Takarazuka city sits just 25 kilometers northwest of Osaka. Famous for the Takarazuka Revue, an all-female musical theatre, this affluent city is one of my favorite destinations in Japan. As much as I enjoy Osaka, staying in Takarazuka is always a nice respite and makes the journey to the course the next day a little shorter. The Takarazuka course is one of three courses Taiheiyo Club owns in the Kansai region and is a layout that I enjoy and highly recommend.

Taiheiyo Takarazuka is a highland course that was completed in 2001 by course designer Tomikatsu Kato and redesigned more recently by Norio Honma. The Par 72 course plays just under 7,000 yards from the back tees and has plenty of tee boxes available for all handicaps. Considering the mountainous landscape that surrounds the course it is actually not overly hilly. I always think it is a nice walk if you want to burn a few calories. The Korai fairways provide beautiful playing surfaces and the rolling greens are both interesting and fast. One of the features of this course is each hole is quite separate from the rest so you will rarely see another group except for those in front of you. The course is a mix of pretty par 3 holes, mid-length par 4 holes, and Par 5 holes that although long on the scorecard, are all a definite birdie chance after a good drive.

The best view on the course is the tee box of the iconic 9th. On a clear day both Mt Mikura and Mt Sugino can easily be seen from the teeing ground so ask your caddie to take a photo of you with the mountains as the backdrop. Some of my favorite holes at Takarazuka are the 5th the 6th. The 5th is only 360 yards from the black tee but rates as the most difficult on the course. The tee shot is daunting as you hit over a gully onto a small fairway that sits a little above you. The fairway is surrounded by jungle and a poorly struck tee shot often requires a reload. The shot into the green is very pretty but is well protected by a deep trap in the front of the green. The 6th is a nicely designed, heavily bunkered mid-length Par 3. Apart from the 9th it's the most photographed hole on the course and requires a great shot to hold the undulating green. Something worth noting is the miniature Japanese pine trees that are dotted around the property.

The break of an hour break in between each nine at Takarazuka allows you to try something quite special. Trust me on this one and order the `Japanese Gozen’ off the menu. It's a mixture of all the best Japanese dishes including sashimi, tempura, and Japanese style beef. Either a glass of white wine or a large Asahi beer goes perfectly with this delicious meal that will have you energized for the back 9.

I do think you should consider staying the night before your game in Takarazuka city. Hotel Wakamizu is a terrific ryokan style hotel in the center of town. It has both traditional Japanese tatami mats and western-style bedrooms and the onsen is quite the treat. Having traditional Japanese cuisine in the hotel restaurant as you gaze over the Mako river is a really nice way to spend an evening. I have stayed in the hotel a few times and just adore it. Takarazuka township is a lovely place to take a wander around and the shopping area over the river towards the train station is worth a gander. Takarazuka city is memorable and authentically Japanese. At night when the lights come on is when the city really shines.