Hotel Caretta

The staff were polite, professional, and attentive throughout my stay, and I appreciated how well they looked after me. The room was exceptionally clean, even by Japanese standards. It was very spacious and well equipped, with a balcony overlooking the pool and partial sea views. There was even a humidifier, useful in Amami's humid subtropical weather for drying swimwear, plus a small foldable rack beside it for towels and wet clothes. The hotel is just across the road from Ashitoku Beach (Ashitoku Coast), in a remote spot on Amami Oshima's northwest coast. I had a great stay, though having your own transport would be useful. I'm not sure, but the hotel might provide an airport shuttle or another transport service. It feels like a full resort, well suited to families or groups of friends wanting to relax and enjoy nature. There are two outdoor pools, one that looks about semi-Olympic size and a smaller children's pool, plus an outdoor jacuzzi. Nearby showers are available for rinsing diving or snorkeling gear. Beside the pool, a large tree has a swing chair and is lit up beautifully at night. There are chaise lounges and BBQ tables where food and drinks can be served. The hotel offers three meals a day, and you can apparently book a BBQ set, presumably with meat and other food, to cook at the outdoor tables. I saw families using the pool all day and into the evening. Kids had large inflatable floats, which I assume the hotel provides. There's a small shop in the lobby selling beach gear like flip-flops, hats, souvenirs, and T-shirts. A rack of sea gear, including life vests and water shoes, also seems to be there for guests to use. A diving shop next door runs guided diving and snorkeling tours. You can also explore Ashitoku Beach by yourself, though it's scenic and quite rocky, so take care if snorkeling. My only complaints were a faint bathroom smell, probably from the plumbing, and very low shower pressure. That's why I gave the hotel four stars instead of five.