Hyakuna Garan

Hyakuna Garan is quite a distance away from the main Okinawa city of Naha, which is a plus or a minute depending on your plans on the island itself. For us, it served as a great hideaway from the hustle and bustle of the main town, as well as a means to get away from the cold spell that usually grips the main Japan island of Honshu during the Winter months. It was also the perfect base for exploring some of the things that interested us, including Okinawa World (and the Gyokusendo Cave), Sefa Utaki and Gangala Valley. And since we had a rental car with us, getting to more distant tourist spots was not too inconvenient for us as long as we planned the course properly. We stayed at the Garan Annex Bekkan, a stand-alone and separate unit that was a massive 130m² in size, which doesn't even factor in the terrace as well as a second enormous rooftop terrace (which has a hot tub and offers a commanding view of the ocean). It's the only room that allows children - the rest of the resort is an adults-only affair. The Annex also had a dedicated parking spot and a separate entrance (there is also a second entrance that is connected to the main building via an indoor walkway.) It was a private hotel within the hotel, and was perfect for enjoying a peaceful time in Okinawa. The Annex was almost too large for its own good. In addition to a dedicated bedroom (with two large Western bed), two restrooms and a large kitchen, the main living room consisted of a dining area with a massive table and 8 chairs, a lounge area with a generously-sized sofa and a king-sized day bed off to the side. There were other nooks and crannies (a weird storage closet didn't have any racks or shelves, and it wasn't necessary - the walk-in closet in the main bedroom was massive) that only served to make the Annex seem a bit less cavernous than it actually was. The room - and, for that matter, the entire resort - was in so-so shape. You can tell that it's getting up there in age, and could stand to be renovated sooner rather than later. And the somewhat dated furnishing and decor was straight out of the 80s, and the quality of the furnishings was a bit on the cheap side. Not exactly shabby, but not contemporary and pristine, either. For the room rates that Hyakuna Garan commands, I feel that a refurbishment is overdue. Service was of generally high quality. Everyone was warm, gracious and attentive - it was less formal than the typical luxury Japanese hotel, but was not in any way overly familiar, either. This is, after all, an island resort and not a buttoned-up city hotel, so the service style was appropriate, in our opinion. The food was unique and varied, and focused on local ingredients from both land and sea. We learned a great deal about Okinawan produce, sea creatures, seaweed/sea kelp as well as the dishes that included them, and really appreciated the efforts by the wait staff to explain the ingredients, preparation of each dish as well as the contrasts of the food relative to what you'd typically find in larger Japanese cities. Some of it was a hit, others were a miss. The fish were undoubtedly fresh, but there is only so much variety of top-notch fish that comes from an island that's surrounded by warm(-er) ocean water. Similarly, the local Okinawan beef was tough, chewy, bland and completely devoid of marbled fat. It's nice that Hyakuna Garan made an effort to focus on locally-sourced ingredients; on the other hand, one taste test would've been sufficient (and then they could have moved onto better-quality Wagyu from other parts of the country.) The food at Hyakuna Garan was not without its highlights, however. The Goya Champuru (Stir-fried Bitter Melon with Agu-Pork, scrambled eggs and Tofu), a local staple dish, was fantastic, as was the traditional Okinawan Soba noodles. And for those with a sweet tooth (like us) will be delighted at the dessert offerings, both in terms of quality and quantity. Each dessert serving consisted of at least 5 different little bites, resulting to a wonderful finale to a good overall meal. We felt that 4 nights (3 full days) was the right amount of time for us. One day was spent relaxing in the Garan Annex Bekkan, while for the remaining two days we explored both the local area as well as more remote locales on the island. Hyakuna Garan is not really a beach destination, however, so if that's what you're after you are best served to search for alternatives. We were looking for a small secluded luxury hotel with a nice room, great views and local food - for us, therefore, it was the optimal property to enjoy our time in Okinawa.

Contrary to some of the negative reviews on this resort, I have many good feedback of my recent stay with Hyakuna Garan. While I agree it may not warrant a 6-star status, and there may be some lack or the non-existence of the usual facilities found in other resorts or hotels (e.g. gym, pool, beach, bar etc), I like the fact that it’s a very exclusive and unique stay experience. Room is very big and the ocean view is magnificent! Housekeeping was very well done. Food was good, although not exceptional. Go for the Japanese breakfast instead of western and you’ll not be disappointed. Staff service, be it at the restaurant or front desk or anywhere else at the resort, it’s impeccable! Although most do not speak flawless English, every staff tried their very best to answer and explain, and always with a smile. It’s true the beachfront is not really a beach, but it’s worth a walk to explore the area and take in the nature, where you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the beauty surrounding the resort. There’s a glass boat facility next to the resort for some outdoor activities. Otherwise, a short drive out would land you in some historical sites, parks or even quaint cafes with a great ocean view.

When you arrive you may be a bit disappointed but the rooms are nice and service including food is very good. Beaches are not equipped at all but this is how all Japan is. Not a place to swim and stay i the water also bcs of the low tide.

This has been the only bad experience during our 20 days Japanese honeymoon. We have decided to leave the hotel after one night and to move to another one. Common areas are awful: no bar, no service etc. The beach does not exist: you have to walk to another beach which is not even served by beds and umbrellas. The restaurant room is empty: is equipped for dinner by tables added last second time taken from the outside. The food is bad quality: two hours dinner to eat a frozen lobster and only 3 bites of meat. All this for 800 euro per night!!! And the worst thing is that when we asked for an a sudden CHECK OUT they did not even ask WHY? and immediately informed about the cancellation penalties( 100% for the second night and 50% for the third). Very surprising compared to the high level of hospitality we have been experiencing all around Japan. Seriously not recommended.

We came in our honeymoon and we have the most wonderful time. It’s a hotel to relax, the view is amazing, the rooms are beautiful and very confortable. You could spend the entire day in it. The food has been excellent every single time. What has been very special is its personnel. Everybody is extremely nice and they will make sure everything is perfect for you. They even gave us an upgrade to an amazing suit because we are in our honeymoon. We couldn’t be happier with this amazing hotel.