A garden course in the hidden valley of Hitoyoshi

Cherry Golf Hitoyoshi Course sits in Sagara Village in the Kuma basin of southern Kumamoto, just five minutes from the Hitoyoshi interchange on the Kyushu Expressway. Opened in 1977 and designed by Ken Sato under the supervision of tour great Teruo Sugihara, it is an 18-hole, par-72 hillside layout of about 6,400 yards. Ponds and mature trees are placed with care, the Korai greens are single and true, and the short walks between holes give the round an easy, unhurried flow that has made it a favorite with seniors and women golfers.

Seasonal trees, quiet ponds, and a pace that lets you savor the valley.

After the round, a large bath in the clubhouse helps you unwind, and the Hitoyoshi Onsen hot-spring town is only a short taxi ride away, about seven minutes from Hitoyoshi Station. This corner of Kyushu is known for the Kuma River, famous for its rapids and river boats, the thatched-roof Aoi Aso Shrine and local kuma shochu distilled from rice. It makes a peaceful overnight stop between Kumamoto and Kagoshima for golfers who want to see a slower, more traditional side of Japan.