Peter Thomson's strategic gem in the Tochigi hills

Thomson Country Club opened in March 2000 in the rolling countryside of Nishikata, Tochigi, and carries the name of the man who shaped it: five-time Open champion Peter Thomson, who supervised the design. The 18-hole, par-72 layout stretches to 6,818 yards from the back tees across hilly terrain, where deep bunkers, ponds and creeks frame a varied set of holes that reward thoughtful play over raw power. Play is in GPS-equipped riding carts, and there is a short iron range for warming up.

Deep bunkers and quiet water, with Japan's four seasons as the backdrop.

The club's own pitch is the scenery: trees and water that change colour with the seasons, from spring greens to autumn reds. Access is remarkably easy for a drive from the capital — the clubhouse sits about 100 metres from the Tsuga-Nishikata Smart IC on the Tohoku Expressway, roughly an hour from central Tokyo. By train, the Tobu Nikko Line from Asakusa reaches Shin-Tochigi in about 80 minutes, followed by a short taxi ride. Tochigi makes a natural add-on to a round: the old merchant quarter of Tochigi City with its canal-side warehouses is close by, and Nikko's shrines and the hot springs of Kinugawa are within reach for an overnight stay.