Golf Courses in Yamagata

31 courses ringed by the Zao and Dewa mountains

Yamagata is mountains on almost every side — Zao to the east, Gassan and the Dewa Sanzan peaks to the west — with the Mogami river basin in between. Golf here is quiet, inexpensive and scenic, played mostly on hillside land at the edge of that basin. The prefecture is also one of Japan’s great onsen regions, with Ginzan and Zao among the most photographed hot-spring towns in the country, and it grows most of Japan’s cherries, which makes early summer a particularly good time to visit.

Golf in Yamagata at a glance

GolfMatchy lists 32 golf courses in Yamagata. 30 of the courses carry Google ratings, averaging 3.9 across 4,124 reviews. Best season: late April to early November — highland courses can freeze outside it. Most international visitors arrive via Sendai Airport (SDJ).

Why Golf in Yamagata?

32 Golf Courses in Yamagata

For International Golfers

The Yamagata Shinkansen runs direct from Tokyo to Yamagata city in about 2 hours 45 minutes; Sendai is only an hour away by bus if you are already in Tohoku. Courses are spread through the basin, so a car helps. Snow is heavy here: expect a season from roughly mid-April to late November.

More golf in Tohoku

Miyagi (34 courses) · Akita (28 courses) · Niigata (38 courses) · Fukushima (32 courses) · Iwate (27 courses) · Aomori (25 courses)

Golf in Yamagata: Frequently Asked Questions

Is golf in Yamagata cheap?

Yes — it is one of the best-value prefectures in Japan. Weekday green fees at good mountain-side courses in Yamagata are routinely a fraction of what an equivalent course near Tokyo charges, and the tee sheets are quiet enough that you rarely wait on a shot.

What else is worth doing in Yamagata around a round of golf?

Yamagata is onsen country. Ginzan Onsen and Zao Onsen are two of the most atmospheric hot-spring towns in Japan, the Dewa Sanzan pilgrimage mountains are on the west side of the prefecture, and Yamashi is Japan’s cherry-growing centre in June. A round plus an onsen night is the standard trip.

How many golf courses are there in Yamagata?

GolfMatchy lists 32 golf courses in Yamagata. Every one of them can be booked in English through our concierge.

When is the best time to play golf in Yamagata?

Late April to early November — highland courses can freeze outside it. Weekdays are cheaper and far less crowded than weekends and public holidays in Yamagata.

How do I get to golf courses in Yamagata?

Most international golfers arrive via Sendai Airport (SDJ). Many Japanese courses run a free shuttle from the nearest train station, and GolfMatchy sends the closest station, shuttle details and directions with every confirmed Yamagata booking.

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