Gentle hills and glinting ponds in the countryside of Iwaki

JGM Thoroughbred Golf Club lies in the rolling hills of Watanabe-machi on the edge of Iwaki, Fukushima's coastal city. Opened in September 1991 and designed by Naoyuki Saito, the 18-hole, par-72 course measures 6,640 yards from the back tees across a spacious natural site. Fairways are mostly gentle and natural, while subtly contoured bent greens and changing pin positions give the course real variety. Water and greenery set each other off beautifully, with ponds in play on the 8th, 11th and the memorable 18th, where managing the pond off the tee and in front of the green decides the finish.

A relaxed, approachable round for every level, close to a classic hot-spring town.

Suitable for beginners and seasoned players alike, Thoroughbred is an easygoing stop on a road trip up the Pacific coast north of Tokyo. GPS-equipped riding carts keep the pace comfortable, and the restaurant is known locally for its garlic pilaf and chanpon noodles. The course is about ten minutes from the Iwaki-Yumoto interchange on the Joban Expressway, so a soak in the historic Iwaki Yumoto hot springs makes a natural end to the day, and the city's coastline and seafood markets are close by. There is no shuttle service, so a car is the easiest way to reach the club.