Kikyougaoka Golf Course: quiet ridges above Nabari

Kikyougaoka Golf Course lies in Takinohara on the edge of Nabari City in western Mie, laid out across the gentle ridges of the Nunobiki Mountains and the Muro volcanic group. Opened in 1978 with a design by Obayashi Corporation, the 18-hole, par-72 course measures around 6,560 yards on 85 hectares of land. Pine, cedar, cypress and cherry trees separate every hole, and the wide fairways and strategic routing give each hole its own character, finishing on bentgrass greens with two greens per hole.

Tree-lined holes on gentle ridges, an easy train ride from Osaka.

Riding carts with GPS navigation come with coolers, and a club shuttle bus runs from the West Exit of Kintetsu Nabari Station, which has direct trains to Osaka, making this one of the more car-free friendly rounds in the Kansai region. The surroundings are well worth lingering in: the Akame 48 Waterfalls trail and the Kogakei Gorge are nearby, Iga Ueno with its castle and ninja heritage is a short drive north, and the Muro-ji temple area lies just across the Nara border. In spring the cherry trees on the course add a burst of color to the round.