SANKARA Hotel & Spa Yakushima

This place must be heaven, there is no other possibility. Immediately upon arrival you are welcomed by gorgeous nature and breathtaking views. The villa rooms are amazing and very spacious. The food was all super tasty and fresh. If you get the chance to dine at okas - please do so. The chefs are amazing and so kind. What really made this hotel shine were the staff. They have truly given us the best treatment we could have wished for. They anticipate your every need and go above and beyond to make your stay as comfortable as possible. It was an unforgettable time at Sankara. I cried a little when we had to leave and will definitely return here. 🙏🏼

Just had a fantastic stay at Sankara Hotel & Spa Yakushima, and it was truly amazing. The staff were so kind with their warm smiles, which made everything even better. There is nothing better than having a lovely afternoontea with the ocean view from the poolsoide. And dinner at restaurant Okas was definitely a highlight— the presentation and taste of the food were absolutely top-notch! Highly recommend this hotel for anyone visiting Yakushima! 😊

Fabulous resort. Well located in a secluded part of the island, overlooking the sea in the front and mountains in the rear. Fantastic service and beautiful spacious rooms and amenities. The two restaurants serve Michelin star meals. One of the best hotels we have ever had the pleasure of staying at.

Our stay at Sankara was simply amazing. The staff was incredible, and the entire property was immaculately clean. Spa menu was great. The two restaurants are very good, both in service and food quality, but I strongly recommend Okra upstairs - a truly memorable and delicious meal. Thank you everyone at Sankara for such a wonderful experience!

I had a wonderful stay at Sadakata Hotel in Yakushima. The staff were exceptionally kind and went out of their way to help me when my flight was delayed, even arranging an airport pickup despite the schedule change. When a typhoon was approaching, they also assisted me with arrangements to safely leave the island, which I deeply appreciated. The meals were absolutely delicious—perfect after a long day of hiking—and the relaxed atmosphere made it an ideal base for exploring Yakushima’s trails. Highly recommended for anyone looking for warm hospitality and support during their adventure on the island!

Really special hotel on a really special island. We stayed at one of the Manasa 2nd floor villas and loved every bit of our stay - especially the kind staff and the amazing kitchen and food experience (upgrade for Okas is totally worth it, although Ayana is delicious as well). Big soak tub in room was awesome. Basically everything here was awesome. ||It's expensive but I think worth the price. Attention to detail and thoughtfulness was outstanding, staff was so friendly and a great balance of giving you space and attentive. We will definitely be back.||You are on a somewhat tropical island, so there will be some bugs around like moths, or small spiders, and they were harmless. If I had to nit-pick the pillows were not my favorite (one large firmer buckwheat-ish pillow and one very flat soft pillow) as I like a medium thickness (but firmer) pillow, but I also didn't bother to ask and maybe they had other pillows available.

Literally the best hotel I’ve ever stayed at. If there was such a thing as “six stars,” they should have the designation. And I’ve stayed at five star properties. Food was exceptional. Room was huge, spotlessly clean, 100% private, and beautifully appointed. The private bath was eye-popping and wonderful. Beds were perfect. But the best part by far was the service—the level of care, the attention to detail. Rio, Jun, and Tommy were among the many staff we interacted with. Rio was kind, natural, thorough in explaining the facilities. Jun was a whiz with wines and food recommendations. Tommy noticed my left-handedness and made sure my place setting was arranged to accommodate it at every meal. I was blown away. Hidden gems: fabulous e-bikes for rent, free cookies and snacks in the lobby and room, corn ice-tea, and free passes to the beautiful onsen at their sister property, Samana.

We have traveled to many countries and without a doubt this is one of the most beautiful accommodation we've enjoyed throughout our travels. My husband and I were surrounded by beauty, quiet and luxury at Sankara. Everything was perfect from the staff, the room, the food, and the impeccable attention to service and detail. Look no further for comfortable beds, incredible meals, and deep relaxation in your private (very large) soaking bath. The staff go out of their way to accommodate any need. They celebrated my birthday with various small touches that warmed my heart. Thank you to all for making our stay a wonderful experience.

This hotel had the most amazing costumer service and friendly staff I have ever met. Hands down the best hotel I have ever stayed at. Not only did the staff have an abundant amount of knowledge about the island and Cedar trees but they also made my family and I feel so welcome.Here is a picture of the cute surprise the staff placed in our room after cleaning. All of this made my trip to Japan:)

Sankara is a delightful resort on the hillside, just a few kilometers from the coast of Yakushima. It is composed of several villas immersed in the green, and a central building which hosts a swimming pool, restaurant, library and lounge, and the spa. The apartments are spacious, stylish, comfortable, with a large bath, sofa area, bed and relax space with an additional bed. A free minibar, selection of teas, and a large luggage/wardrobe area complete the apartments. The service is impeccable, a small army of people will make sure that every moment you are attended and pampered. They will come to collect you from your villa in small golf carts and coordinate to make sure you are greeted and immediately escorted to your table or spa reservation. The food is quite good, although you may be disappointed if you expect Japanese cuisine. The resort is famous for its French cuisine, fused with the local ingredients. The spa is nicely organized for treatments of different types. However, it does not include saunas, steam rooms or such. Indeed, that's the major item missing from Sankara: in a land of onsen, there's no thermal bath, nor indoor pool. Of course you can have a nice bath in your room but that's quite different. The personalized level of service and the great rooms are what get Sankara 5 stars, in spite of the lack of an onsen and of the French cuisine.