Old Private House KANEYA

Ocean Expo Memorial Park is close by, and the ocean is just 30 seconds away. The place has lots of room for families or groups, with Fukugi trees all around giving it a fresh, nostalgic feel.

The owner is an attentive elderly gentleman who communicates through Google Translate. The 84-year-old house is lovely and well kept, with everything we needed, and it's clean and near the beach. It was quiet and peaceful, with no other guests while we were there since the owner lives elsewhere. There are restaurants and a Lawson convenience store nearby, plus lots of cats in the neighborhood. I'd happily stay again if I get the chance. 🙏😊

The owner's call during the earthquake in Miyazaki was thoughtful. They gave me evacuation instructions while I was following the news, and luckily everything turned out fine. We also got to enjoy fireworks and a BBQ, though the heat sent us indoors before we finished. There was a grill to use for free, and the owner said grills and charcoal were sold at the supermarket. I had planned to buy them, but found some unused ones someone had left and was able to use those instead. So I got to check off a summer wish. We stayed two nights in August in the unrenovated traditional house. We wanted the feel of an old Okinawan home, so it suited us, even though we were curious about the renovated building too. The kids loved the Wi-Fi and ended up on their phones a lot, haha. The old house also came with newts and bugs getting in from somewhere, which our kids were delighted by. The main building's air conditioning was nice and cool, but the bathroom and toilet are in a separate building and got very hot in summer. Cooking worked out well. The inn had plenty of seasonings and paper towels for us to use, and the owner suggested using the raw vegetables left there so they wouldn't go to waste. With no ventilation fan, we cracked a window and ran a fan. There's no dryer in this older building, unlike the newer one, but clothes dried fine on the indoor line. I hung shirts wherever I could find a hanger, haha. The sea is a short walk away, which made the morning walks fun. I wanted to swim but had a packed schedule each day and couldn't. It would've been easy to come back to the inn right after a swim, though. I'd definitely like to stay here again someday.

We've kept coming back to Kaneya, first as a newly married couple and now with three children. The owner is really nice, and the traditional Okinawan house has its own special, almost mystical atmosphere. It's tucked quietly along a street of camphor trees, and the shisa on the roof are adorable. There's room for a big group, too. The kitchen is well equipped, so having a BBQ there is a good option. We love sitting on the veranda with Orion beer, looking out at the lovely green lawn. Chan-ya, a popular dinner spot, is nearby. If you book breakfast, a nearby restaurant delivers it in the morning. It feels like a proper Okinawan breakfast and tastes amazing. Our second child has been born, so we're looking forward to coming back as a family of four. If you want to stay in a traditional Okinawan home, I highly recommend Kaneya.