Golf Courses in Hokkaido

Welcome to Hokkaido!

Hokkaido is the northernmost of Japan's four main islands. It is about 900 km (560 miles) north-northeast from Tokyo, the capital of Japan, to Sapporo, the largest city in Hokkaido, where the Hokkaido Government Office is located, and about 90 minutes by air from Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport). There are also direct flights from Taipei, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong to New Chitose (Sapporo) Airport. There is no time difference between Tokyo and Hokkaido.

Sapporo hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, and it snows a lot from November to March. Accordingly, many skiers visit Hokkaido in winter. However, there are many hours of sunshine from May to October, and even during the hottest months of July and August in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the maximum temperature is 26°C (79°F) and the lowest temperature is a comfortable 18°C (64°F), making it a good place to play golf. Unlike the mainland, there is no rainy season from mid-June to mid-July, making a visit to Sapporo during this time worthwhile.

The total population of Hokkaido is about 5.3 million. About 1.9 million of them live in Sapporo City. There are six national parks in Hokkaido, of which Shikotsu-Toya National Park is relatively close to Sapporo and attracts many tourists from all over the world every year. The Shiretoko Peninsula, where Shiretoko National Park is located, is also registered as a World Natural Heritage site.

Hokkaido is a treasure trove of delicacies for those who love seafood, such as hairy crabs, king crabs, botan shrimps, scallops, oysters, Ezo abalone, hokki clams, sea urchins, salmon roe, salmon, Alaska pollock, and shishamo smelt.　If you like seafood, this is a good choice.

If you are a meat lover, you should definitely try the Teppan-yaki dish of Genghis Khan, made with mutton or lamb(Mongolian mutton/lamb barbecue), one of Hokkaido's most famous specialties. It is also famous as a producer of wagyu cattle such as Tokachi wagyu, Furano wagyu, Biratori wagyu, Shiraoi wagyu, and Hakodate wagyu, and you can enjoy wagyu dishes such as steak, sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, and charcoal grill. There are also many vegetables such as potatoes, onions, sweet corn, pumpkins, carrots, broccoli, asparagus, etc., which Hokkaido is the largest producer of in Japan, making it a favorite among vegetable lovers.

Otaru and Yoichi, located about an hour's drive from Sapporo, are must-visit places for those who like to drink. In Yoichi, there is the Yoichi Distillery of Nikka Whisky, one of Japan's leading whisky companies, where you can visit the factory, museum, taste, eat, and shop. Otaru and Yoichi are also famous as wine-growing areas, where you can enjoy winery tours, tastings, and shopping. You can also visit sake breweries, taste sake, and shop in the same area.

Upon entering Japan, visitors from countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, only need a passport. There is no visa required. However, you must ensure you have enough time on your passport to cover your stay. If you hold a passport from another country, we advise you to check with the Japanese embassy in your country for entry requirements.

When planning on playing golf in Hokkaido, you will need to consider where you would like to stay. We can help you navigate the many options ranging from luxury hotels and resorts to boutique bed and breakfasts. We’re here to help you have a fun and memorable day on a beautiful golf course.

Don’t speak Japanese? No problem! We’ll arrange for a guide interpreter to be with you for the day.

No golf gear? That’s ok — golf club sets and golf shoes are available for rent!

New to golf? We can match you with a coach registered with JLPGA (Japan Ladies Professional Golfers’ Association).

So, come on down to Hokkaido and enjoy a day of fun golfing!