Isao Aoki's quiet course in the Suzuka woods

Suzukanomori Golf Club sits in a calm pocket of natural forest in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, about 5 km from Suzuka IC on the Higashi-Meihan Expressway. Opened in 1990 and designed by Japanese golf legend Isao Aoki, the 18-hole, par-72 course is largely flat, yet each hole is given its own character, framed by trees that make every round feel secluded. Today it is run by Accordia Golf, and play is self-caddie with four-seater riding carts equipped with navigation.

A walk-in-the-woods layout from a Japanese great, easy on the legs and sharp on strategy.

Its gentle terrain makes Suzukanomori a relaxed choice for visitors who want a well-kept, approachable round within easy reach of Nagoya, followed by time in the clubhouse. Suzuka itself is famous for its motor-racing circuit, and the Ise Grand Shrine and the coast of Ise-Shima lie within a comfortable drive, so the course fits neatly into a Mie road trip that mixes golf, shrines and seafood.