Golf in Japan 101

How a round usually works here, so your first one feels easy. Every course does things a little differently, so check the course's page in this guide or ask when you book.

Booking

Most tee times are booked online or by phone. The big booking sites, Rakuten GORA, GDO and Jalan Golf, are in Japanese, so your browser's translate button helps.
Our tip: Rakuten GORA is a great place to find course discounts.
Some courses charge extra for a twosome, and some don't take bookings for one player. Solo golfers can use "solo booking" (1人予約) services that group you with other players.
Courses often charge cancellation fees, sometimes from a week before your round. Check the course's policy when you book.

What the price includes

Plan names spell out what's included, such as a cart, lunch, through play (no lunch break), or a twosome guarantee (2サム保証).
The price a booking site shows first is often a starting price. At Bashofu we paid ¥10,500 each on a weekday, including a twosome surcharge and ¥500 insurance, against a starting price of ¥7,491.
Japan has a golf use tax (ゴルフ場利用税), charged per player per day. In Okinawa it runs from ¥400 to ¥960 depending on the course's grade. Players under 18 or 70 and over can ask for an exemption by showing ID.

Arriving and checking in

Arrive early. Some courses ask you to check in at least 30 minutes before your tee time.
Check in at the front desk first, where you may fill in a form, then change in the locker room.
Many clubhouses have a big locker room with a bath. In Okinawa facilities vary: Kanucha, for example, has a large bath with a sauna.
When you pay varies by course, and some take payment before you play.

How the round runs

Many courses build in a lunch break of about an hour after the first nine holes.
"Through play" (スループレー) skips the break, so you finish in about half a day. Bring an easy snack.
On holes with a yellow flag, wait until the group ahead has passed the flag before you tee off.

Carts and caddies

Carts are usually available, and some courses offer caddies for an extra fee. If you want a caddie, ask when you book, and ask whether they speak English.
Some Okinawa courses let carts onto the fairways, while others keep them on the cart paths.

What to wear

The usual standard is a collared shirt with slacks or a skirt, plus golf shoes or sneakers. Shorts are usually fine in summer, though some courses ask for knee-high socks.
Okinawa varies a lot. Kanucha has no particular dress rules, while Okinawa Country Club asks for golf or sportswear, with no T-shirts or jeans.

On the course

If your ball heads toward anyone, shout a warning right away. Japanese golfers usually shout "Fā!" (ファー), from "fore."
Check that no one is close by before any swing, including practice swings.
Repair your divots and ball marks, and rake the bunker yourself.

Rentals

Most courses rent clubs and shoes. Reserve ahead, and check whether women's sets are available. In this guide, use the "Women's rental clubs" filter.

Okinawa specifics

You can play year-round. Winter averages about 17°C.
Typhoons mainly hit from June to September, and courses can close. Some waive cancellation fees for typhoons or closures, so check your course's policy.
Sun protection matters as much as heat protection. Wear layers you can adjust, because the weather changes quickly.
US military courses have their own rules. To book at Taiyo, you need a DoD ID or an Honorary Members Card.

Warming up

Not every course has a driving range, so you may want to warm up at one of the ranges in this guide first. Some ranges have automatic tee-up mats.

Sources, checked November 2026: JNTO golf guide · Okinawa Prefecture: golf use tax · Okinawa Prefecture: tax exemptions · Okinawa Convention & Visitors Bureau: golf · Visit Okinawa: typhoons · Japan Golf Association (2008) · GDO: through play · MCCS Okinawa golf