A Crane Classic in the Okayama Highlands

MGM Maniwa, formerly known as Maniwa Country Club, sits in the countryside of Maniwa in northern Okayama Prefecture. Opened in 1973, its 27 holes were laid out by the renowned course architect J.E. Crane, whose strategic designs shaped many of Japan's classic courses. The club describes carpet-like fairways separated by mature tree lines and greens whose subtle undulations have been weathered by decades of wind and rain, a layout that rewards careful position play over brute force.

Mature trees, carpet-like fairways, and greens shaped by half a century of weather.

Twenty-seven holes give plenty of variety for a multi-day stay, and the club has modernised with online booking and cashless check-in. Maniwa is the gateway to the Hiruzen Highlands, a cool upland plateau known for its Jersey cattle, dairy treats and sweeping views of the Hiruzen peaks, while the riverside Yubara Onsen, famous for its open-air bath beside a dam, is close by. Okayama Station is the main rail hub for the region, making MGM Maniwa a relaxed addition to a western Japan itinerary that might also take in Okayama's Korakuen garden and Kurashiki's canal district.