Posted by Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima are some of the most well-known places to visit in Japan — but beyond these ultra-modern or historical cities, what many tourists don’t know is that Japan is also home to some of the most stunning tropical islands in the world.
Okinawa is Japan’s southern most prefecture, and is a tropical paradise unlike any other. With pristine white sand beaches, clear blue water and sunshine, Okinawa is a destination you should consider if you are after some rest and relaxation.
We recently took a trip to Miyako-jima — an island within the Okinawa prefecture — staying at Hilton’s remote Okinawa Miyako island Resort. Read on to find out if this hotel is worth a visit.
Ratings rundown
| Accessibility | 8/10 |
| Ambiance | 8.5/10 |
| Accommodation | 7.5/10 |
| Pool(s) | 8.5/10 |
| Beach | 7.5/10 |
| Food and Drink | 8/10 |
| Facilities | 8/10 |
| Service | 7/10 |
| Overall % | 79% |
Accessibility
Getting to Miyako-jima will require taking at least one or two flights. We took a two hour flight from Tokyo Haneda to Okinawa (Naha airport) and then another one hour flight to reach Miyako-jima. However, once you arrive on the island, getting to the hotel is a breeze, with a shuttle bus running hourly from the airport to the hotel. The journey by bus only takes 10 minutes, so you get to the hotel pretty soon after landing.
Accessibility rating: 8/10
Ambiance
The first thing you will see when you arrive at the hotel are the pools and beach — setting the tone for a relaxing and serene holiday. Inside the hotel is airy and bright, with natural materials and blue ornaments to create the vibe of true island living.
Ambiance rating: 8.5/10
Accommodation
The hotel has a choice of different rooms and suites to choose from — we stayed in a twin deluxe room with a sunset view.
Accommodation highlights
- View: the room had a great view of the pools and ocean, and with the balcony it meant you could enjoy the sunset from the peace and quiet of your own room
- Bedding: the bed was super comfortable with soft mattress and good quality sheets
- Japanese-style bathroom: the bathroom is designed in the traditional Japanese way, with a separate shower and bath wet room — great for ultimate relaxation
Accommodation lowlights
- Simple design: if we had to point out one thing we didn’t like so much about this room, it would have to be its lack of a “wow” factor. While the room was super functional, clean and comfortable it was quite simple and plain — so do keep this in mind if you are someone who prefers more extravagance from your hotel room.
Accommodation rating: 7.5/10
Pool(s)
The hotel has quite a few different outdoor pools, surrounded by sunbeds and cabanas (the cabanas are rented on a first come first serve basis). The pools are well-maintained and perfect for families.
If you want some more peace and quiet, there is an indoor pool that connects to a smaller outdoor pool, which is ideal for some serenity and relaxation.
Food and drink is available pool-side, but you will need to order at a small building, rather than waiters coming round to take your order. Filter water is also complimentary throughout the day.
Pool rating: 8.5/10
Beach
The beach is a very short walk from the pool, and was not very busy when we visited, with only a few guests staying at the Hilton there.
The water is surprisingly warm, but was not as blue as we were expecting — it can be a little stony towards the shore but as you get more into the sea the sand is super soft, making it perfect to relax in.
Beach rating: 7.5/10
Food and Drink
The hotel has two main restaurants: the Azure restaurant for all-day dining (buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner) and also Isoletta for a more upscale Italian lunch and dinner.
Breakfast
The breakfast buffet is expansive, with traditional Japanese dishes (rice, miso soup, natto etc.) including local specialties like Okinawan grilled chicken or locally sourced meat for mini hamburgers. There is also an egg chef, waffle area, expansive pastry and bakery section — so you are unlikely to go hungry at breakfast.
The one thing we did find a little disappointing was that the cut fruit and fruit juice did not seem super fresh, which was a shame given the island is famous for producing tropical fruits like mangoes.
We do recommend to go to breakfast fairly early as queues can build up quickly.
Dinner
We ate dinner at Isoletta — here you can choose from a set tasting menu or à la carte items (we opted for the latter).
Although the restaurant is supposed to be Italian, we started with ajillo (a Spanish dish), followed by pizza and squid ink pasta. All three items were very tasty and fresh, and presented nicely on the table. While we couldn’t imagine eating here multiple times, it is nice to eat once at this restaurant for a relaxing evening with good food.
Bar
In the evenings, we went up to Yunai, the hotel’s rooftop bar, which had a great nighttime atmosphere with music, candles and seats ideal for lounging on. Unfortunately, the bar ran out of mint, so we could not order the drinks we wanted (mojito) but they did have an interesting variety of drinks available, including a good selection of non-alcoholic beverages.
Food and drink rating: 8/10
Facilities
In addition to the indoor and outdoor pools, the hotel has a fitness center for guests who like to remain active.
There is also an executive lounge, for members with Hilton status, or staying in executive rooms. The lounge is the perfect place to relax with a few drinks or snacks, and in the evenings there is cocktail hours with alcoholic beverages and canapés.
The lounge is also ideal if you have a few hours to kill before your flight after checking out — it definitely beats waiting at the airport (which has no lounge).
Facilities rating: 8/10
Service
The service was excellent from the moment we arrived at the airport, with helpful staff indicating where the shuttle bus would be. While there were a few small mistakes (e.g. our room key accidentally not having access to the executive lounge, or our complimentary gifts only being remembered a few hours after check in), the staff were all super friendly and willing to help in any way they could.
Service rating: 7/10
Summary
Overall, if you are looking for a unique place to stay in Japan, the Hilton Okinawa Miyako island Resort is well-worth considering. We recommend staying here for one or two nights to take in a new side of Japan you may not have experienced before, while relaxing in one of the Hilton’s more remote properties.
Luxury Jetsetter 
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