Unzen Golf Ground

Unzen Golf Ground is Japan's oldest public golf course, opened in 1913 and predated only by Kobe Golf Club (1903). Located at 750 meters elevation in the foothills of Mount Unzen within Japan's first national park (designated 1934), the course features a hillside layout with natural undulations created by hand construction without modern machinery. This integration with natural terrain creates a historically significant course that maintains its original character across changing seasons.

The course is situated three minutes by car from the hot spring town, offering cool summer conditions and scenic views year-round. A formal nine-hole short course is also available. The championship layout hosts the annual Unzen International Golf Tournament, traditionally held in August but relocated to October beginning in 2026. The facility has been recognized as a modernization industrial heritage site by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, acknowledging its historical significance in Japan's industrial development and cultural preservation.