ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort by IHG

What an incredible place. It looks a bit cold but the weather was perfect the entire time we were there. We highly recommend getting a sea view room with amazing sights. The staff were super friendly and were willing to work through the language barrier. The pools and ocean options for swimming were also great. This was truly an experience where the workers cared and were willing to help us when necessary. We loved the island because of this experience and were so excited to come back soon!

Overall, we had a good experience at the hotel, but there were a few areas that could be improved for a property of this caliber:||1. Balcony cleanliness: While the room itself was clean, the balcony could use more attention. The walls had noticeable stains from rain and rust, which made the area feel less inviting. A fresh coat of paint or pressure washing could greatly improve its appearance.||2. Beach maintenance: The hotel beach could benefit from more frequent cleaning. During our 4-day stay, we noticed some plastic bottles along the path and on the sand, which remained in place throughout. While I understand that monitoring this constantly can be challenging, adding a few trash bins or ensuring regular cleanup would make a noticeable difference.||3. Pool condition: The main pool is spacious and visually appealing, but it could be better maintained. There were old leaves, sand, and stains on the water slide and pool walls. These are relatively simple issues to address and would enhance the guest experience.||4. Pool bar options: The pool bar offers limited drink options. For example, a simple blue drink with soda and ice in a plastic cup felt a bit underwhelming for a hotel of this standard.||5. Presentation of drinks: Given that pool bar drinks are priced significantly higher than nearby establishments, it would be a nicer experience if they were served in glassware rather than plastic cups. Many high-end hotels find ways to balance safety around the pool with proper presentation, and something similar here would elevate the overall experience.

Beautiful facilities and friendly staff! The whole place has a tropical vibe that really makes you feel like you’re in Okinawa. I loved that we could walk from the hotel to the beach — such a nice touch. At night, the stars were absolutely stunning. The food was delicious, and it was great to have the option of Japanese cuisine or a buffet. They even had a bonfire and a chapel, which added a special atmosphere to the stay. Highly recommend!

The room had bunks over beds which was quite fun and my daughters loved it. Great pool and access to the beach with numerous activities close by. Definitely great for a quick weekend getaway. The inflatable obstacle course on the ocean was spot on and wore my whole family out with a variety of great restaurants on site.

This resort maintains a consistently neat and polished condition. Some areas have even been thoughtfully renovated, and it felt as though no corner of the resort had been left unattended. Considering the size of the property, such a high level of maintenance must require serious planning and focus—something that clearly reflects the dedication of every staff member. But above all, what left the strongest impression was how each guest was treated with a familial sense of care and attentiveness. Thanks to this, not only myself but surely many others walked away thinking, “That was a truly wonderful trip,” with a warmth that lingers long after departure.

Just had a wonderful week staying at the ANA intercontinental on the beautiful island of Ishigaki. |We stayed in the Bay wing which is the most modern and I would definitely recommend this over the other wings. The rooms were lovely & large and had views out to the pool & beach. |The pool area was lovely with two nice size pools and the beach area is less than a minutes walk. Lovely beach & with a large netted area for swimming. Beautiful calm sea which even had a separate area with a large inflatable activity area (chargeable) to use. |Our main restaurant was Saltida. Breakfast was great, with a large selection of choice both western & Japanese. We never had to queue or wait for breakfast & it was all run very smoothly. |We often had lunch in the Saltida restaurant which offered a good selection again of both western & more local foods. |We tried 3 of the restaurants in the hotel. All were good. Our favourite was the Saltida as the buffet offered a great variety for our family to enjoy. |You can also take a taxi (13 mins) to the downtown area if you want to try some of the local restaurants. |The island itself is beautiful and we did hire a car to tour round some of the sights which was well worth it. |You need an international licence to hire a car on the island which was very affordable and driving was very straightforward. |Finally I would like to end by saying all the staff at the Intercontinental were very helpful & friendly and we were made to feel very welcome. A very special mention and thanks to Gagan who really looked after us so well during our stay and showed just great customer service throughout our stay! He went above and beyond every day to check that we were having a wonderful holiday and making the most of what Ishigaki has to offer. We really like the IHG hotels and this one definitely does not disappoint.

After staying at many international hotel chains over the years, I’ve come to notice a certain formality in the way service is delivered in Korea and Japan—impeccable, yet sometimes lacking a personal touch.||That’s why my time at ANA InterContinental Ishigaki felt so refreshing. From the moment we stepped into Yaeyama Restaurant, Ms. Toyama made our children feel at home, remembering their favorite dishes and asking whether they’d like “the usual” every morning. With so many guests coming and going, that level of attentiveness is rare, even at five‑star properties.||Ms. Moktan and Ms. Hokama continued that warmth throughout each meal, checking in with genuine care that made us feel less like customers and more like family. Staff members like them remind you that true hospitality is measured not only by efficiency, but by kindness.||The same spirit shone through in housekeeping. Ms. Miyazaki kept our room in pristine condition during all eight nights—so clean it felt newly prepared each day. Once she learned I preferred caffeine‑free drinks, she took the extra step to stock just what I needed. It wasn’t “one extra tea bag”; it was thoughtfulness, and it meant the world.||On departure day, Ms. Sato helped with taxis when our luggage wouldn’t fit in the first car. She handled the switch smoothly and stayed with us right until the doors closed, seeing us off with a smile that turned a stressful moment into a fond memory. ||From a hardware perspective as well, the resort maintains a consistently neat and polished condition. Some areas have even been thoughtfully renovated, and it felt as though no corner of the resort had been left unattended.|Considering the size of the property, such a high level of maintenance must require serious planning and focus—something that clearly reflects the dedication of every staff member.|But above all, what left the strongest impression was how each guest was treated with a familial sense of care and attentiveness. Thanks to this, not only myself but surely many others walked away thinking, “That was a truly wonderful trip,” with a warmth that lingers long after departure.

Extremely Disappointing Stay. Far from a 5-Star Experience! Our experience at the Intercontinental Hotel Ishigaki was a major disappointment from beginning to end. It’s honestly baffling how this property continues to market itself as a 5-star resort. In reality, it felt more like a tired 2-star motel with a luxury price tag – completely unacceptable. Upon arrival, we were assigned a room that was visibly unclean. We had to request a room change immediately – not exactly the welcome one expects when paying premium rates. Breakfast was another low point. Despite being advised to arrive at 9:00 AM to avoid crowds, we still waited in line for over 30 minutes. We then learned that breakfast ends at 10:00 AM, meaning we spent most of our morning queuing, only to be rushed through buffet. We stayed in the Ocean Wing, and when we tried to access the pool at the Bay Wing which was clearly in better condition, we were rudely denied entry. We were told that access was restricted based on room category. Dividing guests and limiting access to basic facilities in this way is absurd for a hotel claiming to offer a luxury experience. Perhaps most frustrating of all was the staff’s response to our feedback. Rather than taking our concerns seriously, they attempted to upsell us: suggesting we pay several hundred euros more to upgrade to the Bay Wing or pay extra just to have breakfast in the more exclusive Saltida restaurant. It felt less like customer service and more like a blatant attempt to monetize their own shortcomings. The snorkeling activity (€40 per person) was equally disappointing. There was no briefing, no safety instructions, and no staff guidance just a printed sheet in English. For an ocean activity, especially one aimed at beginners, this isn’t just unprofessional, it’s irresponsible. The beach area was in poor condition as well. Sunbeds and umbrellas were broken, rusted, and clearly neglected, a far cry from what you’d expect at a supposed 5-star resort. This was, without exaggeration, one of the worst hotel experiences we’ve ever had and certainly the most overpriced. The Intercontinental Ishigaki is not a luxury resort. It’s a poorly managed operation hiding behind a well-known brand name. We will not be returning.

ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort is one of the largest resort hotels on Ishigaki Island. It's about a 20 minute drive from the airport and a 10 minute drive from Ishigaki Port. It's also easily accessible by taxi (~800 yen from downtown) and by the Airport Bus (210 yen to Ishigaki Port). If you're feeling up for a walk, it's only a 35-40 minute walk to Ishigaki Port. The room we stayed in was on the 8th floor overlooking the ocean. It featured two twin beds. There was a flat screen TV, a minibar (with costly drinks), a Keurig machine with free pods and tea bags. The beds were comfy with soft pillows. There's free pillow services to switch to buckwheat among other options. The bathroom was nice; there was a large shower and a soaker tub. A toilet with an Inax washlet was in a separate room. There's small bottles of body wash, shampoo, conditioner and moisturizer. There's also a razor, a sewing kit, shower cap, body scrubs, Q Tips, a comb, and tooth brushes. One of the more important services available in the hotel is the Resort Centre. Several employees working at the desk speak English. Here, you can book tours to neighbouring islands or snorkeling/diving trips. They can also make reservations for you at various restaurants. Keep in mind that they do have relationships with specific companies so there may be more options if you do your own research. Nevertheless, the guy at the counter was very helpful. The Onsen (public bath) is available only in the afternoon and evening. Last entry is at 10:30pm. There's water and towels available inside the change rooms, along with free lockers There's only one bath inside and unfortunately, no rotemburo. There are combs and hair products for you to use but no razors or tooth brushes. The beach is really nice. It's a great place to watch the sunrise in the morning. There's options for various marine sports / activities such as banana boat, snorkelling trips and deep sea walking. However, none of it is included and can be quite pricy. There's also shops in the hotel selling souvenirs and drinks. It's a bit more expensive than outside of the resort. Food-wise, there's several options which we didn't try other than the breakfasts. As part of our room package, we had access to a Japanese breakfast or a breakfast buffet. The Japanese breakfast is a set menu with fish, rice or rice porridge, natto, soup, and some pickled vegetables. The buffet features a wide variety of foods including salads, fruits, soup, rice porridge or mixed grain rice, bacon, omelettes, various Okinawan dishes (e.g. bitter melon champuru, soba noodles). There's also breads, juices, coffee and tea. We didn't get a chance to have lunch or dinner at the hotel. Overall: - Pros: resort centre with english-speaking employees, nice breakfast buffet or Japanese-style meal, easy access to downtown (35-40 minutes by foot), clean and modern interior. - Cons: on-site marine sports are a bit expensive, only one bath in the onsen and limited hours