King's Fields Golf Club, Ichihara: A Complete Guide for Visiting Golfers
A tournament-tested, caddie-mandatory woodland course in Ichihara, Chiba. One of the most complete private-style golf experiences available to foreign visitors within an hour of Tokyo.
PGT Team · 19 Mar 2026 · 9 min read
An hour south of Tokyo in the gentle hills of Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, King's Fields Golf Club has been one of the region's most respected private-style courses since it opened in 1985. At 7,133 yards from the back tees across 1.1 million square metres of mature woodland, it is a genuine test that has hosted Japan's national professional tours and continues to attract serious golfers looking for a step up from resort play.
This guide draws directly from the club's own records and gives you everything you need to plan a round at King's Fields, from hole-by-hole character and exact 2026 pricing to how foreign visitors can actually secure a tee time.
Why King's Fields Stands Out Near Tokyo
Ichihara sits in the middle of a particularly dense stretch of Chiba golf, but most of the area's quality clubs are fully private. King's Fields occupies a different position: a course with tournament pedigree, managed facilities, and a character that comes from nearly 40 years of careful stewardship, yet reachable for visiting golfers through the right introduction.
Since 2001, the club has been managed by the same group that runs Isogo Country Club in Yokohama, one of the Kanto region's most well-regarded private clubs. That affiliation shows in the attention to course conditioning, food quality, and service that distinguishes King's Fields from many semi-private alternatives in the area.
The tournament record adds credibility that most courses in this category cannot match. King's Fields hosted the Hitachi 3 Tours Championship for six consecutive years from 2006 to 2011, a high-profile event that brought together players from the Japan Golf Tour, JLPGA, and PGA of Japan. It also hosted the 44th Japan Women's Pro Golf Championship in September 2011, a national title event watched across the country.
Course Overview and Designer Background
King's Fields was designed by Benz & Poullot Golf Course Architects, a US-based firm whose work in Japan during the 1980s produced several courses built to genuine international championship standards. The design brief was ambitious: 18 holes across a gently rolling hillside site of 1.1 million square metres, with course construction supervised by Mitsuaki Kobayashi and the clubhouse designed by architect Gen Isoyama. The result, which opened in September 1985, was a layout that felt considered rather than merely constructed.
The course plays as a par 72 across five tee options. From the back, the slope rating of 131 reflects a layout that genuinely rewards accuracy off the tee and controlled approach play. Individual holes have been refined over the years, with 13 of the 18 holes receiving renovation work between 2004 and 2018. Greens and bunkering were progressively updated without losing the woodland integrity of the original design.
King's Fields Golf Club, Ichihara: front nine vs back nine character for visiting golfers.
The Layout: What to Expect on the Course
The club describes it as a hill course where bunkers, ponds of varying sizes, and creeks are placed with purpose: strategic rather than decorative. This is a course built for golfers who think about shot shape and course management, not one that rewards pure power.
Front nine
The front nine plays 3,560 yards and demands composure from the first tee. The 402-yard opener sets an honest tone, and the 4th (handicap 1, 448 yards) announces itself as the round's defining test before the turn. The two par 5s on the front, the 2nd at 550 yards and the 6th at 551 yards, are both reachable opportunities for longer hitters, but the water and creek features protect the approach zones effectively.
Back nine
The back nine opens with the course's longest hole: the 10th at 590 yards, a par 5 that rewards a committed tee shot. The 11th (201 yards, par 3, handicap 4) is one of the more demanding one-shotters on the property. The 13th, handicap 2 at 410 yards, plays more demanding than its yardage suggests. The finishing two holes, 17 (547 yards, par 5) and 18 (419 yards, par 4), provide the ideal balance of scoring chance followed by a genuine test into the clubhouse.
💡 Course tip: The par 3s here average nearly 185 yards. First-time visitors consistently underclub into well-protected greens. Take one more club than instinct suggests, aim for the centre, and save your aggression for the par 5s.
Facilities, Restaurant and On-Course Experience
The practice facilities cover everything a pre-round warm-up requires: a driving range, a dedicated approach practice area expanded in 2013 and 2018, and a putting green. Golf cart navigation was installed in 2014, so yardage and hazard information is available on-board throughout the round.
Every group plays with a caddie, compulsory and included in the green fee along with the cart. The caddies at King's Fields have a reputation consistent with the club's overall standard: attentive, precise on yardages, and experienced with the creek and bunker placements that catch unfamiliar visitors.
The restaurant is a genuine distinguishing feature. King's Fields is known for its authentic Chinese cuisine, a tradition shared with its sister club Isogo Country Club in Yokohama. The lunch served between the nines is more than a courtesy. It is a reason to time your round correctly and give it proper attention. The clubhouse dress code requires a jacket for men upon arrival (waived June through September), so pack accordingly.
Green Fees and Pricing for 2026
All fees below are all-inclusive: green fee, caddie, cart, locker, and taxes are bundled into a single charge. There are no hidden extras on the day.
Season Weekday Saturday Sun / Holiday Jan, Feb, Jul, Aug¥19,500¥29,500¥28,500 Mar, Sep¥21,500¥35,000¥32,000 Apr, May, Jun¥23,000¥36,000¥33,000 Oct, Nov, Dec¥24,500¥37,000¥34,500
Club rental is available at ¥4,400 for a full set and shoe rental at ¥1,650. The club has two partner hotels nearby, Ichihara Marine Hotel and Goi Grand Hotel, both offering a 10% accommodation discount for guests playing King's Fields. The course is closed only on December 31 and January 1.
Getting There from Tokyo
King's Fields is located at 377 Aramaki, Ichihara, Chiba. From central Tokyo, the drive takes approximately 60 to 70 minutes via the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line or Ken-O Expressway depending on traffic. The course is not easily accessible by public transport, so most visitors drive or arrange a transfer. Play Golf Tokyo can organise a direct pickup from your Tokyo hotel if needed.
First tee times begin at 7:30 AM from March through December (8:00 AM in January and February). Arriving 30 to 40 minutes before your tee time gives you enough time to check in, change in the locker room, and warm up before heading to the first tee.
How to Book as a Foreign Visitor
This is the detail that matters most. King's Fields requires either member accompaniment or a member introduction for all visiting golfers. It is not a walk-in course, and calling the club directly as an unknown foreign visitor is unlikely to result in a booking.
Play Golf Tokyo holds the member relationships needed to secure access to King's Fields. When you book through us, we handle the introduction, confirm your tee time, brief you on the dress code and arrival procedure, and arrange any transfers. For a course at this level, tournament-hosted, caddie-mandatory, and jacket-required in the clubhouse, that preparation is not just convenient. It is what separates a smooth day from an avoidable friction point.
King's Fields pairs well with other Chiba courses for a two or three-day golf itinerary. For context on how booking processes work across different course types in Japan, read our complete guide to booking golf in Japan as a foreign visitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreign visitors book King's Fields Golf Club directly?
Not easily. King's Fields requires member accompaniment or a member introduction for all visitor bookings. Foreign visitors are best served booking through Play Golf Tokyo, which holds the necessary member relationships to secure access and handle the reservation process in English. You can view the King's Fields course page on our site for full details.
What is the green fee at King's Fields in 2026?
All-inclusive fees (green fee, caddie, cart, locker, and tax) range from ¥19,500 on a weekday in the low season to ¥37,000 on a Saturday in peak autumn. Fees are fully bundled with no additional charges on the day beyond optional extras like club or shoe rental.
What is King's Fields Golf Club known for?
King's Fields is known for its mature woodland layout, its tournament history hosting six consecutive Hitachi 3 Tours Championships and the 44th Japan Women's Pro Golf Championship, its Chinese restaurant, and its connection to Isogo Country Club in Yokohama.
Is a jacket required at King's Fields?
Yes, men are required to wear a jacket in the clubhouse on arrival. This requirement is lifted during summer from June through September. On the course, a collared sports shirt is required. Denim, T-shirts, and trainers are not permitted at any time.
Ready to book a round at King's Fields? Play Golf Tokyo arranges the full process in English, from introduction and tee time to transfer and course briefing. View the King's Fields course page or get in touch to check availability and build a Chiba golf itinerary around your dates.
