Five ways to reserve a tee time in Japan — compared. Plus the simplest route for visitors who don’t speak Japanese.
Quick answer: The easiest way for a foreigner to book golf in Japan is through an English-speaking concierge service such as GolfMatchy: you choose a course and date in English, and GolfMatchy makes the reservation in Japanese on your behalf, charging a small per-golfer fee only after your tee time is confirmed. You can also book directly on Japanese-only platforms like Rakuten GORA or GDO if you read Japanese and have a local phone number and credit card.
| Method | Language | What you need | Reservation fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English concierge (GolfMatchy) | English | Just a date & course — they book in Japanese for you | A flat per-golfer fee, charged only after confirmation | Overseas visitors who want zero hassle |
| Japanese booking platforms (Rakuten GORA, GDO, Jalan) | Japanese only | Japanese phone number + Japanese credit card | No reservation fee; pay the course direct | Residents and Japanese speakers |
| Direct to the course | Japanese only | Phone reservation in Japanese | No reservation fee | Advanced golfers who speak Japanese |
| Hotel / resort concierge | English (guests) | Must be staying at the resort | Varies; often bundled | Guests of high-end golf resorts |
| Golf tour operator | English | Buy a full multi-day package | High; bundled into the tour | Fully organised group trips |
Book as early as possible — at least 3 days ahead through GolfMatchy so the tee time can be secured and confirmed in Japanese. Weekends, autumn (September–November), and popular courses near Tokyo, Osaka, and Hokkaido fill up fast, so give more notice for those. Weekdays generally have better availability and lower green fees than weekends and public holidays.
Yes. Foreigners can play almost any golf course in Japan. The challenge is not access — it is the booking process. Most Japanese courses take reservations by phone or through Japanese-only websites that require a local phone number and credit card. The simplest route for a visitor is an English-speaking concierge such as GolfMatchy, which makes the reservation in Japanese on your behalf.
For most overseas visitors, an English-speaking golf concierge is the best option. You choose the course and date in English, the concierge calls or books the course in Japanese, confirms availability, and only then charges a small per-golfer fee. This avoids the language barrier, the Japanese-only booking platforms, and the requirement for a local phone number and card.
You do not need Japanese to play, but you usually need it to book. Many courses answer the phone only in Japanese, and the large domestic platforms (Rakuten GORA, GDO, Jalan) run entirely in Japanese. GolfMatchy handles all Japanese communication — booking, confirmation, and any special requests — so you can arrive and simply play.
Not really. Rakuten GORA and GDO (Golf Digest Online) are Japan's biggest tee-time platforms, but their booking flow is in Japanese and generally expects a Japanese phone number, address, and credit card. They are excellent tools for residents and Japanese speakers, but difficult for short-term visitors, which is why many golfers use an English concierge instead.
GolfMatchy charges a flat reservation fee per golfer for the concierge service, and you are only charged after your tee time is confirmed — never upfront. The green fee itself is paid at the course on the day. This is separate from the round cost and covers making and confirming the reservation in Japanese on your behalf.
Book as early as you can, especially for weekends, autumn, and popular courses near Tokyo, Osaka, and Hokkaido. GolfMatchy asks for at least 3 days' notice so there is time to secure and confirm the tee time in Japanese. Weekdays usually have more availability and lower green fees than weekends and public holidays.
Many courses ask for a Japanese phone number and card at the time of booking, and some prestigious clubs require a member introduction. When you book through GolfMatchy, none of that is your problem — the reservation is handled locally, and you pay the green fee at the course and the concierge fee only after confirmation.
Every region has its own page: the courses there, how to reach them, and what makes the golf different.
Hokkaido (78 courses)
Miyagi (34 courses) · Fukushima (32 courses) · Yamagata (31 courses) · Akita (28 courses) · Iwate (27 courses) · Aomori (25 courses)
Chiba (115 courses) · Kanagawa & Hakone (83 courses) · Tochigi (80 courses) · Ibaraki (66 courses) · Saitama (54 courses) · Tokyo (45 courses) · Gunma (41 courses)
Nagano (67 courses) · Nagoya (61 courses) · Shizuoka (60 courses) · Gifu (42 courses) · Niigata (38 courses) · Yamanashi (34 courses) · Ishikawa (32 courses) · Toyama (29 courses) · Fukui (20 courses)
Hyogo (83 courses) · Osaka (45 courses) · Mie (39 courses) · Shiga (36 courses) · Kyoto (34 courses) · Nara (34 courses) · Wakayama (24 courses)
Yamaguchi (32 courses) · Okayama (30 courses) · Hiroshima (25 courses) · Shimane (22 courses) · Tottori (16 courses)
Shikoku (77 courses)
Fukuoka (58 courses) · Kumamoto (32 courses) · Saga (29 courses) · Kagoshima (22 courses) · Miyazaki (22 courses) · Oita (21 courses) · Nagasaki (16 courses)
Okinawa (24 courses)
Browse 2,300+ Japan golf courses · Plan my golf trip with the concierge · Japan golf etiquette guide