Miyako Crystal Hotel

I was traveling on my own and found the building clean and inexpensive. The amenities were provided, and I had no issues apart from there being no outlet beside the pillow.

The location was the best part for me. There were lots of restaurants within walking distance, though the area felt like a bar district. We didn’t hear noise from other rooms, and the price was manageable despite a few issues. I expected an email with check-in instructions, but it never arrived. I went anyway and found an apartment building with an auto-lock entrance and no front desk. My call rang through to somewhere on Okinawa’s main island, which was a problem. Luckily, a staff member finishing up cleaning came out and took me to another reception area. The person there was very polite and helpful, but I wish the contact details had been clearer and connected directly to the office. There was plenty of room to open my large suitcase. The bathroom and toilet were separate, and the bathroom was a decent size, but it didn’t seem very clean. There was limescale, and the Mirabelle drain was clogged and slow. The room color seems to depend on which one you get. Ours was pink, and it made me feel a little uneasy. There’s a washing machine, refrigerator, microwave, and dishes, so it could work well for a longer stay. We had breakfast included each day, but had to walk five minutes to Shabu-an. We stayed four nights, and only saw one other guest there, which made us feel a little guilty, as if breakfast had been prepared just for us. They may have been eating at a different time. The Japanese set meal was a good size, and the side dishes were the same for all three days. For the price, I thought it was a good deal, though if we had to walk there anyway, we could have picked something up at a convenience store. We got only one towel per person for the whole stay, which was a bit inconvenient. There were plenty of other amenities, so I wondered why they didn’t provide more towels. The parking information wasn’t consistent. The booking agent initially said parking wasn’t where we had asked about, but the local office said it was a little farther away. I wish they’d given the same information. Since parking costs money, I found a spot about the same distance away for the same price and left our rental car there. Be careful in the bar district, because some lots have no maximum fee and the bill could end up costing more than the rental car. Check the parking terms first.

For ¥8,500 for two nights this year, it was an incredible deal, though I don’t know if that was just luck. The hotel sits between Hirara Port and the downtown area, so most things seem walkable. It’s tucked down a back alley and feels more like a home than a hotel, perhaps because it used to be an apartment building. There’s no front desk, and you need the instructions in the email to get into your room. Don’t miss that email, or you may not know what to do. We were on the third floor and didn’t get much of a view. Maybe a higher floor would have an ocean view. The room was clean, with WiFi, separate bathroom and toilet, plenty of outlets, and basic amenities. There was an induction cooktop, frying pan, rice cooker, microwave, refrigerator, and dishes for making simple meals. It might suit a longer stay. We did hear some noise from neighboring rooms. It doesn’t have much of a resort feel, but it’s bigger, cleaner, and cheaper than downtown hotels. If you don’t need a beachfront resort, it’s great value, and I’ll consider staying here next time.

The location worked really well for me, with both downtown and Painagama Beach within walking distance. Check-in happened at Shabu-an, about five minutes away on foot, and checkout was simple: just drop the key in the mailbox. The room was compact, but I could prepare some fruit I’d bought using the plates and knives in the kitchen. The refrigerator was full-sized, with a freezer, rather than the tiny kind you get in business hotels. There’s a washing machine, too, which was handy for swimsuits and towels, but no detergent. Towels weren’t replaced during the stay, either. I appreciated the Mirabelle showerhead. Even with several layers of waterproof sunscreen on, it washed it off thoroughly. The outlets weren’t conveniently placed, so I’d bring an extension cord. It feels more like a condominium, with fewer services than a regular hotel, but the value was good. I’d definitely stay here again when I visit Miyakojima.