5 Recommended Guesthouses in Okinawa

1. Guesthouse Hanahana

Located in Miyako Island, a spot that is known for snorkeling and scuba diving thanks to its azure waters and white sandy beaches that anyone has come to expect from Japan’s southern region, Guesthouse Hanahana caters to the more discriminating type of adults. Its vast property that measures approximately 700sq.m. is filled with a Hawaiian vibe and can accommodate all kinds of guests, from single women who come to stay alone or families with children. Here, you can relax in the expansive garden that is covered in grass, or strike up a conversation with other staying guests in the huge Yuntaku (meaning “talk” in Okinawa dialect) Room that is about 55-sq.m. big. The rooms at this guesthouse are made up of the Twin Room (rates start at 2,777 JPY (excl. tax) for one night) that has two cute single beds inside, and the private Ofuton no Heya (room with Japanese-style bedding) (rates start at 2,777 JPY (excl. tax) in another building. This may be a guesthouse, but it is definitely a place where you can properly rest in your own private space.

2. Guesthouse Emix Ishigakijima

Guesthouse Emix Ishigakijima is located in a prime spot that is just a 4-minute walk from Rito Terminal at the heart of Ishigaki Island that is famous for its white sandy beaches and coral reefs. Here, you will be able to wile away your time in the island inside the kitchen where you can have “sanpin-cha” (jasmine tea in Okinawa) for free, within the confines of the spacious living room, or on the expansive rooftop where you can use the hammocks and barbecue set for free. There are four types of guestrooms available in this place, including the Dormitory for Men or Women (rate starts at 1,500 JPY per night) and the Japanese-Style Single Room (5,000 JPY per room) with tatami mat floors where a maximum of three guests can stay. They offer discounted rates during winter from November until late March, so you should check them out.

3. Akachichi Guesthouse

Located about 1.5 hours away from Naha Airport by car, Akachichi Guesthouse can be found near Cape Maeda, which is popular for its “Blue Cave.” Its name “Akachichi” means “daybreak” in the Okinawa dialect, and it was given by its husband-and-wife owners who love the quiet and calm moments just before the sun rises in the morning. The interior of this guesthouse is decorated in a simple design with an Asian flair, allowing guests to spend a relaxing time while immersed in the daily life of the people in the village. Only one type of room is available in this guesthouse: the chic and low-key Twin Room (rates start at 7,500 JPY (incl. tax)) that can fit two people. Meanwhile, the vegetable-oriented breakfast courses that are served here, which use local ingredients, come in Japanese and Western styles that change every day. You can even have a picnic-style breakfast in a basket, a luxury that you won’t find in other guesthouses. Your energy for the trip will surely be charged with that kind of breakfast!

4. Nakijin Guesthouse Musubiya

Situated about an hour and 50 minutes from Naha by car via the Okinawa Expressway, Nakijin Guesthouse Musubiya is a place that was built along the shores of Motobu in Kunigami, where the famous Churaumi Aquarium and the Nakijin-gusuku Castle can be found. Here, you can go to the terrace and relax, ignoring the passing of time, while enjoying the beautiful sea and the sounds of the waves. Taking an afternoon nap in one of the hammocks is recommended, too. Its guestrooms are composed of the Dormitory (mixed men and women, with rates starting at 2,200 JPY per night) in the large Yuntaku Room that measures about 90sq.m., and the Private Room (3,500 JPY per night) that either comes with Japanese-style bedding or a bed. There is also a Kids’ Room, something that will surely make parents who come with their kids very glad, and a kitchen with a view of the ocean. The bicycles they have are yours to use for free, too, so how about exploring the surroundings on a whim?

5. Guesthouse Amakara Okinawa

Guesthouse Amakara Okinawa is a quaint pension-type place located in a tranquil community in Nago in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa, with the Haneji Inland Sea spread right in front of the property. You can get a panoramic view of the beautiful sea from the rooftop, and you can do that while enjoying the Nago specialty Agu Pork Barbecue Set (2,500 JPY). Here, there are three types of room available, including the Japanese-style room (rates start at 3,300 JPY per person, per room) with tatami mat flooring and a balcony, and can fit up to two persons, and the Western-style room (rates start at 4,500 JPY per person, per room) with a rooftop and balcony, and can fit up to four persons. You’ll surely be happy to know that these rooms come with a bathroom where you can relax while soaking in hot water in the tub.

The guesthouses in this list are all places where you can relax in peace while enveloped in the true Okinawa atmosphere. Please enjoy staying at any of these laid-back spots!