HOSHINOYA Okinawa Travel Report: Finding Serenity in the Slow Pace of Time

• Table of Contents
• The Accommodation Concept : “Staying in a Gusuku Residence”
• A Reception Area making you feel like you are in the the deep sea Like You’ve Descended Into the Deep Sea
• Experience: Take a Break With Okinawan Traditional Bukubuku Tea While Gazing at the Ocean
• Four Types of Guest Rooms: Enjoy a Relaxing Time With an Ocean View
• An Infinity Pool Where You Can Feel the Okinawan Sky and Sea
• Experience: Immerse Yourself in the Island Rhythm of Ryukyu at Yoi no Za
• Ryukyu Gastronomia ~Bellezza~ A course using Okinawan Ingredients and Italian Cooking Methods
• Experience: Start Your Day Feeling Refreshed With Morning Deep Breathing
• Enjoy an Elegant Morning Meal in the Dining Area Overlooking the Sea
• Experience: Take a Scenic Horse Ride Along the Seaside
• Have a Wonderful Time at HOSHINOYA Okinawa, Where You Can Experience a Timeless Retreat

The Accommodation Concept : “Staying in a Gusuku Residence”

"Gusuku" is a Ryukyu word meaning "castle." HOSHINOYA Okinawa, located in Yomitan Village, was born from the idea of "What if there was a Gusuku (castle) here?".

About an hour's drive from Naha City, Yomitan Village is located on a peninsula jutting out into the East China Sea in central Okinawa Prefecture. The area is famous for its pristine coastline and Okinawa's traditional tableware, Yachimun. As we passed through the sugarcane fields and headed toward the coast, the gray walls surrounding HOSHINOYA Okinawa came into view.

"The pattern on this wall was inspired by Yuntanza Hanaui, Yomitan Village’s traditional fabric, and it represents longevity, wealth, and prosperity of descendants," explained the staff member, who greeted us with a smile.

The hotel staff's uniforms are based on the formal wear worn by the daughters of warriors during the Ryukyu Dynasty. The exotic design is so beautiful that it transports you back in time to the Ryukyu Kingdom.

A Reception Area making you feel like you are in the the deep sea Like You’ve Descended Into the Deep Sea

When I walked to the reception to check in, a deep-sea panorama unfolded before me!

In stark contrast to the bright scenery outside with tropical flowers typical of Okinawa, the deep blue and tranquil space is perfectly described with the word "extraordinary". The deep-hued walls, created by applying five layers of blue plaster, the rays of light streaming in through the skylight, and the pillars cut like coral enhance the feeling of being at the bottom of the ocean. It's almost as if you’ve stepped into another world.

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Experience: Take a Break With Okinawan Traditional Bukubuku Tea While Gazing at the Ocean

HOSHINOYA Okinawa is surrounded by gusuku "castle" walls  stretching for about one kilometer. In addition to guest rooms, it has a gathering hall (pool/front desk/library/shop), dining area, spa, and dojo, where you can enjoy a variety of activities.

After checking in, leave your luggage at the front desk and head to the dojo to experience Okinawa's unique Bukubuku Tea (no reservation required, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., free).

Once you have chosen your favorite Makai bowl, a type of pottery from Okinawa, a staff member will use a large bamboo tea whisk to add sanpin-cha (Jasmine tea) to boiled rice water before stirring. The traditional etiquette is to stir while having one knee raised. It’s very picturesque!

While listening to the satisfying rattling sounds, you will start to see bubbles rising. Originally, Bukubuku tea was given to fishers out at sea. The bubbles on top of the tea represent rice and a good catch. Additionally, the bubbles have the effect of filling you up.

When I drank the Bukubuku tea, the fizzy bubbles melted in my mouth, and the refreshing taste of the sanpin-cha tea alongside the fragrant peanuts on top of the foam all combined to relieve my travel fatigue. The chinsuko (Okinawan biscuit) that came with it also had a very refined taste. This is the wonderful hospitality typical of Hoshino Resorts, where you can experience the culture unique to the area!

In addition to the Bukubuku tea experience, you can try playing the sanshin, Okinawa’s traditional musical instrument, or try Ryukyu karate and Ryukyu dance at the dojo. It's great to experience various aspects of Okinawan culture without leaving the hotel!

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Four Types of Guest Rooms: Enjoy a Relaxing Time With an Ocean View

Next, we will introduce the guest rooms at HOSHINOYA Okinawa.

There are four types of guest rooms: Haru, which features a terrace living room that makes you feel like you're at the beach; Fushi, which has a spacious sunken kotatsu-style sofa; Tin Twin, which is recommended for small groups; and Tida (only four rooms), a premium suite with a 20-meter-long private pool. All rooms require a minimum stay of two nights.

All 100 guest rooms, located on the lower floors up to the second floor, have oceanfront views of the sea stretching out before you. This allows guests to relax in a private space that feels more like an entire villa rental than a hotel.

The Doma Dining room, with its large wooden table, is the perfect space for socializing. You can enjoy conversations and meals while watching the ocean, which changes in appearance depending on the time of day. (HOSHINOYA Okinawa also offers a wide range of room service options, including a gathering service where you can savor various menus, including Japanese and Western cuisine.)

The wallpaper in the bedroom is inspired by Ryukyu Bingata, a traditional Okinawan dyeing technique and textile. Upon closer inspection, it is interesting to see stories of animals such as cats and goats firing yachimun pottery and having drinking parties.

The rooms also come equipped with flashlights useful for walking around at night, beach sandals convenient for walking around the hotel and on the beach, as well as original HOSHINOYA Okinawa face masks and bath salts, making your stay feel like you're living by the sea.

The room I stayed in this time was Haru. The living room, bathroom, and bedroom were all wonderful. But the best part was the terrace living room where you can relax on a large sofa while gazing at the ocean.

The horizon stretching out before your eyes, the sound of gentle waves, the chirping of birds, and a pleasant breeze... Even without doing anything, it’ll feel like you are having a luxurious and fulfilling time. Hoshinoya’s brand concept is "DEEPLY IMAGINED. DEEPLY IMMERSIVE." I truly felt that within these Gusuku walls, a rich and profound time flowed, different from the present, a time of the Ryukyu Kingdom era.

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An Infinity Pool Where You Can Feel the Okinawan Sky and Sea

Four pool areas of different depths are combined like a puzzle. You can enjoy the changes in their beauty depending on the time of day. Visitors can swim to their heart's content in the deeper areas or relax with a book in the shallow areas.

Experience: Immerse Yourself in the Island Rhythm of Ryukyu at Yoi no Za

From 18:30 to 18:50, the "Evening Session" begins, where you can enjoy the sounds of the sanshin and demonstrations of Ryukyu karate. With the beautiful nature of Okinawa as a backdrop, you'll feel the richness of Okinawan culture while listening to the gorgeous sounds of the sanshin and watching the powerful karate performance.

Another great thing is that you can also listen to sanshin performances at night during the "Evening Cool-Down Night Pool" (May 15th to August 31st in 2024, 21:00-22:00). 

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Ryukyu Gastronomia ~Bellezza~ A course using Okinawan Ingredients and Italian Cooking Methods

End the day with a delicious dinner. In the hotel dining area, you can enjoy the Ryukyu Gastronomia Bellezza dinner course, which combines Okinawan ingredients with Italian cooking techniques.

Okinawa has had a strong tradition of food being medicine since the Ryukyu Kingdom era. The dishes are made with nutritious Okinawan ingredients but using Italian cooking techniques, creating an exquisite taste. It's also interesting that each dish is named after a nutrient, such as "fiber," "vitamin," or "protein." 

The Taimo Gnocchi Caviar, served as "mineral," was a wonderful dish that looked and tasted amazing. A heated white dish with a wavy design was placed on a golden underplate that resembled undersea foam. In the center was gnocchi topped with caviar. The combination of the rich, complex caviar flavor and the Taimo gnocchi's mild flavor was superb.

The "protein" dish with beef fillet wrapped in shell ginger is irresistible with spicy roasted shell ginger leaves and moist, tender meat. Each dish allowed me to experience Okinawa with all five senses, leaving me feeling full in my heart and stomach.

Other dinner options at HOSHINOYA Okinawa include the Gathering Service (4 p.m.-7 p.m., reservations required by 5 p.m. that day), where chefs prepare your meal and deliver it to your room. The OLU Grill (5 p.m.-9 p.m., reservations required) is located inside the adjacent Hoshino Resorts BANTA CAFE, where you can enjoy authentic grilled food. It might be a good idea to try different options on your first and second nights.

Experience: Start Your Day Feeling Refreshed With Morning Deep Breathing

"Morning Deep Breathing Exercises" (maximum 15 people, no reservation required, free) are held at the dojo every morning from 7 a.m. Breathing and stretching exercises based on Ryukyu karate forms will slowly awaken your mind and body.

In this program, you will relax your body and wake up in the fresh morning air with the ocean in front of you. The program involves various stretches based on a breathing technique that involves exhaling for 8 seconds and inhaling for 4 seconds. It was a little difficult at first, but you will gradually feel more relaxed as you continue.

The herbal tea you can enjoy after the program is also delicious, making you feel very fulfilled from the morning.

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Enjoy an Elegant Morning Meal in the Dining Area Overlooking the Sea

Head to the dining room for breakfast once your mind and body are awake. You can choose from two types of breakfast available here: Ryukyu Breakfast and Sicilian Breakfast. (There is also an in-dining breakfast plan that you can enjoy in your room.)

The Ryukyu Breakfast features a variety of Okinawan dishes, including fresh Ryukyu salad, rafute (braised pork belly), and jushi (seasoned rice). The Sicilian Breakfast features a variety of bread, poached eggs, and Sicilian salad. It’s hard to decide which one to choose. The fresh juice of your choice is also delicious, and I felt very satisfied from the morning.

Experience: Take a Scenic Horse Ride Along the Seaside

A popular activity at HOSHINOYA Okinawa is the Morning Horse Riding. Participants gather at 9:00 in the morning, receive a lecture from the staff on how to sit on a horse, then walk and hold the reins before it's time to ride!

At first, I was surprised at how high I was seated on a horse. But by the time we reached the beach, I was completely captivated by the beauty of the scenery from the height of the horse and the pleasant rocking sensation of riding on horseback.

It's also interesting to notice each horse’s personality, such as "This horse likes to walk leisurely" or "This one is a big eater, so I'll have to hold the reins tightly." After returning to the meeting point, you'll feed the horses before the program ends.

I’ve already made many wonderful memories from just a few hours in the morning. These include taking a deep breath in the dojo, having breakfast, and going horseback riding. Each and every moment was memorable.

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Have a Wonderful Time at HOSHINOYA Okinawa, Where You Can Experience a Timeless Retreat

This accommodation features a fantastic pool, oceanfront rooms, various programs that allow you to experience Okinawan culture, and an array of delicious cuisine. HOSHINOYA Okinawa has many charms, but what I felt was most unique was the "relaxed, luxurious time spent doing nothing" that can only be experienced here.

“Gusuku” means castle, but it is also a special place where important things are surrounded by stone walls, like a sacred area or a village. Indeed, time flows differently at HOSHINOYA Okinawa from outside the walls. Why not make a lifetime memory with an unforgettable and enjoyable trip to HOSHINOYA Okinawa? 

Book from the official website

When booking at HOSHINOYA Okinawa, we recommend booking through their official website, where you can make reservations at the cheapest price.

A stay is a minimum of two nights, so it might be ideal to relax at the hotel on the first day, explore Yomitan Village on the second day, and enjoy Naha on the third night.

We also recommend avoiding popular seasons like Golden Week and the summer vacation season. It's better to book a reservation during the off-season. The accommodation is more reasonably priced than in the on-season, and flights are often cheaper. Okinawa is a place where you can swim in the ocean for two-thirds of the year, so be sure to go during the off-season or at a different time of year!

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