The Beach Terrace Hotel AO Ishigaki

it was a very cozy small hotel for solo to families. very nice staff with full support to those who stay with right advice. breakfast is great full of local vegetables and nicely cooked. rooms are very spacious and clean, with jaggzy with the view of taketomi island!!

As the title says, I have mixed feelings about this hotel, so I'll point out the good and the bad (in my opinion). The good: enormous room with lounge area, additional seating area in bedroom, two beds, really spacious bathroom with a Jacuzzi bath and power shower. You are provided with all of the toiletries that you could need including extras such as face cream, hair serum and lotion. Good coffee making facilities with a fridge and freezer! (Good to freeze water and allow it to melt throughout the day). the best thing had to be the amazing massage chair! The room had a wow factor. Although the staff speak very little English, they are extremely polite and helpful. Large and tasty Japanese breakfast (you do have to reserve a time the day before). The bad: poor first impressions...on arrival the seating area in the lobby was stained and the restaurant was closed for the whole night (however staff helped to reserve a table in a traditional restaurant 5 mins away). On the second night we were advised to eat in town as it is 'better and cheaper'. Whilst the room was lovely, the mattress was a sprung mattress and was quite uncomfy if you're used to memory foam. The hotel is also in a terrible location. In the middle of no where next to what looks like ex military residential blocks complete with watch towers (or so it looks any way). There really is nothing else close by. Really small beach which is covered in seaweed. I've stayed in resorts before where staff work hard to keep large beaches free from seaweed). Sun loungers are provided but they are without cushions or covers so can be uncomfortable. The grounds are tiny and are scruffy (certainly not well kept or immaculate)! (See photo). There are goats and a cockeral in the grounds. Finally, there was a musty smell to the room and public area, almost like mould. Although this was feint and my partner couldn't smell it. Whilst there are some good points to this hotel, I'd stay closer to the town where there is a great choice of restaurants, a good atmosphere and plenty to do. I'd also find somewhere with a much better beach if you plan to spend time at the beach. Hosever if you want an amazing room to use as a base to explore this could be for you.

This is a lovely boutique hotel - private and exclusive rather than "only one" as the sign displays. Rooms are spacious and immaculate, complete with sea-facing balconies and massage chairs. Breakfasts very tasty, whether Japanese or western, with freshly baked bread, and wonderful coffee and juices; and excellent evening self-service BBQs, featuring local beef. Kept our kids occupied Above all the service is superbly personalised. Nothing is too much trouble for the team (they invited in a friendly locally-based American to help translate for us). The beach is small and fairly non-descript and not suitable for swimming given jelly-fish risk (an issue across the island). But this is a great relaxed base for day trips, including to Iriomote with its brilliant kayak/river-diving day excursions which will appeal to all families with energetic children (10+)