Haimurubushi Resort

A special thanks to Stéphane, whose warmth and fascinating story made the hospitality feel personal. The whole stay was smooth, from the café and restaurant to the buffet and convenience store, and the facilities are great for a relaxing break. Kohama Island itself is peaceful and beautiful, just right for switching off and recharging. We'd absolutely return.

We'd visited twice before the renovation and had a few concerns after seeing some unhappy reviews. Happily, the things we loved were still there: friendly staff, excellent service, and delicious breakfasts. The new beach pools are a great addition, and this time we also enjoyed the onsen, the entertainment, and driving around by cart. Shout out to the male artist, an excellent guitar and sanshin player. The carts could use an electric upgrade at some point. The one change we didn't like, besides the higher prices, was umi café closing early. It's such a lovely spot and would be better open at night with more food choices. The staff there are incredibly friendly too. We had a wonderful stay and can't wait to return.

The water colors at the resort beach and pool were the most beautiful I've ever seen, and there are activities like kayaking and SUP. There's plenty to do both on and off the property. Back at the resort, the rooms are clean and comfortable, the shared baths are well equipped, and the main building has lots of spots to relax or read. The food was exquisite, from breakfast through to the wagyu steak dinner. Highly recommend.

The staff were mostly kind and greeted us warmly, but I saw a senior staff member harshly reprimand a colleague in a public area. That was disheartening. Guests notice how colleagues treat one another, and I hope the respect shown to visitors extends to the team as well. I mention it because I enjoyed the stay and think the resort has a lot of potential. It was memorable, and I'll look forward to coming back. The nearby beach, which is within walking distance, had plastic bottles and other debris washed up on it. I realize it may be outside the hotel's property, but it was disappointing to see. Perhaps a weekly cleanup involving local students could help keep the area's natural beauty. The resort grounds themselves were spotless. The room TV remote was only in Japanese, with no English instructions, and there were no English news channels such as CNN. That seems like a missed opportunity for an international resort. As for the property itself, the room decor was stylish, there was plenty of space, and the cleanliness was impeccable, even by Japanese standards. I've stayed at luxury resorts in the Maldives, New Caledonia, and Fiji, and this place compares with the best of them. It deserves a 5-star level rating, and I wonder if limited international promotion is why more foreign visitors haven't found it.