Kintaro Hotel Okinawa Naha

Really good value, and checking in was hassle-free. The room was clean and roomy, with a kitchenette. It would suit a couple or a family of three.

I stayed for a week in this clean, newly built apartment. Having a washer and dryer in the room, plus a closet, was handy. There’s also a fridge, microwave, small kitchen, and basic utensils, though the kitchen isn’t very useful since the stove can’t be used. The mattress was so soft my back hurt in the morning. I also wished there were a washlet, and the internet was slow. Water pressure was weak on the higher floor. Just so you know, the apartment is in the red light district.

I booked room 301 for nine days and asked to leave and get a refund on the second day. The price was attractive, and the host replied to my Airbnb messages, but my main expectation was a clean place, which this wasn’t. The photos showed a very clean room. The host said, “we are sorry we could not meet your expectations at this time.” There was mold around the fridge seal, brown splashes on the ceiling and beside the fridge, and dust on the mirror and headboard. The purifier had so much dust on it that my kid got it on his pants. I moved it, but the nearby chair got dirty too. That chair was also heavily used and covered in brown stains. The kitchen vent looked coated in years of dusty, oily buildup, and the entrance still had dirt and stains. The room smelled moldy, and I was sneezing, coughing, and had a runny nose. Even my son's clothes smelled moldy after washing them. The AC made a very loud dripping noise. When I mentioned it, the “host” said it was because I’d set it too low, though I hadn’t touched it and it was still on the check-in setting. They told me to turn it off. I did, but the noise kept going for another two hours, three hours in total. I felt uncomfortable walking around with my kid because there were too many “gentlemen” host clubs nearby. The rule saying “Do not answer the door if someone rings the bell” also didn’t make me feel safe. Check-in was annoying and time-consuming, and I don’t think the door code had ever been changed. These units aren’t individually owned, so the house rule about treating the place as someone's home felt strange.

The place was more than satisfactory for the price, with a deep closet, balcony, kitchenette, and the basic amenities. It also had a washer and dryer with laundry soap. The only hassle was that we waited outside in the humidity until I emailed to get the entry and door code.