Otone Country Club
Seiichi Inoue laid out Otone in 1960 on the flat, pine wooded plain northeast of Tokyo, a 36 hole club whose championship eighteen runs to a par 72 of about 7,024 yards. Host of the 1970 Japan Open, it is a classic Kanto parkland with some of the country's finest bentgrass greens.
Photo: Tomohiro Iwamoto via Google.
The verdict
Otone Country Club opened in 1960 to a design by Seiichi Inoue, the most revered of Japan's home grown golf architects. Spread across the Tone river plain at Bando in Ibaraki, an hour or so northeast of Tokyo, it offers 36 holes of mature, gently moving parkland separated by stands of pine, and a championship pedigree confirmed when it hosted the Japan Open in 1970.
Inoue's work is all about strategy on a quiet canvas, with bunkers and ponds placed to test the line and a set of bentgrass greens widely rated among the best in the country. There is little elevation change, so the challenge is in the angles and the putting surfaces rather than the terrain. For a golfer exploring the great Kanto clubs, Otone is a refined, traditional day that rewards thoughtful play.
Otone Country Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1960
- Designer
- Seiichi Inoue
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,024 yds
- Green fee
- Members
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Otone Country Club and leading course databases. The club opened in 1960 to a Seiichi Inoue design, a 36 hole property whose championship course plays to a par 72 of about 7,024 yards and hosted the 1970 Japan Open. Otone is a private members club; visiting golfers generally play through a member or an authorized agent, so always confirm access directly before planning.
The holes worth the trip
Otone is a quiet, strategic Seiichi Inoue parkland on flat ground, where the challenge lies not in elevation but in the angles, the bunkering and the celebrated greens. Stands of pine separate the holes and frame the driving lines, asking for position over sheer power.
The bentgrass greens are the defining feature, widely rated among the finest in Japan, firm and subtly contoured so that approach play and putting decide the round. Inoue placed his bunkers and ponds to reward the player who takes the right line in, a hallmark of his understated style.
With 36 holes on the property, the club offers variety, but it is the championship course, the host of the 1970 Japan Open, that defines Otone. It is a measured, traditional test that gives its best to the thoughtful ball striker, a refined day among the classic clubs of the Kanto plain.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; visiting golfers generally play as a member's guest or through an authorized booking agent |
| Green fee | No published public green fee; any visitor rate is arranged through a member or agent and is higher at weekends (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Arrange access well ahead through a member, a hotel concierge or a Japan golf specialist; weekday play is easier |
| On the day | Caddies and the traditional lunch break between nines are part of the experience; carts are available |
| Getting there | Bando in Ibaraki, roughly 60 to 90 minutes northeast of central Tokyo by road |
| Best months | April to June and September to November, the mild Kanto seasons when the bentgrass is at its best |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Otone is private and policies change, so always confirm directly through your member or agent before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base themselves in Tokyo and drive out to Otone for the day, with the capital's full range of hotels, dining and culture an hour or so away. The towns of Ibaraki nearer the course offer simpler, convenient lodging for an early tee time.
For a wider trip, a Tokyo base pairs Otone with the celebrated Kanto clubs, from Inoue's own peers to the great names of the region. Building a few days around the capital lets you string together several of Japan's classic parkland courses on one tour.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Otone Country Club.
Build a Tokyo golf trip
We arrange access at Otone where member or agent play allows, pair it with the best of the Kanto clubs and book the lodging around it. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Otone Country Club questions
Who designed Otone Country Club and when did it open?
Otone Country Club opened in 1960 to a design by Seiichi Inoue, the celebrated Japanese golf architect. It is a 36 hole club on the Tone river plain in Ibaraki.
What is the par and length of Otone?
Otone's championship course is a par 72 measuring about 7,024 yards from the back tees, a flat, strategic parkland known for its bentgrass greens.
Has Otone hosted major tournaments?
Yes. Otone Country Club hosted the Japan Open in 1970 and has a long history as one of the respected championship clubs of the Kanto region.
Can visitors play Otone Country Club?
Otone is a private members club. Visiting golfers generally play as a member's guest or through an authorized booking agent, so arrange access well in advance and confirm before travelling.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; access arrangements verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.