A New Club Lounge: How Does The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa Measure Up?

TRAVEL | The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa

The hospitality unique to The Ritz-Carlton, and the resort feel of Okinawa.

The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa is located in Nago City, northern Okinawa Prefecture. It is about an hour's drive from Naha Airport. The building with its red-tiled roof, overlooking Nago Bay from its elevated position in Nago, is said to be inspired by the red tiles and white walls of Shuri Castle, a symbol of Okinawa, and by places where water springs forth, revered as sacred sites since ancient times.

Text by HASEGAWA Aya

Luxurious moments at your leisure in a comfortable private space

The seven-story building houses 97 guest rooms. I stayed in a Bay View room this time. Not only was it functional, but traditional Okinawan textiles such as Bashofu were used throughout the materials.

New Club Lounge! How does The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa measure up? | TRAVEL

The beds are from Sealy, an American bedding manufacturer. What I liked most was the bathtub, where I could soak while looking out at Nago's deep green and the East China Sea beyond. I lost count of how many times I used it during my stay (laughs). The bath salts made with Okinawan ingredients also worked wonders. There's even a pillow for the bathtub!

Incidentally, during the summer season, the "Cabana Rooms" on the first floor, which feature an outdoor Jacuzzi on the terrace, are said to be very popular. The terrace alone, with direct access to the pool, is about 30 square meters, and it's rumored to feel like a villa, even though it's not one!

Outdoor Jacuzzi in the Cabana Room

There's a reason I visited at this particular time. The Club Lounge, which had only been open for limited periods during peak seasons, became a permanent fixture on April 29, 2021!

A Club Lounge... It's a special place for the chosen few (laughs). In particular, The Ritz-Carlton's Club Lounge is famous for its five daily food presentations (breakfast, light snacks, afternoon tea, hors d'oeuvres, and sweets & cordial). Simply put, if you visit during the Club Lounge's open hours, you can eat something at any time (laughs). Isn't now the perfect time to visit? With that thought, I eagerly booked a stay with club access. As I'll mention later, it was, to put it mildly, paradise. Or perhaps Shangri-La?

The lounge, newly established in the space formerly used as a bar, is very chic. Greenery from the Kise Country Club also comes into view through the windows. Check-in procedures are handled here with champagne. I couldn't contain my excitement.

And, you see, the food in this Club Lounge is incredibly delicious. The terrace within the Club Lounge is adjacent to a Chef's Live Station, where during snack times, they offer daily specials such as handmade pizzas baked in a stone oven and barbecue-style grilled dishes using Kuroge Wagyu beef. This Kuroge Wagyu is a brand beef from Okinawa, carefully selected by the chef. Its deliciousness is practically guaranteed, isn't it?

Even during times when hot food isn't served, there were local-style snacks available. I couldn't help but smile. And what's remarkable is that you can enjoy alcohol from the morning. For breakfast, I paired it with champagne, of course. Mimosas are nice, but personally, I also enjoyed it with shikuwasa juice. Before I knew it, I had spent over two hours on breakfast. I thought to myself, 'How foolish of me,' but oh well (laughs). It's a resort, after all, so let's enjoy it to the fullest. Because of this, I found myself visiting the Club Lounge frequently, whether for checking emails in the afternoon or for a drink before dinner. The staff also called me by name and said, 'Welcome back,' making it incredibly comfortable. Ah, if only time and money allowed, I'd love to live here for about a week... Though I suspect returning to work would be difficult.

*Due to the state of emergency, as of August 23, 2021, the Club Lounge's services have been partially modified.

I've spent quite a bit of time praising the Club Lounge, but The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa has many other highlights. Based on my own personal preferences, I'd like to introduce some experiences I highly recommend when visiting The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa!

First: Visit the Spa Building (even if you have no specific reason to)

This is a must. The hotel building and the spa building, which houses The Ritz-Carlton Spa Okinawa, are about a 3-minute walk apart. You can take a tuk-tuk, but I highly recommend walking at least one way! Between the hotel and spa buildings, you'll find plants that you wouldn't see in Tokyo, growing lushly. It's an easy way to take a stroll through the Yanbaru forest, as if you're surrounded by negative ions (or so it seems).

And then there's the spa building. It houses spa facilities, a "Heat Experience" (hydrotherapy area) with a cypress dry sauna, a bathing area, and a bedrock bath made with fossil coral tiles, as well as an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, cabanas, and a gym. The jet bath here is a bit of a hidden gem. I enjoyed it privately for about an hour and a half. This is the kind of hotel where you'll want to be in your swimsuit all the time, except when you're at the restaurants or the Club Lounge. This is truly a tropical resort!

As for the spa treatment, after much deliberation, I chose the full-body treatment using warmed shells, "Yanbaru Sea Breeze ~ Refreshing Mind and Body ~." This treatment features full-body strokes from head to toe. The oil used is an aromatherapy blend of Okinawan shikuwasa oil and natural oils. While I've had many spa treatments at hotels before, I've never experienced anything like this, where it felt like the Okinawan sea breeze was flowing through my body.

Second: Indulge in exquisite cuisine using Okinawan ingredients

Savoring delicious food that can only be found locally is the essence of travel. The Ritz-Carlton, Okinawa has three restaurants: "Chura Nuhji" for Italian, "Chura Nuhji," "Kise" for Teppanyaki, and "Gusuku" for dining, as well as "The Lobby Lounge" offering afternoon tea and more. The Italian executive chef, Alberto Cuccit, oversees them all.

My personal favorite is "Chura Nuhji," which offers "Ryukyu Italian" cuisine using Okinawan ingredients. From the amuse-bouche, which paired foie gras with tofu, I was completely captivated, both in spirit and appetite. The tableware, such as plates made of Ryukyu glass, also actively incorporates local Okinawan crafts. This restaurant, meaning "beautiful rainbow" in the Okinawan language, is a destination worth visiting even if you're not staying at the hotel.

Sweets made with seasonal ingredients, such as brown sugar scones and jimami tofu, are also recommended. Afternoon tea, available at "The Lobby Lounge," also features Okinawan ingredients.

The food served at the poolside food truck is also meticulously prepared. The pizzas, baked in an authentic pizza oven, include classic Margherita, the cheese-laden Formaggi, and a pizza generously topped with sea grapes, offering a rich local flavor.

Third: Participate in activities unique to Okinawa & The Ritz-Carlton

The hotel is situated on a hill and does not directly adjoin the beach. However, the nearest beach is about a 5-minute drive away, and if you ask the hotel staff, they will provide complimentary transportation to recommended beaches (some beaches may require an entrance fee).

This time, I participated in the "Coral Seedling Creation Experience," an experiential program launched this year aimed at restoring and protecting marine ecosystems. First, we learned about coral through a lecture, then moved to the coast to actually create coral seedlings. The process involves securely anchoring the coral before planting it in the sea. I'm excited to think about how the seedlings I made will grow in a few years. If guests request it, they can also experience snorkeling or diving with an instructor to plant coral seedlings!

Although I didn't have time to experience it this time, the adult picnic "Ritznic" also caught my eye. It involves packing a luxurious menu, including club sandwiches, a selection of cured meats, and purple sweet potato chips, into a lunch box. The set comes with a basket and a picnic blanket, allowing you to enjoy a sophisticated picnic anywhere you like, such as on the hotel grounds or at the beach.

And although I couldn't participate in this either (I was too busy drinking champagne to muster the energy...), morning yoga was held every morning on the terrace overlooking Nago Bay (free participation). Nursing a hangover, I watched from my room window as the sun gradually rose during the lesson. Morning yoga, feeling the forest, the sea, and the sun – it must be wonderful! Next time, for sure (laughs).

And so... I enjoyed the brand's renowned hospitality and high-quality cuisine, and I really didn't want to leave (laughs). I was so reluctant to depart that I was still wrestling with champagne in the Club Lounge until five minutes before checkout. In a time when international travel is difficult, this is a special place where you can experience the unique hospitality of The Ritz-Carlton and the resort atmosphere of Okinawa. Ah, I want to fly back right now.