Villa Charme

My son was happiest at this villa out of all the places we stayed in Japan. The house was fun, and the wild views made for a really sweet memory.

The uphill walk back from Gorilla Chop was a bit of a workout. Still, the place itself was clean and comfortable, and there’s not much else I can fault. It felt set up for families, with kids’ toys, picture books, and even fireworks. The Wi-Fi was the one other snag: there were several networks, but none had a good connection.

The little details made this guesthouse feel so carefully looked after, and the water was a surprise highlight. It’s all softened with a water softener, and the bath has a Panasonic beauty bath device that makes lots of sodium bicarbonate microbubbles. Soaking in it reminded me of the Su'ao cold spring. My skin felt incredibly smooth, and my hair got really soft too. There’s a courtyard downstairs with tables, chairs, a hammock, and an outdoor Jacuzzi. We arrived late and didn’t get to use it, but the kids were nearly squealing with excitement. There’s also a small bathroom by the entrance. Both bedrooms are downstairs, and the beds were wonderfully comfortable, especially for me, since I like firm mattresses. Everything was impeccably clean. The kitchen, living room, and Japanese-style room are upstairs. The kitchen has an IH stove, rice cooker, and tableware, including dishes for children. The owner had even left an electric teppanyaki grill for guests. I’ve just come back from Okinawa and was so happy we stayed here. Our whole family is already looking forward to another visit to Villa Charme.

It’s quiet around the house, mostly residential, and there’s plenty of parking right out front. The place sits a little uphill and feels somewhat remote. For the price, it was acceptable, though it was damp, and I would’ve liked a dehumidifier to keep it clean since I’m always allergic to it. The layout has the toilet and two very basic bedrooms downstairs, with just beds, wardrobes, and small tables. The mattresses are on the floor, and the air conditioning was very cold. One bedroom has an outdoor bathtub, but we spotted a snake next to it and were too scared to open the door, never mind take a bath. Upstairs there’s a living room, kitchen, tatami area, and bathroom with a dressing table, washer and dryer, toilet, and bathtub.