Hyakuna Garan

Hyakuna Garan is the destination resort if you look for a vacation to unwind and relax. It is a small, boutique types of resort, located next to one of the very beautiful beaches. It is about 45 minutes drive from the airport. We booked one of the bigger suits and stayed for 3 nights. The daily breakfast and dinner are thoughtfully prepared and presented. The staffs are kind and helpful, especially Sushil. His manner and attention to details to assist guests every step along the way are quite impressive. From we checked in until we checked out, we noticed and appreciated Hyakuna Garan has high quality of staffs, such as Sushil to elevate guests' vacation experience. We invited a local friend to have dinner with us. Sushil coordinated the detail for us and the dinner went great. The only complaint we have, not related to the hotel itself, is the mosquitos outdoor. We didn't realized the mosquitos are still active at the end of November! Therefore, we didn't spend much time in the beautiful garden with ocean view. If you like to book your staying here, I would recommend you try not to miss dinner(due to late flight in) or miss the breakfast(early flight out) because the restaurant is one of the highlights Hyakuna Garan is known for.

Very good hotel, but the distance is quite far from the city. On the opposite site - a very good beach right downstairs of the hotel, so its not a trouble at all if you want just relax without many people near. Mostly only locals there. Personal was very polite and friendly. But a pitty that meals in the hotel only courses, and menu is not very big, but its not trouble at all.

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.

Had a fantastic time at the Hyakuna Garan! The hotel has some great facilities including stunning bath houses overlooking the sea, spacious well-designed and equipped rooms, beautiful common areas, and is located only moments away from a breathtaking beach. Service and attention to detail were impeccable, as was the food. Both breakfast and dinner were served using local ingredients cooked to perfection! We even asked to congratulate the chef. Incredible experience and cannot recommend this hotel enough for your holiday in Okinawa.

You will be hard pressed to find a hotel that is more special than the Hyakuna. The staff are incredibly attentive, professional and kind. Our room was exquisite and the views were beautiful. The food was delicious and presented beautifully. At the Hyakuna, you will feel surrounded by nature and in touch with Japanese (and particularly, Okinawan) culture. I could not be more impressed with this hotel. They will make you feel so special. Thank you!!

Overall, it was a comfortable stay. Very good food. The only two small downsides for me were the mattress, which was a bit too soft, and the couch and balcony chairs, which weren’t very comfortable.

I stayed here with my partner for 3 nights, 4 days and we had a FANTASTIC experience. Service: Each staff member is extremely considerate to the needs of the customer and do their best to make it a comfortable and memorable stay for the guests. Food: As I am vegetarian, they served Japanese veg course breakfast and dinner which was absolutely delicious. They also accommodated my partner's dietary needs on the spot. Rooms: Clean, big rooms with comfortable beds, overseeing the beautiful blue sea. Good closet space. Facility: Spectacular open air bath and well maintained property. The massage service was excellent as well. Overall experience: 10/10

If the purpose of your journey is to surrender yourself to nature’s serenity, Hyakuna Garan promises a rare and unforgettable experience, standing in silence on land steeped in ancient mythology.