Key facts
- South Korean golfers now account for 98% of foreign overnight visitors to Nakagawa.
- The Uguisu no Mori Golf Club and Hotel Bato's package costs around 10,000 yen.
- Foreign overnight visitors to Nakagawa town increased from 1,451 in 2023 to 17,618 in 2025.
A small Japanese town, Nakagawa, has seen a dramatic increase in foreign tourism, primarily from South Korea, due to a budget-friendly golf resort package. The Uguisu no Mori Golf Club and Hotel Bato, previously struggling with losses due to poor transport links, partnered with a Korean-affiliated company in 2023. This led to the introduction of a package deal for approximately 10,000 yen (84,700 won) that includes a round of golf, one night's lodging, and three meals. Shuttle buses to and from Narita and Ibaraki airports were also implemented to ease travel burdens. The strategy has proven successful, with the share of foreign visitors at the course rising to 60% in 2025 from 30% in 2024, and total customer numbers increasing by 30%. Consequently, foreign overnight visitors to Nakagawa town surged from 1,451 in 2023 to 17,618 in 2025, with about 98% of them being Korean. The course now plans to build a new lodging wing.