Okinawa's southern tip, where sugarcane fields give way to cliffs and open ocean, is mythological territory. This is where the Ryukyu creation god is said to have first set foot on Kudaka Island, visible from the point Hyakuna Garan occupies. The entire hotel is angled towards a 220-degree view that catches sunrise and sunset without you changing position. Ryukyu limestone walls and a coral-red roof recall the temples that inspired the design, while a seven-metre stone Buddha, carved from a single boulder, watches over the corridors. Breakfast and dinner are a delight – and definitely bring an appetite for tofuyo and awamori.
/127.7853293822075,26.133043582788684,6/600x400?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoidGltYnVrdHV0cmF2ZWwiLCJhIjoiY2poMGw1eHpkMmRkbDJ6bW8xYWZ5OGpjYyJ9.PYvAO7lUJ40SOpGvwmQLqw&attribution=false&logo=false)
All 17 rooms and suites face the ocean, from the 68-square-metre executive rooms (each with a private balcony and a bathtub angled so you can soak facing the horizon) to the tatami-floored Hakuin no Ma, Okinawa's answer to a traditional ryokan suite. For total seclusion, the standalone Garan Bekkan annex adds a second rooftop terrace and its own hot tub. Everyone gets two sets of locally woven cotton pyjamas, one for your room and one for wandering the corridors in.
Booking one of the six rooftop houjouan costs nothing: your own tearoom, terrace and open-air tub facing pure ocean. Time it for sunrise, when the sky turns pale pink, then amber, right above the water.
When the tide drops, walk out from the private beach onto the exposed reef flat – you'll likely meet local fishermen gathering seaweed by hand. Pack proper water shoes; the rocks are sharper than they look.
This is adults-only territory (no under-13s) and proudly remote: the nearest town is a fair drive off, so hire a car or budget for taxis. And don't expect a classic sandy swimming beach either.
Hyakuna Garan can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Japan trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Japan trips featuring Hyakuna Garan or get advice and suggestions from one of our Japan specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Hyakuna Garan start from around $370, or US$370, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
A diverse, unique & historic island, Okinawa is your gateway to Japan’s Blue Zone – and who doesn’t want to stay ‘young’ forever?
