Golf in Okinawa: 9 Resort Courses That Accept Visitors (2026)
When the rest of Japan is in winter coats, Okinawa is playing golf by turquoise water. Here are 9 resort courses on the main island that take overseas visitors — and when they cost the most.
Updated October 2026
The short answer
Okinawa is where Japan plays golf in winter: Naha averages 17–19°C from December to February. That makes winter Okinawa's peak season, and green fees are highest from January to February. Most courses are 30–90 minutes by car from Naha Airport, so plan on a rental car (with an International Driving Permit), a taxi or a resort shuttle. Golf Caddie Japan books the 9 courses below in English for ¥6,000 per player per round (¥8,000 per round for a solo booking).
Okinawa turns the Japanese golf calendar upside down. While mainland courses close for snow or turn frosty, Okinawa plays golf by turquoise water in t-shirts. Below are 9 ocean-view courses on the main island that take overseas visitors, with the details that change the plan: the season, the price, and how far each one is from Naha Airport.
Okinawa golf at a glance
- Weather: Naha averages 17.3°C in January, 21.5°C in April, 29°C in July–August and 22.5°C in November (Japan Meteorological Agency).
- Peak season is winter. Resort courses charge the most from January to February, and the least from April to September.
- Typhoons: most likely from July to October, peaking in August and September. June is the rainy month.
- Where the courses are: the south near Naha and the airport, the central east coast, and the west-coast resort area around Onna and Nago.
- Getting around: most courses are 30–90 minutes by car from Naha Airport. The only railway is the Naha monorail, so plan on a rental car, a taxi or a resort shuttle.
9 Okinawa courses we book for visitors
Prices are approximate and vary by date and season. Many Okinawa courses price by season rather than by weekday and weekend. We confirm the exact price for your date before booking.
| Course | Area | From Naha Airport | Green fee (approx.) | Caddie | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGM Golf Resort Okinawa | Onna (west coast) | About 50 min by car. Airport shuttle from the neighbouring PGM hotel (reservation) | From about ¥16,900 on weekdays | Optional | 27 holes overlooking the East China Sea, remodelled under Isao Aoki. Hosted the HEIWA PGM Championship 2017–2019 |
| Kanehide Kise Country Club | Nago (west coast) | About 90 min by car | About ¥23,000 (Apr–Sep); about ¥35,000 (Oct–Mar) | On request | Hosted the Japan PGA Championship (2007, 2017) and the Japan Women’s PGA Championship (2024). Left-handed rentals. English website |
| Kanucha Golf Course | Nago (east coast) | About 80 min by car. Resort shuttle from the airport | About ¥20,500 (Apr–Oct); ¥25,000 (Nov–Dec, Mar); ¥33,500 (Jan–Feb) | Available | Ocean views over Oura Bay, supervised by Isao Aoki. English website |
| The Atta Terrace Golf Resort | Onna (west coast) | About 60 min by expressway | About ¥20,000 (Apr–Oct); ¥25,000 (Nov–Dec, Mar); ¥33,100 (Jan–Feb) | On request | East China Sea views. Single players accepted. English website |
| Chura Orchard Golf Club | Onna (west coast) | About 70 min by car | About ¥13,900 (Apr–Oct); about ¥15,000 (Nov–Mar), weekdays | Available | Hillside and seaside holes, opened in 1970. Not for single players |
| The Southern Links Golf Club | Yaese (south) | About 50 min by car (15 km) | From about ¥15,500 on weekdays | On request | A seaside course along the coast, with a resort hotel on site. Left-handed rentals (men’s) |
| Palm Hills Golf Resort Club | Itoman (south) | About 30 min by taxi (about ¥3,000) | From about ¥8,000 | Optional | On a hill at 140 m, with views of the sea. Opened in 1991 |
| Ocean Castle Country Club | Nakagusuku (central east) | About 40 min by car | From about ¥11,000 | Optional | Views over Nakagusuku Bay, next to the World Heritage ruins of Nakagusuku Castle |
| Okinawa Country Club | Nishihara (central) | About 30 min by car from Naha city | From about ¥8,500 on weekdays | Optional | A hillside course with Pacific views, opened in 1965 |
Not on the list? Tell us the course you have in mind. We check whether it accepts visitors on your date as part of the booking — if we cannot secure it, our fee is refunded in full.
Which course fits your trip?
- Tournament pedigree: Kanehide Kise (Japan PGA Championship) and PGM Golf Resort Okinawa (HEIWA PGM Championship).
- Staying at an Onna or Nago resort: PGM Golf Resort Okinawa, The Atta Terrace and Chura Orchard on the west coast; Kise and Kanucha further north.
- Close to the airport: Palm Hills, Okinawa Country Club and Ocean Castle, all within about 30–40 minutes.
- Best value: Palm Hills and Okinawa Country Club, from about ¥8,000–¥8,500.
- Left-handed golfers: Kanehide Kise and The Southern Links list left-handed rental sets.
- Travelling on your own: The Atta Terrace and Kanehide Kise accept single players. Chura Orchard does not.
- A cheaper Okinawa round: go between April and October, when resort prices are lowest — but watch the typhoon forecast from July.
Getting there and getting around
- Flights: direct to Naha from Tokyo and Osaka.
- Rental car: the most common choice. You need an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, or an official Japanese translation if your licence is from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan. Japan drives on the left.
- Without a car: take a taxi to courses near Naha, or use a resort shuttle — PGM’s hotel and Kanucha run airport shuttles, and The Atta Terrace runs shuttles between Terrace Hotels for its guests.
- Clubs: most courses rent full sets for about ¥4,400–¥7,700. Ask us for left-handed or women’s sets.
How booking works
Most Okinawa courses take reservations in Japanese, and some list prices only in Japanese. Send us your dates and where you’re staying, and we reply in English within 24 hours with course options and a written quote. Our fee is ¥6,000 (about US$40) per player per round, tax included (¥8,000 per round for a solo booking); green fees are paid at the course on the day. Once the fee is paid, we contact the course, confirm the final price with you and book. If we can’t secure it, the fee is refunded in full. For more winter options on the mainland, see the best season to golf in Japan.
Quick answers
Can you play golf in Japan in winter?+
Yes. Okinawa is the warmest option: Naha averages 17–19°C from December to February. Courses near Tokyo and Osaka also stay open in winter, but most highland courses around Mt. Fuji close from mid-December to March.
When is the best time to golf in Okinawa?+
November to April is the most comfortable, with average temperatures around 17–23°C in Naha. It is also peak season, so prices are highest in January and February. Typhoons are most likely from July to October, peaking in August and September.
How much does golf in Okinawa cost?+
It depends on the course and season. At the 9 courses on this page, prices start from about ¥8,000 at some courses, while resort courses such as Kanehide Kise charge about ¥23,000 from April to September and about ¥35,000 from October to March. Golf Caddie Japan's booking fee is ¥6,000 per player per round, tax included (¥8,000 per round for a solo booking).
Do I need a car to golf in Okinawa?+
Usually. The main island's only railway is the Naha monorail, and most courses are reached by car. Many visitors rent a car, which needs an International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, or a Japanese translation for licences from certain countries. Taxis and some resort shuttles are alternatives.
Can I play Ryukyu Golf Club?+
Ryukyu Golf Club is accepting overseas visitors on a trial basis from October 2026 to March 2027, at a higher rate for overseas residents (about ¥56,500 on weekdays), with a caddie on every round. Its conditions for overseas visitors are not consistent across its own pages, so ask us and we'll check for your date.
Which Okinawa golf courses have English websites?+
Kanehide Kise, Kanucha and The Atta Terrace publish English pages with their prices. Booking is still easiest in Japanese, which is where we help.
