Sea breezes and Ise Bay views beneath Mt. Asama

Excellent Golf Club Ise Futami Course lies on the slopes of Mt. Asama just outside Ise City in Mie Prefecture. Opened in 1999 to a design by Yoshiaki Kato, the 18-hole, par-72 course stretches to 6,585 yards from the back tees with a course rating of 71.5. It has a resort feel, with wide fairways, gentle ups and downs shaped by the mountain, and tees that look straight down to the greens. Sea breezes drift up from the bay, and the 16th hole opens up a view across Ise Bay.

Wide fairways and a sea breeze on the hills above Ise, minutes from Japan's most sacred shrine.

The setting is the real draw for visitors. Ise Grand Shrine is right on the doorstep, and the coast at Futami, with its famous wedded rocks, and the seaside town of Toba are a short drive away. That makes it easy to pair a round with a few days in Ise-Shima for shrine visits, seafood and onsen ryokan. The mild climate means it rarely closes for snow, so it works as a winter golf option too. Drive about 6 km from Ise IC on the Ise Expressway, or take a 15-minute taxi from Ujiyamada Station.