Into the Sherwood Forest by the Pacific

Taiheiyo Club Oarai Sherwood Course sits in the coastal town of Oarai in Ibaraki Prefecture, where the mild Pacific climate brings clear skies for much of the year. It opened on June 2, 2001, to a design by Mitsuaki Kobayashi, later remodelled by Norio Honma, and its name nods to Robin Hood's legendary Sherwood Forest. The 18-hole, par-72 layout stretches to 6,506 yards from the back tees and carries a JGA course rating of 71.2. Downhill tee shots on the 6th and 18th set the tone, with a pond waiting to the right of the 6th for anyone who leaks a drive.

A round that ends with Lake Hinuma on the horizon, and a buffet lunch overlooking the fairways.

The closing hole frames a view of Lake Hinuma, a fitting finale to a course that rewards careful placement over brute force. Play here is self-play, and visitors join through a member's introduction, so it suits golfers travelling with local friends. Between nines, the clubhouse restaurant serves a buffet of seasonal local ingredients in a mix of Japanese and Western styles. Oarai itself is a seaside town known for its port and fresh seafood, and the castle town of Mito, with its famous Kairakuen garden, is close by. From Tokyo, take the limited express from Ueno to Mito (roughly 65 to 75 minutes), then a taxi of about 30 minutes; drivers can exit the Kita-Kanto Expressway at Mito-Oarai IC, about 13 minutes from the gate.