Half a century of golf on Sapporo's doorstep

MR Barato Country Club lies in Ishikari City, about 7 km from the Sapporo-Kita interchange and around 40 minutes by car from Sapporo Station. It opened in 1966 as Barato Country Club, designed by the Taiwanese golfer Chen Ching-Shui, and reopened under its current name in August 2019. The course plays 18 holes, par 72, over 6,739 yards, laid out on gently undulating ground with a single bent green on each hole. It is a straightforward, enjoyable layout that fits neatly into a city stay.

An easy escape from the city, with more than fifty years of history behind it.

One of the course's most practical advantages for visitors is the club shuttle bus from Kita-24-jo subway station, which means you can reach a Hokkaido fairway without a rental car. Hokkaido's golf season runs through the warmer months, and the course closes for winter. Summer is especially pleasant here, cooler and less humid than mainland Japan. After the round, you are back in Sapporo in time for an evening of miso ramen, Genghis Khan grilled lamb and craft beer around Susukino. Or head out to the Ishikari coast and the nearby hot springs of Jozankei for a slower pace.