When you think "beach destination," Japan might not be the first place that comes to mind. But Hyatt Hotels Corp. thinks it should be. That's why it has opened its first-ever Japanese beach resort, Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island Okinawa, it announced last week.
Located on Seragaki Island, a private island that is connected by a bridge to the main island of Okinawa, the new hotel has 344 guest rooms and suites whose design was inspired by the property's waterfront surroundings and by the local traditions of Okinawan culture. Of the 344 accommodations, 320 are housed in a seven-floor main building; the remaining 24 are located in a three-story "Beach House" across from the main hotel, where they offer full kitchens or pantry-style kitchenettes for families or guests with longer stays.
In addition, the hotel has six dining outlets, a spa with steam saunas, an outdoor pool with a poolside bar, an ocean-side lagoon, and six meeting rooms with ocean views and outdoor terraces, which can be configured to range in size from 968 to 1,614 square feet. Events also can be hosted in the 1,948-square-foot Seragaki Island Suite, which has a private 1,689-square-foot terrace.
"We are delighted to celebrate the opening of Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island Okinawa, the first Japanese beach resort in Hyatt's portfolio," said David Udell, group president, Asia-Pacific, Hyatt Hotels Corp. "With the debut of Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island Okinawa, our 12th Hyatt property in Japan, we are excited to offer guests an energizing seaside retreat in the country's sunshine isles."
Four More Venues to Enjoy the Japanese Coast
Although Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island Okinawa is a first in Japan for Hyatt, the country has plenty of other seaside venues to choose from for groups that want to experience a coastal meeting with Japanese flavor. Here are four others:
• ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort: Japan's southernmost prefecture, Okinawa is often called Japan's "Riviera." It should come as no surprise, then, that it's home to Japan's largest concentration of beach resorts. Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island Okinawa is but one of many spectacular choices. Another is the ANA InterContinental Manza Beach Resort. Surrounded by the East China Sea, it has 397 guest rooms and suites, several restaurants and bars, a spa and salon, a fitness center, two outdoor pools and a beach. And for groups, there's meeting space for events of more than 500 people, including a beachside ballroom.
• Amanemu: Aman Resorts opened Amanemu in Japan's Ise Shima National Park in 2016. Located on the west coast of Honshu -- Japan's main island -- it's nestled on the shores of Ago Bay, otherwise known as the Bay of Pearls. There, its signature feature is its mineral hot springs, or "onsen." In fact, each of the resort's 24 suites and four two-bedroom villas has its own private onsen. Another highlight is the property's traditional Japanese aesthetic, which includes natural materials and large glass windows, with woven textile and timber sliding shutters that open accommodations to the natural surroundings outside. There's also a spa with two large onsen bathing pavilions, a watsu pool, four treatment suites, a fitness center and a yoga studio; an onsite restaurant serving sushi and Wagyu beef; a swimming pool; and a library.
• Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort: The Sheraton Grande Ocean Resort is located in Miyazaki, the capital city of Miyazaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu. Located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, it offers 736 guest rooms that are well known for their expansive ocean views. There also are seven restaurants, a full-service spa, a golf course, indoor and outdoor pools, two bars/lounges, natural hot springs and over 28,000 square feet of meeting space.
• Hilton Tokyo Bay: Groups that don't want to stray too far from Tokyo should look at properties on Tokyo Bay, which connects Tokyo to the Pacific Ocean via the Uraga Channel. One of the most beloved is the Hilton Tokyo Bay, which is located within Tokyo Disney Resort. Along with 828 guest rooms and suites -- many of which have sea views -- there's an indoor lap pool, a seasonal outdoor pool, a fitness center, a spa and salon, five restaurants and bars, and 16 meeting rooms for groups of up to 1,400 people.