Golf in Okinawa
Japan's subtropical islands, where cliffside fairways meet the East China Sea, the winters are the warmest in the country and the golf comes wrapped in coral beaches, Ryukyu culture and famously generous hospitality. The courses that matter, the seasons, the costs and how to plan it.
Photograph: The Southern Links Golf Club, Okinawa, via Google
Why golf in Okinawa
Okinawa is Japan's tropical golf escape, a chain of subtropical islands strung out south of the mainland where the climate is warm when the rest of the country is cold and the golf is played against a backdrop of turquoise sea and white sand. The main island holds the bulk of the courses, more than a dozen of them, from the dramatic cliffside Southern Links near the capital Naha to the oceanfront and forest holes at Kanucha in the green north. With around twenty public courses across the prefecture and the warmest winter golf in Japan, it has become a favourite for golfers from Tokyo, Osaka and across East Asia.
What sets Okinawa apart is the combination of golf and a genuinely different culture. This was the kingdom of the Ryukyu, and the islands keep their own food, music and easy pace, alongside the coral reefs, the diving and the beaches that draw holidaymakers year round. Caddies and resorts are well used to international guests, the courses are good value by world resort standards, and a week here mixes warm weather golf with one of the most relaxed corners of Japan. It suits couples and small groups who want their golf somewhere out of the ordinary.
The areas
South and Naha
The hub around the capital and the airport, home to The Southern Links on the cliffs at Yaese, Naha Golf Club and Okinawa Country Club. The easiest base for a first trip, with the city, the markets and the historic sites close by.
The central west coast
The resort coast around Onna, lined with beach hotels and home to the 27 hole PGM Golf Resort Okinawa above the East China Sea. The classic stay for sun, sand and golf in one place.
The north and Motobu
The greener, quieter Yanbaru north, home to Kanucha at Nago and Bel Beach near Motobu, close to the famous Churaumi Aquarium and the Kouri and Sesoko island bridges.
The courses that matter
The Southern Links
The headline round for many visitors, a dramatic clifftop layout in the south of the main island with ocean views and bold shots over the sea, managed by Accordia and attached to a resort hotel for a full golf getaway close to Naha.
Kanucha Golf Course
Part of the sprawling Kanucha Bay resort village in the north, a course that blends oceanfront holes off the cape of Oura Bay with a village course winding through the Yanbaru forest, fully set up for international visitors.
PGM Golf Resort Okinawa
A 27 hole resort course on the central west coast above the East China Sea, supervised by one of Japan's greatest players, Isao Aoki, renewed in 2017, with open fairways and three loops named after tropical flowers.
Bel Beach Golf Club
A scenic course on the Motobu peninsula in the north, where the Miyazato golfing family, including Ai and Yuta, honed their game as juniors, set near the coast and the Churaumi Aquarium.
Okinawa Country Club
A long established club at Nishihara near Naha, a mature, walkable course that has hosted professional events and offers an accessible, central round close to the capital.
Course details verified June 2026 from the clubs, Accordia, PGM and the Japan National Tourism Organization. Around twenty public courses operate across Okinawa prefecture. Access, transport and fees vary, so always confirm directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| October to April | Mild, drier, the warmest winter golf in Japan | Prime season, comfortable rounds and clear days |
| May to June | The rainy season, warm with heavier showers | Lower rates, a weather eye needed |
| July to September | Hot, humid, the typhoon season | Cheapest golf, real chance of storms |
The cooler, drier autumn to spring window is the time to plan an Okinawa golf trip. Avoid the typhoon months if you can, and reserve resort courses ahead in the peak winter season.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Resort green fee | Around ¥15,000 to ¥22,000 | Lower on weekdays and off peak, cart varies |
| Caddie or self play | Varies by club | Many courses offer cart and self play options |
| A week, all in | Around US$2,000 to $4,000 per person | Flights to Naha, a resort base, several rounds |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Okinawa is reached through Naha airport on the main island, with frequent flights from Tokyo, Osaka and other Japanese cities, plus direct services from Taipei, Seoul, Hong Kong and other East Asian hubs. From further afield you connect through a mainland Japanese city. On the island a hire car is the practical way to reach the courses, as the golf is spread from the south near Naha up the west coast to the resorts and the green north, and public transport is limited outside the capital. Allow 60 to 90 minutes to reach the northern courses from Naha.
Where to stay
The resort hotels of the central west coast around Onna are the classic base, putting beaches, dining and the PGM resort course on the doorstep. Naha suits a first trip and the southern courses, with the city, the markets and the airport close by, while the north around Nago and Motobu offers quieter resort stays near Kanucha and the aquarium. Let one planner match the base to the group and line up the tee times and the hire car.
Plan your Okinawa golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Okinawa golf questions
When is the best time to play golf in Okinawa?
Okinawa is a subtropical, year round destination, with the sweet spots from autumn to spring, roughly October to April, when the air is mild and dry and the islands escape the heat. Winter is the warmest golf in Japan, usually in the high teens to low twenties Celsius. The rainy season falls in May and June and the typhoon season runs through summer into early autumn, so those months carry more weather risk, though green fees are lower.
Which is the best golf course in Okinawa?
The Southern Links in Yaese, near Naha, is the standout for many visitors, a dramatic cliffside layout with ocean views and an attached resort hotel. Kanucha Golf Course at the Kanucha Bay resort in the north pairs oceanfront and forest holes and is well set up for international guests, while the Isao Aoki supervised PGM Golf Resort Okinawa offers 27 holes above the East China Sea. Bel Beach near Motobu, where the Miyazato golfing family learned the game, rounds out the marquee names.
How much does a golf trip to Okinawa cost in 2026?
Okinawa is good value by international resort standards. Indicative 2026 green fees at the resort courses run broadly from around 15,000 to 22,000 yen, lower on weekdays and outside peak season. A week with flights to Naha, a resort base and several rounds typically lands from around US$2,000 to $4,000 per head depending on the stay. Always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Asian openings, resort access and the best warm weather tee times. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.