It feels as though we were only just going out to see cherry blossoms, but summer has arrived again.
For summer travel in Japan, Okinawa is hard to overlook.
The island has exceptionally beautiful beaches, with crystal-clear water and soft white sand.
Summer brings opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling and scuba diving.
To find those picture-perfect stretches of coast, though, you usually need to go beyond the city center.
Okinawa’s urban monorail does not extend far across the island, so reaching those places generally means a bus or rental car.
For the trips the author had in mind, buses felt inconvenient.
At the time of the account, rental-car shortages had pushed some prices to two to five times their earlier levels.
That was an added burden for visitors; it is a historical observation, not a current price comparison.
One alternative the author noticed was enjoying a resort-style stay within the city.
Stay near the airport, see Okinawa’s signature emerald sea,
and relax in an infinity pool.
The newly opened HOTEL SANSUI NAHA stood near Naminoue Beach, described in the source as Naha’s only beach.
For a convenient, reasonably priced city resort break during this visit period, I would recommend considering it.
First, the view is excellent. An infinity pool occupies the rooftop,
with an ocean outlook that feels unusual among central Naha hotels.
I have visited many of the city’s hotels and rarely encountered an ocean view like this.
Seeing it from an infinity pool feels particularly indulgent.
At night, the rooftop operated as a night pool with a bar counter.
After the infinity pool, you could soak at the first-floor Ryukyu Onsen Naminoue-no-Yu (琉球温泉 波之上の湯) bathing facilities.
The source describes natural hot-spring water drawn from 500 meters underground—an onsen experience within Okinawa.
Monthly themed baths added variety, including baths with herbal aromas.
A sauna was available as well.
There was another outdoor pool on the second floor.
It included a children’s pool and a jacuzzi.
The author found the arrangement convenient for family use; supervision and the hotel’s current pool rules still apply rather than any blanket safety guarantee.
I wondered whether this might be the only city hotel in Okinawa with two pools. That was my impression, not a verified exclusivity claim.
Nearby Naminoue Beach makes it easy to reach a stretch of Okinawa’s emerald-colored water.
A bridge crosses in front of the beach and limits the view, but having a beach within about ten minutes’ walk is still a considerable advantage.
Naminoue Shrine is next door to the beach for a short sightseeing stop.
A 24-hour supermarket was convenient for shopping, and Kokusai Dori was around a 20-minute walk away.
In the heat, I would suggest a taxi if two or more people are traveling together.
Now to the room.
Our particular room category included an outdoor bath.
Tatami flooring provides a pleasingly cushioned feel.
The beds are soft, and bedside outlets let you charge your phone.
Through a small door, the toilet and washbasin are separate.
Outside is a pot-shaped open-air bath.
The view is good enough that I could happily spend the day right here.
Naha’s city hotels seem to be evolving.
The following morning, we come for breakfast.
The breakfast offers a taste of Okinawa, with many dishes associated with its former name,
the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Okinawa soba, Okinawan vegetable shabu-shabu, grilled Spam and local dishes whose names I do not know.
You can try a broad selection without traveling between specialty restaurants.
There is even a morning tasting of awamori, Okinawa’s traditional spirit.
The selection ranged from familiar 30% ABV awamori to aged kusu (古酒) above 40% ABV.
They even provide accompanying snacks. Such generosity at breakfast takes me by surprise.
I am delighted.
Transport is another point worth explaining.
A shuttle bus operated between the hotel and the airport.
The source advises reserving through the hotel website in advance; confirm the present service and booking terms.
HOTEL SANSUI NAHA is within Naha city.
Personally, I could happily stay here for the pools and onsen, go to Kokusai Dori for dinner,
and add a visit to Naminoue Beach and the shrine.
If renting a car, another option would be to explore the north on the first two days, return the car in the city,
then spend the last day relaxing here before heading to the airport.
For this visit, it felt like a hotel that could save travel time while still delivering a distinctively Okinawan break.
HOTEL SANSUI NAHA — Ryukyu Onsen Naminoue-no-Yu
Official site: HOTEL SANSUI NAHA — Ryukyu Onsen Naminoue-no-Yu. The linked page promotes it as ‘the spa and resort closest to Naha Airport’; that superlative is not independently verified here.
ABOUT OUR HOTEL: Located in Naha’s Tsuji district, near the port, historic Naminoue Shrine—promoted as a relationship-luck ‘power spot’—and Naminoue Beach, described as a good-fortune beach. From the airport via the Umisora tunn… [Original linked excerpt is truncated.]
www.resorts.co.jp