Golf in Kyoto: 7 Courses Near Kyoto That Accept Visitors (2026)

Kyoto has temples, gardens and one of Japan’s best food scenes — and some good golf within an hour of the city. Most of it lies around Lake Biwa in neighbouring Shiga Prefecture, with more between Kyoto and Osaka. Below are the 7 courses we book for overseas visitors staying in Kyoto.

Photo: Seta Golf Course — North Course (official site)

Golf near Kyoto at a glance

• Where the courses are: around Lake Biwa in Shiga (Otsu, Moriyama), in the Ohara valley north of Kyoto, and between Kyoto and Osaka.
• Travel time: about 20–60 minutes from central Kyoto.
• Weekday green fees: from about ¥7,500; about ¥26,000 for a caddie round on Seta’s North Course.
• Getting there: most courses near Kyoto have no club bus. Take the train, then a short taxi ride.
• The famous name: Kyoto Golf Club’s Kamigamo Course requires a Japanese companion or a member’s introduction, so it is not open to groups of overseas visitors.

7 courses near Kyoto we book for visitors

Fees are approximate weekday rates per player and vary by date. We confirm the exact price for your date before booking. “Booked by us” means Golf Caddie Japan has made reservations there for overseas guests.

Course	Area	Without a car	Weekday from	Caddie	Notes
Seta Golf Course (North, East, West)	Otsu, Shiga	JR Ishiyama Sta. + taxi (10–15 min) or local bus (~16 min)	North ¥26,000 with caddie; East/West ¥14,500	North: caddie only. East/West: self-play	54 holes. The North Course is a Seiichi Inoue design and has hosted the LPGA’s TOTO Japan Classic. Left-handed and women’s rentals. Booked by us many times
Biwako Lakeside Golf Course	Moriyama, Shiga	JR Moriyama Sta. + taxi (~20 min) or JR Katata Sta. (~15 min)	¥7,980	Self-play	A flat course beside Lake Biwa. Left-handed and women’s rentals (ask in advance). Booked by us
Otsu Country Club East	Otsu, Shiga	JR Ishiyama Sta. + taxi (~25 min)	¥7,490	Self-play	27 holes through hills and forest. Booked by us
Kyoto Ohara Public Course	Ohara, Kyoto city	Kokusaikaikan subway Sta. + taxi (~25 min)	¥8,920	Self-play	A public course in the Ohara valley, home of Sanzen-in Temple. Booked by us
Shin-Osaka Golf Club	Shimamoto, Osaka	JR Takatsuki Sta. + club bus (weekday morning departures; reservation advised)	About ¥12,000	Ask us	Between Kyoto and Osaka, with views over the meeting point of three rivers. Booked by us, including single players
Kuzuha Golf Links	Hirakata, Osaka	Two-minute walk from Keihan Kuzuha Sta.	¥7,850	Self-play	On the Keihan Line between Kyoto and Osaka. Hosted the Kuzuha International 26 times
Ibaraki Kokusai Golf Club	Ibaraki, Osaka	JR Ibaraki Sta. + club bus (~25 min)	About ¥13,500	Optional	27 holes with wide views over the Osaka plain

Not on the list? Tell us the course you have in mind. We check whether it accepts visitors on your date as part of the booking — if we cannot secure it, our fee is refunded in full.

Which course fits your trip?

• One round to remember: Seta Golf Course’s North Course — a tournament layout with a caddie on every round.
• Inside Kyoto city: Kyoto Ohara Public Course, combined with a visit to Ohara’s temples.
• Lake views: Biwako Lakeside Golf Course, right beside Lake Biwa.
• Best value: Otsu Country Club East from about ¥7,490, Kuzuha from about ¥7,850 and Biwako Lakeside from about ¥7,980 on weekdays.
• Left-handed golfers: Seta and Biwako Lakeside list left-handed rental sets.
• Travelling on your own: Shin-Osaka Golf Club and Kuzuha, where we have placed single players. Read our solo golf guide first.
• Moving on to Osaka: Kuzuha, Shin-Osaka and Ibaraki Kokusai work from either city. See our guide to golf near Osaka.

Photo: Seta Golf Course — North Course (official site)

Getting there without a car

• Train, then taxi. Most courses near Kyoto have no club bus. JR Ishiyama Station is the gateway to Seta and Otsu; it is a short ride from Kyoto Station.
• Skip the rental car. Rental car offices in central Kyoto often open at around 8 am, too late for an early tee time.
• Travel light. Rent clubs at the course, or ship your own bag ahead by takkyubin courier.
• Use your phone on the day. Once your booking is confirmed, we send the nearest station, taxi times and a map link, and you check the live train times in Google Maps on the morning of your round.

How booking works

Most courses near Kyoto take reservations only in Japanese. Send us your dates and where you’re staying, and we reply in English within 24 hours with course options and a written quote. Our fee is ¥6,000 (about US$40) per player per round, tax included (¥8,000 per round for a solo booking); green fees are paid at the course on the day. Once the fee is paid, we contact the course, confirm the final price with you and book. If we can’t secure it, the fee is refunded in full.