Feel the breath of Yambaru in the palm of your hand.

Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa uses five original design patterns for paper items such as room key cases and pamphlets given to guests. These design patterns were created with passion by hotel staff and designers to help guests visiting Yambaru feel the charm of this land even more. We introduce the story of their development, focusing on an interview with the two people in charge of the designs.

• Table of Contents
• A design pattern that makes Yambaru feel closer to you
• Start of design pattern creation
• An idea born from the hotel's concept: "Play on the island, connect with the Mori"
• Commitment to "Yambaru-ness"
• Communication born from design
• Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa is recommended as a base for sightseeing in northern Okinawa

A design pattern that makes Yambaru feel closer to you

Original design pattern of our hotel. From left to right: Yambaru sea, island time, Yambaru Mori, sunset, Yambaru creatures

Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa has five original design patterns, each inspired by the ocean of Yambaru , the leisurely flow of island time, the subtropical Mori of Yambaru , the warm sunset, and the creatures that live in Yambaru.

This design pattern can be seen in various places around the hotel, including the reception, guest rooms and website.

These design patterns were developed by hotel staff and designers working together in conjunction with the rebranding of the Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa in 2021. With thoughts for the guests who choose to visit Okinawa and Yambaru, and respect for Yambaru's nature, they reached completion after numerous discussions.

Start of design pattern creation

Visuals created for the rebranding in March 2022. Design patterns are interwoven.

The designers for this project were TANK Co., Ltd. producer Nakayama Nakayama and art director Hirano Hirano. We spoke to them about the production process.

"We were given the opportunity to create this design through a connection between several acquaintances of Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa and TANK Co., Ltd. From the first time we heard about the project, the image of a high-quality hotel came to mind, and we felt that it matched our vision, so we said, 'We'd love to be in charge.' Our company has experience planning and designing weddings for hotels, so we thought we could make a proposal that would satisfy them," says Hirano.

When the design work first began, he had never visited the Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa. The COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult to casually visit at the time. So how did he expand his image of Okinawa and Yambaru under these circumstances?

"We started by thinking about a motif. We came up with several images of Okinawa, and the first thing that came to mind was the abundant nature of the area, with its beautiful ocean and vibrant Mori. We also gathered information about Okinawa's history, culture, and unique ecosystem, deepening our knowledge, and we continued to consider ways to make the most of the unique characteristics of a hotel located in Yambaru," says Nakayama.

TANK Co., Ltd.https ://ta-nk.co.jp/

An idea born from the hotel's concept: "Play on the island, connect with the Mori"

"Island Time" Design Pattern

"Sunset" design pattern

Hirano says that when creating the design, "the most important thing is to stick to the concept." The key point in deciding on the direction of the design was that the hotel representatives had given a thorough explanation of the Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa's concept of "LOVE OKINAWA DISCOVER YAMBARU."

"As I was thinking about Okinawa and interpreting the hotel's concept, I realized that one of Okinawa's great characteristics is not just what you can see, but also the time you spend relaxing at the hotel, the laid-back atmosphere that is unique to the island," says Hirano.

This is how the "Island Time" design pattern was born. When many people visit Okinawa, they seek peace of mind and a sense of relaxation, and hotels are chosen as a place where they can experience this. The serene flow of time on the island has been incorporated into a smooth, timeless design.

"Furthermore, we thought that among the things that cannot be seen, there might also be 'memories of travel.' For example, memories of the beauty of the sunset sinking into the horizon. In our hectic daily lives, it's hard to find time to gaze at the sunset, but such scenery from travel destinations remains as precious memories. We came up with a design for a sunset with a warm atmosphere, so that the memories of those who have visited Okinawa could also be captured." (Nakayama)

"Before we started to create the design, we spent time discussing in depth what the appeal of Okinawa is and what kind of place Yambaru is, and I feel that this allowed us to get to the heart of the matter. And because the hotel concept was firmly established, we were able to focus on one thing," says Hirano.

Commitment to "Yambaru-ness"

"Yambaru Sea" design pattern

From the left, the design patterns for "Yambaru Mori" and "Yambaru Creatures"

When most people hear the word Okinawa, they probably think of beautiful ocean scenes. This design pattern also includes a sea motif, of course. However, the original ocean design was slightly different from the final product.

"At first, I proposed a design based on the theme of the ocean, with a light emerald green as the base color. This was the color I thought of when thinking of the ocean in the Nankoku. However, the hotel staff told me that the color of the ocean in Yambaru is a deeper blue, which surprised me. It was clear to me that everyone at the hotel really understands and loves Yambaru," says Nakayama.

The ocean in Yambaru is extremely deep in many places immediately after the reef, so the contrast between white and navy blue is stronger than in the Nanbu, and the sea is a powerful deep blue. After hearing this explanation from the hotel, we decided to use navy blue instead of emerald green, and completed the design to express the strength of the waves.

The design patterns for "Yambaru Mori" and "Yambaru Creatures" also incorporate a commitment to the essence of Yambaru. "Yambaru Mori" expresses the dynamic trees and vines that are unique to the subtropics, intertwining with each other. Perhaps it also captures the colors of the trees that you feel when you enter the Mori. "Yambaru Creatures" was designed based on the colors of the Okinawa Rail. After observing photographs of actual Okinawa Rails, the unique body color of the Okinawa Rail and the distinctive red color of its legs were mixed in to express the beauty of the creatures.

Communication born from design

The design pattern, which was completed after close communication between TANK Corporation and the Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa, is currently being used in a variety of tools to welcome guests. Mr. Kinjo and Mr. Anesaki of the Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa, who were in charge of developing the design pattern, had this to say:

"When we explain the meaning of the design to customers at the front desk when handing them their card keys, they are very happy. It seems that the design patterns are leading to new forms of communication with customers. The five different designs are used in various places, and when viewed as a whole, they match the image of the hotel, so I think customers will find them very comfortable," says Kinjo.

The hotel's original merchandise features the "sunset" design from its original pattern.

"Yambaru was just registered as a World Natural Heritage Site, and its charms are gradually becoming known. We hope that by being surrounded by nature and images of Yambaru during your stay at our hotel, you will gain a deeper understanding of Yambaru ," says Anesaki.

Yambaru with a variety of attractions, from visible things like the sea and Mori to intangible things like time and memories. In its role as a gateway to the region, the hotel group is implementing a "co-creation hotel" strategy, which involves not only local residents but also a diverse range of related people, including those with roots in the area, people traveling for work, and businesses, to share the hotel's location, functions, and network of people and create new attractions for the region.

Although the design patterns introduced here are merely small details, they will continue to be used in the future to connect with the charm of Yambaru and help the hotel remain rooted in the local community.

Paper bags featuring the designs of "sunset" and "time"

The hotel's original blend coffee bags, made with Okinawa Prefecture coffee beans, feature the "Yambaru Mori " design.

Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa is recommended as a base for sightseeing in northern Okinawa

The Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa completed a three-year comprehensive renovation in April 2024.
The hotel's pool and spa are of course attractive, but it also offers bed-sharing, a kids' space and pool, and a universal room, making it a comfortable hotel for guests of all ages. It also has easy access to JUNGLIA Okinawa , which is opening in northern Okinawa , and Yambaru Kunitachi Park, making it an easy base for sightseeing in Okinawa, so be sure to use it when you visit Okinawa.

Book Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa

JUNGLIAOKINAWA official hotel【Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Sp...

1490-1 Kise, Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, 9050026

Rebranded with the concept of "LOVE OKINAWA DISCOVER YAMBARU" . The open lobby atrium is full of greenery reminiscent of the Mori of Yambaru . The spacious rooms over 44m2 and the 170m pool on the hill facing the sea are overwhelming in scale. Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa is the official hotel of JUNGLIA OKINAWA , located in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture .