Grand Reopening This Summer! Our PR Representative Introduces the Charms of Haimurubushi, Japan’s Southernmost Island Beach Resort, and Highlights from the Ceremony.

Hello! I am Yamaguchi from Social Relations Department 3, and I love the ocean. Today, I would like to introduce Haimurubushi, a resort hotel on Kohama Island in Okinawa Prefecture. SUNNY SIDE UP has been in charge of PR for this project since about six months before its grand reopening, which finally took place this summer.

What is Haimurubushi, Japan’s Southernmost Island Beach Resort Full of Charm in Both Summer and Winter?

Haimurubushi was established in 1979 on Kohama Island, located in the center of the Yaeyama Islands, approximately 400 km southwest of the main island of Okinawa. It has long been cherished as Japan’s first authentic ocean resort, where guests can fully enjoy marine activities and the beautiful nature of Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, the first area in Japan to be designated as an International Dark Sky Park.

To reach Kohama Island, you first travel to Ishigaki Island by air, followed by an approximately 30-minute boat ride. Access is excellent, taking only about four hours even from Tokyo. At the hotel, you can enjoy a luxurious experience surrounded by the sea and nature, making you feel as if you are abroad.

The hotel’s name, “Haimurubushi,” means “Southern Cross” in the dialect of the Yaeyama region. True to its name, guests can view a star-filled sky, including the Southern Cross, from the hotel grounds from winter through early summer. This resort, where one can enjoy rich nature and marine activities, is also designated as part of the Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park Dark Sky Park, offering a one-of-a-kind experience found nowhere else. While Okinawa is often associated with summer, I personally recommend the winter season, when you can see the Southern Cross that gives the hotel its name. You are sure to enjoy a new style of Okinawan stay, gazing up at the winter night sky!

Haimurubushi, the southernmost island beach resort hotel in Japan, has finally celebrated its grand reopening following a full renovation.

This renovation introduced two new infinity pools, a spa building, and a sauna, while some guest rooms were upgraded to include private gardens. The restaurants have also been refreshed, further enhancing the culinary appeal. The resort has evolved into the ultimate destination where everything can be enjoyed within the hotel grounds.

The scene at the Haimurubushi reopening ceremony.

Prior to the grand reopening, an opening ceremony was held on July 11. The stage for the event was the newly constructed infinity pool. We celebrated the beginning of a new chapter in an atmosphere characteristic of Yaeyama, where the sea, sky, and culture merge. SUNNY SIDE UP was responsible for the planning of the ceremony. Aiming for a style unique to Okinawa, the ribbon-cutting was followed by a performance of the Kohama Shishi (lion dance), which is traditionally offered during the “Kitsigan” festival of Kohama Island. This production, incorporating local culture, made for a spectacular start.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony (from left: Naohiro Yamaguchi, General Manager of Haimurubushi; Akiko Kaito, Director and Managing Executive Officer, Hotel Resort Division, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd.; Masato Maedomari, Mayor of Taketomi Town; Naoto Otake, Head of the Kohama Community Center).

Introducing the Highlights of the Renovation!

On the day of the ceremony, despite it being a remote island, several Okinawan media outlets attended to cover the event. Following the opening ceremony, a facility tour was conducted to showcase the evolved form of Haimurubushi.

Now, let us introduce the long-awaited “New Haimurubushi“ features one by one.

Two Infinity Pools Where the Sea and Sky Blend Together

The biggest highlight of the renovation is the approximately 330-square-meter infinity pool located right in front of the beach! It is a luxurious space where guests can relax on sun loungers or in cabanas while overlooking the shallow waters and the islands of Yaeyama.

At the “Main Pool,” a two-tiered infinity pool that feels connected to the sea, a new activity called “Floating SUP Yoga” has been introduced, allowing guests to experience SUP yoga while gazing at Kohama Island’s renowned night sky, exclusively at night. One of the joys of Haimurubushi is the ability to fully feel nature through a wide variety of activities within such a luxurious hotel setting!

Main Pool

Floating SUP Yoga

The other infinity pool, “QUIET POOL,” is for adults only. It is a special space where only those aged 16 and older can enjoy a harmony of tranquility and luxury. In the winter, it becomes a Hot Pool, and children are permitted to use it during specific hours. Additionally, a new authentic sauna and spa building have been established under the supervision of TTNE, a creative sauna collective consisting of “Sauna Master” and “Sauna Shisho.” During the winter, it is also available for private evening use under the starry sky!

QUIET POOL

THE SAUNA BLOCK

“THE SPA”: A Blissful Oceanfront Overlooking the Sea of Kohama

When it comes to a resort stay, a relaxing spa is always a top priority. The renovated Haimurubushi features a new spa building based on the concept of “UNPLUG and CONNECT with Okinawa Nature.” We offer treatments themed around HARMONY and REVIVE, introducing the “Cyfolia Organic” line from the French brand PHYTOMER for the first time in a Japanese spa, alongside the domestic brand 2830, which incorporates honey from our own apiary and the rhythms of the lunar cycle. A treatment received at the oceanfront provides a moment to unwind the mind and body and harmonize with nature.

“THE SPA” Exterior

Interior of “THE SPA” at Haimurubushi, with PR handled by SUNNY SIDE UP.

Restaurants Bars

Within the Center House, “The Steak Grill,” “The Buffet,” and “The Lounge Bar” have been established. Additionally, “The Beach Café” and “The Beach Bar” have opened in front of the pool, allowing guests to enjoy casual dining by day and a resort-style bar experience by night.

“The Buffet” Live Kitchen

Through a wide variety of meals, including dishes focused on local production for local consumption and signature cocktails, guests can fully enjoy the unique flavors of Kohama Island from a culinary perspective.

“The Steak Grill”

Example of “The Steak Grill” cuisine: “T-Bone Steak”

Premium Garden Terrace Room

Among the various guest rooms, 45 have been renovated into “Garden Terrace Premium Rooms.” Guests can enjoy relaxing time surrounded by greenery in the newly created 40-square-meter private garden. We also offer ocean-view rooms where you can spend a luxurious time while fully taking in the beautiful Okinawan sea stretching out before you. In a resort stay, time spent in the room is also important. Being able to fully enjoy a moment of relaxation in a private garden or a spacious area is one of the delightful features of this resort.

Private Garden

Interior of “Garden Terrace Premium Room”

What did you think of the renovated Haimurubushi? With this summer’s renovation, Haimurubushi has evolved into a place that offers a new resort experience where the starry sky, sea, nature, and culture are in harmony. From the healing time at the adult-only Quiet Pool and The Spa to the culinary charms utilizing the blessings of Yaeyama, there is a space where visitors can feel “happy whether they do something or do nothing at all.”

As a PR representative, I have visited the site several times, and I am overwhelmed by the charm of the great outdoors every time! I have become so enamored with the charms of Haimurubushi and Kohama Island that I have even started planning a private trip there… (laughs).

We hope you will take this opportunity to experience the unique moments that can only be found at the newly reborn Haimurubushi.