Top 100 Golf Courses, “Top 50 Golf Courses Japan 2026”, January 2026).
Two Japanese courses appear in GOLF Magazine’s separate World Top 100 (2025–2026): Hirono and Kawana Fuji (GOLF.com, November 2025). See ourWorld’s Top 100 Golf Coursesfor the full international list.
WHERE THEY ARE
Where the courses are located
Courses by prefecture
| Prefecture | Courses |
|---|---|
| Hyogo | 8 |
| Chiba | 5 |
| Hokkaido | 5 |
| Tochigi | 5 |
| Ibaraki | 3 |
| Kanagawa | 3 |
| Saitama | 3 |
| Fukuoka | 2 |
| Fukushima | 2 |
| Osaka | 2 |
| Shizuoka | 2 |
| Yamanashi | 2 |
| Aichi | 1 |
| Ishikawa | 1 |
| Kagoshima | 1 |
| Mie | 1 |
| Miyazaki | 1 |
| Nagano | 1 |
| Nagasaki | 1 |
| Yamaguchi | 1 |
Number of courses by prefecture in Japan’s Top 50 (2026). Esprit Golf compilation (source: Top 100 Golf Courses, “Japan Ranking”, accessed September 2026). Map adapted from svg-maps/japan (CC BY 4.0).
Hyogo leads with eight courses: Hirono, Naruo, Ono, Golden Valley, Higashihirono, Rokko Kokusai, Ono Toyo and Pine Lake. Chiba, Tochigi and Hokkaido each have five; the seven prefectures of the Kanto region account for 19 courses in total.
THE LINEAGE
The Alison legacy
Alison’s influence on Japan’s leading courses
British architect C. H. Alison was a partner of Harry S. Colt. During a three-month visit to Japan in 1930, he designed Hirono (opened 1932) and Kawana Fuji (opened 1936, together with Kinya Fujita), and redesigned Naruo in 1931. Deep bunkers with pronounced edges remain known as “Alison bunkers”. The publisher notes Alison’s influence on four of Japan’s top five courses (Top 100 Golf Courses, accessed September 2026).
Kinya Fujita, his former assistant Seiichi Inoue, and Osamu Ueda were also influenced by Alison. Courses such as Ryugasaki, Oarai, Nikko, Takanodai, Ono, Shimonoseki and Osaka are among their contributions to this Top 50 (individual course profiles, accessed September 2026).
Alister MacKenzie, who designed Augusta National, also worked with Colt and Alison’s firm.
Architectural influences among Japan’s Top 50. Circled numbers indicate 2026 rankings. Source: Top 100 Golf Courses course profiles (accessed September 2026).
TOP 10
Top 10 courses
A closer look at Japan’s Top 10
No. 1
Miki, Hyogo
Hirono Golf Club
Designed by C. H. Alison (opened 1932); restoration by Mackenzie & Ebert
A venue for major Japanese championships, Hirono was restored by Mackenzie & Ebert using Alison’s surviving plans and aerial photographs from the 1940s to 1960s. The back tees measure 6,925 yards. The publisher also ranks it No. 14 worldwide and No. 1 in Asia.
No. 2
Ito, Shizuoka
Kawana Hotel Golf Course, Fuji Course
Designed by C. H. Alison and Kinya Fujita (opened 1936)
One of Kawana Hotel’s two courses, Fuji occupies a plateau overlooking Sagami Bay. It ranks No. 62 in GOLF Magazine’s World Top 100 (2025–2026). Esprit Golf can discuss golf journeys paired with a stay at Kawana Hotel, subject to availability.
No. 3
Kawanishi, Hyogo
Naruo Golf Club
Designed by H. C. Crane (opened 1920); renovation by C. H. Alison (1931)
One of Japan’s long-established clubs, Naruo opened in 1920 and was redesigned by Alison in 1931. It is ranked No. 95 in this publisher’s separate global ranking.
No. 4
Sayama, Saitama
Tokyo Golf Club
Founded 1913; current course by Komei Otani (1940); renovation by Gil Hanse
Founded in 1913, Tokyo Golf Club’s current course was designed by Komei Otani in 1940 and more recently renovated by Gil Hanse. It rose two positions in the 2026 ranking.
No. 5
Hodogaya, Yokohama, Kanagawa
Yokohama Country Club, West Course
Designed by Takeo Aiyama (club founded 1960); renovation by Coore & Crenshaw
Coore & Crenshaw replaced the two-green system with a single green on each hole and introduced SubAir systems. The course ranked No. 3 in the 2018 edition.
No. 6
Abiko, Chiba
Abiko Golf Club
Designed by Shiro and Rokuro Akaboshi (opened 1930); renovation by Brian Silva
Abiko hosted the 1950 Japan Open, won by Yoshiro Hayashi, and the 2009 Japan Women’s Open.
No. 7
Ryugasaki, Ibaraki
Ryugasaki Country Club
Designed by Seiichi Inoue (opened 1958)
This parkland course was designed by Seiichi Inoue. It climbed five positions in the 2026 edition to enter the Top 10.
No. 8
Ono, Hyogo
Ono Golf Club
Designed by Osamu Ueda (opened 1961)
One of Osamu Ueda’s signature designs, Ono is also known as a sister club to Hirono.
No. 9
Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
Shimonoseki Golf Club
Designed by Osamu Ueda (club founded 1956)
Shimonoseki hosted the Japan Open in 1991 and 2002, won by Tommy Nakajima and David Smail respectively. It rose six positions in the 2026 ranking.
No. 10
Kawagoe, Saitama
Kasumigaseki Country Club, East Course
Designed by Kinya Fujita and Shiro and Rokuro Akaboshi (opened 1929); renovations by C. H. Alison and Tom Fazio (2016)
The East Course hosted the golf competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. Tom Fazio renovated it in 2016.
Sources: Top 100 Golf Courses course profiles (accessed September 2026). World positions refer to that publisher’s World Top 100 and to GOLF Magazine’s separate World Top 100 (published November 2025).
TOP 50
Complete Top 50
Japan’s Top 50 Golf Courses (2026)
| Rank | Golf course | Location | Architect / design history |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hirono Golf Club | Miki, Hyogo | C. H. Alison; restoration by Mackenzie & Ebert |
| 2 | Kawana Hotel Golf Course (Fuji Course) | Ito, Shizuoka | C. H. Alison |
| 3 | Naruo Golf Club | Kawanishi, Hyogo | H. C. Crane; redesign by C. H. Alison |
| 4 | Tokyo Golf Club | Sayama, Saitama | Komei Otani; renovation by Gil Hanse |
| 5 | Yokohama Country Club (West Course) | Hodogaya, Yokohama, Kanagawa | Takeo Aiyama; renovation by Coore & Crenshaw |
| 6 | Abiko Golf Club | Abiko, Chiba | Shiro and Rokuro Akaboshi; renovation by Brian Silva |
| 7 | Ryugasaki Country Club | Ryugasaki, Ibaraki | Seiichi Inoue |
| 8 | Ono Golf Club | Ono, Hyogo | Osamu Ueda |
| 9 | Shimonoseki Golf Club | Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi | Osamu Ueda |
| 10 | Kasumigaseki Country Club (East Course) | Kawagoe, Saitama | Kinya Fujita; Shiro and Rokuro Akaboshi; renovations by C. H. Alison and Tom Fazio |
| 11 | Osaka Golf Club | Misaki, Osaka | Osamu Ueda |
| 12 | Golden Valley Golf Club | Nishiwaki, Hyogo | Robert Trent Jones Jr. |
| 13 | Tokyo Classic Club | Wakaba, Chiba City, Chiba | Jack Nicklaus |
| 14 | Oarai Golf Club | Oarai, Ibaraki | Seiichi Inoue |
| 15 | Koga Golf Club | Koga, Fukuoka | Osamu Ueda |
| 16 | Nikko Country Club | Nikko, Tochigi | Seiichi Inoue; renovation by Taizo Kawata |
| 17 | Hokkaido Classic Golf Club | Abira, Hokkaido | Jack Nicklaus |
| 18 | Katsura Golf Club | Tomakomai, Hokkaido | Robert Trent Jones Jr. |
| 19 | Takanodai Country Club | Hanamigawa, Chiba City, Chiba | Seiichi Inoue |
| 20 | Kasumigaseki Country Club (West Course) | Kawagoe, Saitama | Kinya Fujita; Seiichi Inoue; renovations by Taizo Kawata and Tom Fazio |
| 21 | Katayamazu Golf Club (Hakusan Course) | Kaga, Ishikawa | — |
| 22 | Fujizakura Country Club | Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi | — |
| 23 | Karuizawa Golf Club | Karuizawa, Nagano | Yuji Kodera |
| 24 | Hakone Country Club | Hakone, Kanagawa | Shiro and Rokuro Akaboshi |
| 25 | Chiba Country Club (Umesato Course) | Noda, Chiba | — |
| 26 | Phoenix Country Club (Takachiho–Sumiyoshi Course) | Miyazaki, Miyazaki | — |
| 27 | Taiheiyo Club (Gotemba Course) | Gotemba, Shizuoka | Shunsuke Kato; renovation by Rees Jones |
| 28 | Fukuoka Country Club (Wajiro Course) | Higashi Ward, Fukuoka | — |
| 29 | Caledonian Golf Club | Yokoshibahikari, Chiba | J. Michael Poellot |
| 30 | Nasu Golf Club | Nasu, Tochigi | Kinya Fujita; Seiichi Inoue |
| 31 | Ibaraki Country Club (West Course) | Ibaraki, Osaka | Seiichi Inoue; renovation by Rees Jones |
| 32 | Higashihirono Golf Club | Miki, Hyogo | Mitsuaki Kobayashi |
| 33 | Rokko Kokusai Golf Club (East Course) | Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo | Fukuichi Kato; renovation by Nicklaus Design |
| 34 | Sapporo Golf Club (Wattsu Course) | Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido | Seiichi Inoue |
| 35 | Ibusuki Golf Club (Kaimon Course) | Ibusuki, Kagoshima | Seiichi Inoue |
| 36 | The Royal Golf Club | Hokota, Ibaraki | — |
| 37 | Taiheiyo Club (Mashiko PGA Course) | Mashiko, Tochigi | Shunsuke Kato |
| 38 | Horai Country Club | Nasushiobara, Tochigi | Robert von Hagge |
| 39 | Nagoya Golf Club (Wago Course) | Togo, Aichi | Komei Otani |
| 40 | Passage Kinkai Island Golf Club | Nagasaki, Nagasaki | — |
| 41 | Otaru Country Club | Otaru, Hokkaido | Kokichi Yasuda |
| 42 | Narusawa Golf Club | Narusawa, Yamanashi | — |
| 43 | Eniwa Country Club (Mashu–Akan Course) | Eniwa, Hokkaido | Hirochika Tomizawa |
| 44 | Nishinasuno Country Club | Nasushiobara, Tochigi | Robert von Hagge |
| 45 | Bonari Kogen Golf Club | Inawashiro, Fukushima | Ron Fream |
| 46 | Grandee Nasu Shirakawa Golf Club | Nishigo, Fukushima | Robert Trent Jones Jr. |
| 47 | Ono Toyo Golf Club | Ono, Hyogo | Osamu Ueda |
| 48 | Sagami Country Club | Yamato, Kanagawa | Rokuro Akaboshi; renovation by Seiichi Inoue |
| 49 | Pine Lake Golf Club | Nishiwaki, Hyogo | Robert Trent Jones Jr. |
| 50 | Ise Country Club | Tamaki, Mie | Seiichi Inoue |
Source: Top 100 Golf Courses “Japan Ranking” (updated January 2026; accessed September 2026). Architect information follows its course profiles, supplemented in some cases by official club information. A dash indicates that no architect is specified in the cited sources.
WORLD RANKING
Comparing the world rankings
Hirono is ranked No. 14 globally and No. 1 in Asia by Top 100 Golf Courses (accessed September 2026). A separate list, GOLF Magazine’s World Top 100 (2025–2026), includes both Hirono and Kawana Fuji.World’s Top 100 Golf Coursesis also worth exploring.
GALLERY
Scenes from celebrated courses
Kawana Fuji / Kawana Hotel / St Andrews / Pebble Beach (the latter two rank Nos. 3 and 15 in GOLF Magazine’s World Top 100).
CONSULTATION
Plan your journey
Enquire about a bespoke golf journey
Esprit Golf can discuss golf itineraries involving courses such as Kawana Fuji, Hokkaido Classic, Katayamazu, Fujizakura, Phoenix, Ibusuki, Passage Kinkai and Ise, depending on availability and club policies. You are also welcome to enquire about other courses on this list. Private-club access and tee times cannot be guaranteed.
READ MORE
Related reading
WORLD TOP 100
World’s Top 100 Golf Courses
GOLF Magazine’s 2025–2026 edition, including Hirono and Kawana Fuji.
References
Books
- “Stories of the Masters”, including Dr MacKenzie’s “Golf Architecture”, Choice Books (Japanese-language edition)
Web sources
- Top 100 Golf Courses, “Japan Ranking”, https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-courses/asia/japan (accessed September 2026)
- Top 100 Golf Courses, “Top 50 Golf Courses Japan 2026”, https://www.top100golfcourses.com/news/best-golf-courses-japan (2 January 2026)
- Top 100 Golf Courses, “Top 50 Golf Courses of Japan 2018”, https://www.top100golfcourses.com/news/top-50-golf-courses-of-japan-2018 (1 March 2018)
- Top 100 Golf Courses, “Top 100 Golf Courses of Asia 2020”, https://www.top100golfcourses.com/news/top-100-golf-courses-of-asia-2020 (11 May 2020)
- GOLF.com, “Top 100 Courses in the World 2025–26”, https://golf.com/travel/courses/top-100-courses-world-2025-26/ (19 November 2025)
- Ikki Publishing, “Number of operating golf courses in Japan down by 11 to 2,110”, https://www.ikki-web2.com/archives/11148 (7 August 2025)
Information reflects sources available as of September 2026. Rankings may change when the respective publishers update their lists.
Last updated: [Date to be confirmed] / Editorial responsibility: Esprit Golf Editorial Team / To be reviewed following the publisher’s next update