4-Star Hotels in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

My 6-year-old daughter and I stayed here for two nights out of our five-night trip to Okinawa. After staying at R Hotel (name withheld) in Itoman City, I was quite disappointed with this hotel. **Pool:** The tiles in the lazy river were peeling off in places and scattered around the poolside, which felt dangerous. The floor of the lazy river also had peeling sections where my foot got stuck, causing pain. On the first day, I saw a plaster on the poolside, and it was still there on the second day, which was unpleasant. Don't they clean or repair things? Also, the blue towels for the pool were limited to one per person per day and couldn't be exchanged, which was a stark contrast to R Hotel. The large slides were all a lot of fun, though. **Public Bath:** There were no small, thin towels typically used in baths, so everyone was walking around naked between the bathing area and the changing room, making the changing room floor sticky. **Laundry:** I didn't use it but peeked inside. It was an old-fashioned twin-tub washer, and people were waiting in line in the heat, which looked difficult. I thought it would be much more convenient if there was a system to check machine availability from the room. **Staff:** The gentleman with glasses was very kind and made a good impression. However, the woman I spoke to when I called the front desk from my room for an errand was very unhelpful and kept me on hold for about a minute. (I wanted to borrow a clothes drying rack, but she didn't seem to understand what a clothes drying rack was). **Breakfast Venue:** Being able to book in advance via smartphone made it very smooth without having to wait in front of the venue. The wet wipe dispenser had a huge queue. Perhaps individual packaged wet wipes would be a better option? **Drink and Snack Service:** This was very good, but the cocoa and café latte were awful. I had stayed at this facility before it became Grand Mercure. Even with the renovation and cleaner look, the number of elevators hasn't changed, and they were always crowded. Also, signs of aging are visible in various places. My daughter loved the pool, so I might stay here again if she wishes, but please address these issues.

The check in was very easy, as was finding the location along of the villa on the beach. The condo/villa is absolutely stunning with a view of the ocean that cannot be beat. We appreciated the gorgeous sunsets, the pool and soaking tub on the 2nd floor balcony, and the outstanding views of the beach and island (Yojima) in the distance. The beds were some of the most comfortable we slept in while in Japan. We deeply appreciated the amenities - breakfast and food delivery (sausages, veggies, fresh bread, eggs and drinks) upon arrival, and found the layout of the house was fantastic for our family of 5. With two sleeping areas downstairs (kids), and an upstairs master bedroom (parents), we had MORE than enough space. One thing we would have liked about the location description online is an understanding that there is VERY little near by in terms of restaurants, convenience stores, etc. Depending on the weather, not much is walkable within 15-20 minutes. We ate at the Taco Rice restaurant, and walked 30 minutes to a local supermarket, and we drove the other places we needed to go. Also, the general impression we got from the website was that you can access the beach directly from the villa - sort of a, ”walk out to the sand” idea. You cannot. There is a 6-foot wall that separates the bottom floor of the villa with the actual beach area (needed for water level rising during storms, we get that :))... but there is no way down without jumping, nor a path to the beach (from our #3/C Villa, at least). We ended up jumping down the retaining wall using their small gate, walking around to a local business area that had a clear path, and accessing the beach that way. This was fine, don't get me wrong. Also, while the view is spectacular (and it really is), there is a TON of rebar from a former construction project (unfinished, we asked around) that sticks up out of the ocean at low, or extremely low tide (both of which we experienced while visiting - the extremely low tide happens each new/full moon, we were told). When this occurs, the beach stretches for 550 yards. We were able to ”walk and explore” (careful of course of the coral!), but for 1.5 days, we had a view of tons and tons of rebar sticking straight out of the sand, that stretched for 100s of yards in each direction. Again, this did not ruin anything, but it would be nice to know when booking a pricey room. I think the views are outstanding, given the timing you take the photo :) Overall, we would likely not stay again for the price, but it was a relaxing and splurge-y way to get that Okinawa sunset in at the end of long trip (5 weeks) in Japan. We are grateful for this adventure and my shared experience in this review is simply to help families understand more about the property. We traveled in mid-July. Thank you!

The lobby looks good, but the hotel lacks attention to detail. **Service:** Check-in was handled by an English-speaking Indian lady. Upon arrival, I received a four-piece Pola amenity set, and I could pick up a comb and toothbrush at the front desk. The comb was of good quality, which was a nice touch. Since I arrived late and still wanted to go out, I didn't get a chance to use the hot spring (onsen). **Facilities:** It was a triple room, and as expected for a city hotel in Japan, it was quite small. My 24-inch suitcase couldn't be fully opened. There were some stains on the sofa by the window, and as other reviews mentioned, the toilet had a bad odor. The bathroom counter was also small. I won't be booking this place again.

Review of Onna Resort, Okinawa About me: I’m a frequent flyer to Japan and a long-time fan of staying at villas and resorts across the country. I enjoy discovering different accommodations across Japan. This time, I chose Onna Resort for a relaxing group trip. ⸻ 👍 What I liked: • Spacious resort– Very roomy and comfortable, easily fits 7–8 people. Perfect for families or groups of friends. • Clean and well-maintained – The entire resort was spotless and felt well cared for. • View exactly as shown in photos – Stunning ocean view that matches the listing. Great for enjoying sunrise and sunset. • Beach nearby – A beach is within walking distance. While it may not be the best in Okinawa, it’s still nice for a stroll or quick swim. • Washer and dryer setup – Includes both a washer-dryer combo and a separate dryer, which is especially handy for drying towels and clothes after swimming. • Well-equipped kitchen – Good selection of cookware and appliances for preparing meals. • Private and quiet surroundings – Peaceful setting with no disturbance from other guests. ⸻ 👎 What could be improved: • Inconsistent check-in information – The email offered early check-in, and a staff member via video call said I could check in at 2pm. But when I arrived, another staff said it was 3pm. This communication gap should be addressed. • Missing basic items – No cups or glasses were provided, obviously an oversight by the cleaning staff. • Limited towel supply – Towels are provided strictly based on headcount. Given the proximity to the beach, it would be more convenient to offer a few extra towels without needing to ask. • Limited Coffee Supply - The resort provides coffee bags based on headcount as well, which was insufficient for guests who consume two or three cups daily. A more generous and considerate coffee supply would enhance the experience. • Insufficient tableware – Only two large plates were provided. It would be more practical to include additional small dishes, rice bowls, and condiment plates (e.g. for soy sauce or wasabi), especially for guests who plan to cook. • Lack of basic cooking ingredients – It would be helpful if staple items like cooking oil, salt, and pepper were provided to make meal preparation more convenient. • No power outlets near beds – Most sockets were located low on the wall and away from sleeping areas, making it inconvenient to charge phones or devices overnight. • Weak Wi-Fi signal in places – Internet connection was spotty in some areas of the villa, although it offers several wifi spots within the resort, but still weak

I stayed here for the first two nights of my Okinawa trip and liked it so much that I extended my stay for another two nights. This short review is about the extended stay. Ms. Yamasato at the front desk helped me with the extension. She was very thoughtful and asked if we'd be okay with the air conditioning being serviced tomorrow afternoon, meaning we couldn't go back to the room for an afternoon nap. I said yes. After we finished the paperwork, Ms. Yamasato was already waiting for us at the elevator to tell us that the AC repair time had changed. I was really touched by her meticulous service. I originally planned to extend for two more nights, but for some reason, the price on Trip.com kept getting higher with each extension. The second extension for the same room was ¥950, including breakfast. So I decided to move to another hotel. My wife also checked the price on Trip.com, and it was ¥660, including breakfast, for the same standard room.

An absolutely delightful choice! The room was spacious, with a separate wet and dry area in the bathroom, a tatami zone, a sofa and coffee table, and a large balcony (which even had a patch of soil for planting!). The hotel's outdoor environment is fantastic, featuring a semi-indoor pool, an outdoor infinity pool, and a specially designated beach swimming area. It’s an amazing experience when the weather is good. Since we arrived just before a typhoon, we were lucky enough to book the last snorkeling trip before it hit (you're supposed to book by 4 PM the day before, but the staff probably offered it because all offshore activities were canceled for the next day). Snorkeling was 6000 JPY per person, and they provided masks, snorkels, fins, and life vests. However, they really didn't teach anything else [facepalm emoji]. But when the two guides came into the water to show the kids sea cucumbers and played underwater, hearing their hearty laughter, I quickly let it go. They probably assumed everyone knew how to do it naturally [dog head emoji]. The kids could stay on the floating board, so the safety factor was quite high. There were 7 of us in total for this session, which lasted from 1 PM to just before 2 PM. For beginners, it was a pretty good experience. The next day, due to the typhoon, all facilities except the semi-indoor pool were closed. We booked the limousine bus at the front desk; they helped us purchase tickets, which were cash-only. It goes directly from the hotel to Naha Bus Terminal or the airport, with departures around 9 AM and at 11:31 AM. It took about an hour to get back to the bus terminal, which was much faster than the OAS bus we took on arrival. Overall, extremely satisfied!

An absolutely amazing new hotel! The location is fantastic. Even without a car, you can take the airport bus, and in about 50 minutes, you'll reach American Village. From the bus stop, it's just a 5-minute walk. The surrounding area is incredibly convenient, with Aeon Mall, famous sushi restaurants, ramen shops, 100-yen stores, Starbucks, and Okinawan cuisine all nearby. The hotel's location is also beautiful and easily visible. I've stayed in hotels in Naha city before and really liked them, but this new opening in American Village has completely won us over. The rooms are incredibly spacious and grand, featuring a washer/dryer combo, a kitchen, a large refrigerator, a microwave, plus a big living room and a balcony. The front desk staff and cleaning crew are all very friendly and professional. If you're planning to visit the central part of Okinawa, you absolutely must come here to experience this unique apartment-style hotel. Spread your luggage out however you like; the space is so free and comfortable. A must-stay!!

The hotel is located on Kouri Island, with a very nice view of Kouri Bridge. The room is large and equipped with cooking utensils. It can accommodate many people. The cleaning time was very random and did not follow the schedule, and the hotel staff came into the room to clean without prior notice. I was a bit dissatisfied. Since I had notified the hotel through Trip.com before departure that I would arrive very late, but when I arrived, I found that the front desk was closed, and there was no prior notice from Trip.com or the hotel about the key collection arrangements, which made my group very panic. Fortunately, I found Trip.com customer service to find the password. Thank you to the customer service and compensation for helping me handle it that day.

The hotel is right next to the Yui Rail Tsubogawa Station, with a FamilyMart downstairs and Don Quijote just a 5-minute walk away. It's super convenient for shopping, whether for a quick stop or a half-month's worth of groceries! The room was clean and comfortable. This time, I brought two kids, and the hotel even provided amenities for children, especially the super cute slippers!

Checked in on the 17th floor. The hotel is very new. We checked in at 3 PM, and it was a sunny day, so we had a direct view of the incredibly blue Pacific Ocean – absolutely stunning. The room itself felt a bit smaller than the stated square footage, but it was very clean. The breakfast buffet was excellent and definitely worth it. If you value a good breakfast, this place is a must-go. It's also very close to the port, making it easy to walk and take a boat out to sea. There's a 24-hour supermarket nearby too.