With 160 tropical islands, Japan’s Japan’s southernmost prefecture Okinawa has pretty much something for everyone. In this guide, we’re looking at what’s new in Okinawa and what visitors to the prefecture can experience in 2022.
Okinawa is an incredible place for travellers. It boasts a warm climate all year round that’s similar to what you’d experience in Cancun and Hawaii and is only three hours away by air from Tokyo.
For those who enjoy the great outdoors, it is ideal, thanks in no small part to its lush forests and golden sands bordering crystal blue waters. All this natural beauty, coupled with its bountiful fresh produce, are a major factor in why it is home to some of the longest-living people in the world.
However, Okinawa isn’t just a great place to visit for those wanting to experience the natural beauty and healthy cuisine; it’s also fantastic for those who enjoy culture as it boasts an astonishing history and heritage whilst still offering enough to keep the more adventurous visitors happy.
Below is some of the latest news from the region, and we’re starting with what’s forthcoming in 2022:
Hotel Grand Consort Naha set to open in spring 2022
Set to open in 2022, Hotel Grand Consort will boast 151 rooms suitable for both business and leisure travellers in the centre of Naha City. Just 15 minutes by car from the airport, the hotel is perfect for those looking to enjoy a stylish break in the capital or a great stop for a night of rest before visiting other islands by plane.
With an interior design inspired by the ocean and featuring motifs of the sea and coral, the hotel’s cosy ‘Consort Lounge’ will be available by day to guests staying at the property and will provide a place to work and relax. By night, exclusively for guests staying on the Club Floor, the lounge becomes a bar, offering complimentary drinks.
(Image courtesy of Hotel Grand Consort Naha.)
News: Okinawa celebrates new addition to UNESCO World Heritage List
UNESCO has added an area spanning four islands in Okinawa and Kagoshima to the UNESCO World Heritage List for the region’s ‘outstanding universal value’. The Northern part of Okinawa Island and Iriomote Island (Okinawa prefecture), together with Amami-Oshima Island and Tokunoshim Island (both in Kagoshima prefecture), encompasses over 42,500 hectares of subtropical rainforests that are home to a wealth of endemic plant and wildlife species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and crustaceans.
Examples include the endangered Okinawa Rail (Hypotaenidia Okinawae), endemic to Yanbaru in the Northern part of Okinawa Island, and the Iriomote Cat (Prionailurus Bengalensis Iriomotensis), which only inhabits Iriomote Island. Further information is available here.
(Image courtesy of OCVB.)
New glamping site welcomes guests on Iriomote Island
Asobi Hack is a new glamping site located on the nature-rich island of Iriomote, where 90% of the landscape is made up of spectacular dense jungle. It is Japan’s westernmost glamping ground and enjoys a waterfront location, perfect for those looking to make the most of experiences on both land and sea. Traditional bell-shaped tents welcome guests, and meal packages can be added to bookings, including breakfast and BBQ dinners.
Guests staying at the site can spend their evenings admiring picture-perfect views of the Milky Way above, as Iriomote enjoys dark sky classification – in fact, the island was named as the first International Dark Sky Park in Japan – so stunning clear vistas of the sky are common. A range of other activities by day such as trekking, kayaking and caving are also available. Further information is available here.
(Images courtesy of ©️ASOBIHACK.)
Two new luxury properties open on Kouri Island
Away Okinawa Kouri Island Resort
Luxury 5-star Away Okinawa Kouri Island Resort, which boasts 38 spacious boutique-style suites and three different room types, offers guests premium accommodation equipped with kitchenettes, eco-friendly bathtubs, and balconies. The resort is also home to an outdoor pool and a restaurant serving delicious Italian dishes made with locally grown ingredients. For more information, click here.
(Image courtesy of Away Okinawa Kouri Island Resort.)
LOISIR Terrace & Villas KOURI
With 44 rooms and four luxurious room types to choose from, LOISIR Terrace and Villas KOURI offer stunning views of the surrounding coastline. Additional facilities include a 142m long infinity pool, a poolside café, tuk-tuk transfers to Kouri Beach, ocean view dining options, a gym and a kids’ playroom. For more information, click here.
(Image courtesy of LOISIR Terrace and Villas KOURI.)
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