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There are golf clubs in Japan, and then there is Naruo. If you follow Japanese golf history at all, you know the name. If you don’t, here’s the short version: Naruo Golf Club is one of the oldest, most prestigious courses in the country, and playing it feels different from anywhere else.
A Course With History
Established in 1904 in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture — right between Osaka and Kobe — Naruo Golf Club has been at the center of Japanese golf for over a century. The course hosted early Japan Opens and shaped the culture of the game in this country at a time when golf was still being introduced to Japan.
Walking the fairways here, you’re aware of that weight. The trees are old. The layout feels considered in a way that modern courses rarely are. Nothing is flashy, and nothing needs to be.
The Course
Naruo is a traditional parkland course — tree-lined fairways, subtle elevation changes, greens that reward patience over aggression. It’s not long by modern standards, but accuracy matters here. The rough is thick, the trees are in play, and the greens are firm and fast.
This is the kind of course where you’re thinking about positioning, not just distance. Every hole asks you to pick a side, commit to a line, and trust your shot-making. Scrambling is possible, but not rewarded.
Getting On
Naruo is a private members-only club. Visitors require an introduction from a member — this is standard for Japan’s most prestigious courses. If you have a Japanese colleague or business contact who is a member, this is worth asking about. If you don’t, there are other excellent courses in the area that are more accessible to visitors.
That said, if the opportunity comes up: take it without hesitation.
The Kansai Golf Region
Nishinomiya is ideally positioned for a Kansai golf trip. Osaka is 30 minutes east. Kobe is 20 minutes west. Kyoto is an hour away. The entire Kansai region is connected by one of Japan’s best train networks, and the concentration of quality golf courses in Hyogo Prefecture in particular makes it one of the best golf destinations in the country.
After your round, the options are excellent: Kobe beef in Kobe, kushikatsu and takoyaki in Osaka, or a slower evening in the backstreets of Nishinomiya itself — sake, yakitori, good company.
Practical Info
- 📍 Location: Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture (between Osaka and Kobe)
- 🎌 Access: Private members-only — member introduction required
- 🚗 Getting there: 30 min from central Osaka by car; 20 min from Kobe
- 🏌️ Type: Traditional parkland, 18 holes
- 📅 Booking: Member introduction only
實用資訊（繁體中文）
- 📍 地點： Nishinomiya, 兵庫縣 (between Osaka and 神戸)
- 🎌 Access: Private members-only — member introduction required
- 🚗 交通方式： 30分鐘，距 大阪市中心 by car; 20分鐘，距 神戸
- 🏌️ 類型： Traditional parkland, 18洞
- 📅 預訂： Member introduction only
实用信息（简体中文）
- 📍 地点： Nishinomiya, 兵库县 (between Osaka and 神户)
- 🎌 Access: Private members-only — member introduction required
- 🚗 交通方式： 30分钟，距 大阪市中心 by car; 20分钟，距 神户
- 🏌️ 类型： Traditional parkland, 18洞
- 📅 预订： Member introduction only
🌐 Booking in English? This course can be reserved via BaiGolf — Rakuten GORA’s official English-language partner for international golfers in Japan.