Aquasense Hotel & Resort

The outdoor sauna was advertised as open until 9 PM, but it was closed at 6 PM because, we were told, no staff would be there. We weren’t clearly told that using it required a two-hour consecutive booking, and staff made that sound like the only option, at a prohibitive price. For a resort amenity, that felt inaccessible and misrepresented. We also had trouble at breakfast. On the second morning, our tickets hadn’t been issued, and when we went to the breakfast area, staff asked us to pay for something already included in our booking. The mistake and their impatience made an already poor experience worse. We paid almost 50,000 JPY per night expecting luxury, but on arrival in the evening we were given a first-floor room with barely an ocean view. It smelled strongly of feet, which staff called “the room’s aroma.” When we asked to move, we were told all upper-floor rooms were full. They offered to move us two hours later to a room with no view and twin beds instead of a double. That was nowhere near what I expect at this price, and made me question the housekeeping and how room conditions were represented. The service also left us feeling that foreigners were treated differently. Staff didn’t greet or acknowledge non-Japanese guests with the same courtesy we saw given to Japanese guests. At breakfast on both mornings, we arrived early when only a handful of people were there, but were seated at the table farthest from the food while Japanese guests sat right by the buffet. It happened twice, so it didn’t feel like a one-off mistake. To us, it looked like a recurring racist pattern. Checkout was at 11:00, which I understand on busy days. But the hotel wasn’t close to full that night, and when we asked to stay until noon, staff insisted even an 11:30 checkout would cost 6,000 JPY. That felt unreasonable and predatory, especially without a full occupancy reason. Aquasense Hotel was deeply disappointing and nowhere near the luxury suggested by the price. Between the room condition, what felt like discriminatory service, extra charges, and poorly managed amenities, I question the value and integrity of the place. If you want a high-end, welcoming, transparent stay, I wouldn’t choose it. TLDR: if you aren’t Japanese, expect no smiles!

The rooms are huge and thoughtfully designed, with a private hot tub on the balcony looking out over the sea. The pools were beautiful and kept in great shape, and relaxing there was easy. I especially liked the generous Chinese buffet breakfast, with loads of tasty options, included in the stay. Free drinks through the afternoon were a nice extra while lounging. It felt luxurious and was great value.

We’ll be back at Aquasense Hotel for future golf trips to PGM Okinawa. It’s only about a five-minute drive from the course, and there’s convenient free parking below the building. You’d probably want a car to get around, though. The balcony view was lovely even with mostly cloudy weather, and I imagine it’s breathtaking in the sun. There’s also a bathtub out there. It was too cold for us to try it, but I can see it being great when it’s warmer. Inside, the room was spotless, comfortable, and better than I expected. From the photos my wife showed me, I’d assumed it would be an ordinary Okinawa hotel room, but we were pleasantly surprised. The bed was enormous, something like a double king size, and so comfortable that our bed at home felt tiny afterward. We came for a quick weekend and a round of golf together. Aquasense is definitely our choice next time we visit PGM. Highly recommend.

There’s just one restaurant at the hotel, and no room service, but I’d still return if I get the chance 🩶. The shared pool is large and has a poolside bar. Our room was bigger than it looked in the photos, very well kept, and had a stunning ocean view. The terrace was a perfect spot for sunset. A larger fridge and microwave in the room were convenient, and the hotel had ice packs in a common area for guests to take. The free open bar and bath salts in the lobby were lovely touches.