Hiroshima sits in a category of Japanese cities that most international visitors include on a Japan itinerary for its historical and cultural significance, then discover offers much more. The Peace Memorial and Miyajima Island's floating torii gate are the draws that bring people here — but the Chugoku region that surrounds the city has a golf landscape that deserves attention in its own right.
Hiroshima prefecture has over 60 golf courses, concentrated in the mountainous terrain north and east of the city. The combination of Hiroshima's excellent transport links (it is a Shinkansen hub on the San'yo line), accessible courses, and the city's own cultural richness makes a golf day here worth planning.
The Golf Landscape Around Hiroshima
Most courses in the Hiroshima area are set in the wooded hills inland from the coastal plain. The Chugoku Mountains provide natural settings — river valleys, forested ridges, and the kind of terrain that rewards mountain course design. Green fees are moderate by national standards: ¥8,000–¥20,000 for most courses, with a handful of premium facilities approaching ¥30,000.
The local golf culture reflects western Japan's character generally — more relaxed and less formal than Tokyo, with courses that tend toward hospitality rather than exclusivity. Independent visitors will find some courses easier to access directly here than in the greater Tokyo area.
Key Courses Near Hiroshima
Hiroshima Country Club (広島カントリークラブ)
One of the region's most prestigious clubs, Hiroshima Country Club is set in the hills northeast of the city in a deeply wooded valley. The course has hosted multiple Japan Tour events and maintains standards that match its reputation: demanding in all conditions, with tight fairways, fast greens, and a design that uses the natural terrain fully. Member introductions are typically required; arrange through a concierge service if you want to play here as an international visitor.
Hiroshima West Country Club (広島ウエストカントリークラブ)
A well-regarded semi-private club in the hills west of Hiroshima city, with a parkland layout that takes advantage of a wide mountain valley. The course is one of the more accessible in the area for independent visitors — guest play is possible on weekdays without member introduction, though weekend access is more restricted. Green fees are mid-range, and the course is typically in good condition through spring, summer, and autumn.
Hiroshima Kokusai Golf Club (広島国際ゴルフ倶楽部)
The "Kokusai" (international) in the name reflects a facility that has historically been more international-facing than many in the area. The course offers mountain views, reliable conditions, and a full clubhouse service including the standard Japanese lunch break after the 9th hole. A good option for first-time visitors to the area who want a quality round without the membership complexity of the older clubs.
Miyajima Golf Course
The course most directly associated with Hiroshima's tourist identity — located on the Itsukushima area facing Miyajima island. Playing here combines a quality round with views of the Seto Inland Sea and the possibility of visiting Miyajima before or after the round. The course is less challenging than the inland mountain courses but offers a visual experience that is unique in Japanese golf.
Getting from Hiroshima City to the Courses
Hiroshima has good urban transport, but most of the golf courses are outside the public transit network. Practical options:
- Rental car: Hiroshima Nishi IC (interchange) gives direct motorway access to many course areas. A rental car from Hiroshima Station or Hiroshima Airport is the most flexible option.
- Taxi: From central Hiroshima to courses in the northern hills, expect 30–45 minutes and ¥5,000–¥8,000 each way. Some courses offer shuttle pickup from Hiroshima Station — confirm when booking.
- Private transfer: For a full golf day with transport arranged, Teelink Japan can coordinate a driver from your hotel to the course and back.
Combining Golf and Hiroshima Sightseeing
The logistics of combining a golf round with Hiroshima's major sights depend on your tee time and how far the course is from the city:
Golf in the morning, sightseeing in the afternoon
An early tee time (7:30–8:00am) at a course 30–40 minutes from the city allows you to complete an 18-hole round and be back in the city by 2:00–3:00pm for the Peace Memorial Museum (allow 2 hours) or Miyajima Island (allow 3–4 hours for the ferry, torii gate, and Itsukushima Shrine).
Miyajima first, golf second
Miyajima is best visited before the crowds arrive — aim for a first ferry before 9am. A round on the Miyajima Golf Course or at a nearby course in the afternoon captures both in a single day without early starts.
The Hiroshima Golf Experience
Western Japan golf has a slightly different character from the metropolitan courses around Tokyo. Pace of play tends to be a little slower, the clubhouse atmosphere is more relaxed, and the food at the compulsory lunch break reflects regional Hiroshima cuisine — oysters (kaki) appear on many clubhouse menus, the city being Japan's primary oyster producer. The okonomiyaki (savoury pancake) that defines Hiroshima's food identity is also well-represented in local clubhouses.
These details are small but add up to a golf day that feels genuinely rooted in where you are — rather than the more uniform corporate-golf experience you find at the larger national chains.
Planning a golf day in Hiroshima? We handle the booking.
Book with Teelink JapanExtending into the Chugoku Region
Hiroshima is a natural base for wider Chugoku region golf exploration. Okayama to the east (1 hour by Shinkansen) has its own cluster of quality courses. Yamaguchi to the west connects via local train to some of the most scenically unusual golf in Japan — courses carved into the karstite landscape of Akiyoshidai, Japan's largest karst plateau. A 2–3 night golf trip through western Japan using Hiroshima as one hub captures a genuinely different side of Japanese golf from the better-known Tokyo and Kyoto itineraries.