Before Your Golf Round in Japan: Practical Questions Answered

Have a booking request or an upcoming round with Golf Caddie Japan? These are the questions golfers ask us most before they play. A request is not a confirmed round: your round is confirmed when we email you to say so. If your question is not here, reply to your booking email and we will help.

What happens if it rains?

Golf courses in Japan generally stay open in light rain, and many Japanese golfers play through a shower. Whether to close because of a typhoon, heavy snow or a storm is decided by the course, on the day or the day before.

• If the course closes play, our service fee for that booking is refunded in full.
• If the course stays open but you would rather not play, our usual cancellation terms apply (see below), and any cancellation charge set by the course is separate.
• Typhoon season runs mainly from late summer into autumn, and the rainy season on Honshu runs roughly from early or mid-June to mid-July. See the best season to golf in Japan if you are still choosing dates.

If we hear that the course is closing, we email you as soon as we can. If bad weather is forecast for your date, reply to your booking email and we will check with the course.

How do I get to the course?

Once your round is confirmed, we send you the nearest station, the club bus details where the course runs one, and a map link. Many courses near Tokyo run a shuttle bus from a nearby station, so a train plus the club bus is often the easiest way without a car. Your itinerary shows the boarding point, times and whether the bus needs a reservation. Bus times can change, so check them again the day before.

• Tell us where you are staying when you book, and we will suggest courses within a reasonable trip of your hotel.
• Check the live train times on your phone on the day, and aim to arrive at the clubhouse 45–60 minutes before your tee time to check in and change.
• For taxis, driving and longer trips, see getting to golf courses in Japan.

What if I am running late?

Courses run to a strict schedule, so please contact us straight away. Use the email address and SMS number in your itinerary or confirmation email, and tell us your name, course and how late you expect to be.

Playing alone: when is my round confirmed?

At courses that accept single players, you usually join other golfers in a shared group.

• If you are the first person to book a place in the group, we check with the course after 12 noon (Japan time) on the day before your round and email you to let you know whether it can go ahead.
• If we cannot secure the round, our service fee is refunded in full, and we can suggest other options.
• You will not know your playing partners’ level in advance. As a rough guide, expect partners who score around 100.

For which courses take single players and how it works, see solo golf in Japan.

Can a non-playing partner come along?

It depends on how you are playing.

• In a shared group with other golfers: a non-playing guest normally cannot ride in the cart or walk with the group.
• In a group reserved only for your own party, with no other golfers: some courses allow a non-playing guest to ride in the cart for a fee paid at the course, and some do not. Tell us when you book and we will check with the course.

Where a guest cannot join on the course, some clubhouses have a restaurant and bath they may be able to use (if you have tattoos, see tattoos and golf in Japan). We can ask about that too.

What if my plans change?

Email us as early as possible.

• Changing the date, course or number of players: a change depends on availability, and the course’s own charges and our cancellation terms may apply. We check with the course and confirm the result by email. Your original booking stands until we confirm a change, and asking for a change does not extend the cancellation deadline.
• Cancelling: if you cancel at least 14 days before your tee time, our service fee is refunded in full. Within 14 days of the tee time, the service fee is non-refundable (this also applies once a booking made within 14 days of play is confirmed). If you decide not to go ahead at the confirmed price before we book, it is refunded in full. Any cancellation charge set by the golf course is separate. The full terms are on our legal page.

When is our service fee refunded?

Situation	Our service fee
The course closes play	Refunded in full
We cannot secure the tee time	Refunded in full
You decide not to go ahead at the confirmed price, before we book	Refunded in full
You cancel at least 14 days before your tee time	Refunded in full
You cancel within 14 days of your tee time	Not refunded

Green fees and any cancellation charge set by the course are separate from our service fee. Refunds go back to the card you paid with. We process them on the day the cancellation is settled and email you to confirm; the time it takes to appear on your statement depends on your card issuer.

What should I bring?

• Clubs: if you are not bringing your own, most visitors rent at the course. See renting golf clubs in Japan.
• Clothing: some traditional clubs have a dress code, including in the clubhouse. See our dress code and etiquette guide.
• Tattoos: if you have tattoos and plan to use the clubhouse bath, read tattoos and golf in Japan first.
• Payment on the day: green fees and on-course charges are paid directly to the course, usually at the front desk when you finish.

Still have a question?

Reply to your booking email, or write to us at hello@golfcaddiejapan.com, and we will get back to you. If you have not booked yet, you can request a tee time.