Sankara Hotel & Spa Yakushima

已經來住第三次，屋久島上最棒的飯店，不論是餐食、服務、房間還有環境真的是超推薦。來島上一定必住旅店。

外出の間に掃除をしてくれるのは助かるが中途半端にぐちゃぐちゃの新しいバスローブを置いといてくれるのはいかがなものか そして部屋の代表者名呼びがコロコロ変わる。どうしてなのかな？ いまとなってはコロナ前の素敵なプラスアルファの心遣いはインバウンドでいらしたお客様だけに向けられているようだ。とても悲しかった。

Pick-up from Yakushima Airport was excellent. We were greeted by Mayuri (I think this was her name!) who drove us back and gave us a really comprehensive brief on the hotel, the island and what we could get up to during our stay. Sankara is located what feels like half way up the side of the mountain so you have a majestic panorama of the sea in front of you, and a tropical mountain behind you. When it rains you can see huge waterfalls gushing down from the peaks. It's really spectacular. Check-in was welcoming and seamless. Bags already in our room when we got there. The room itself was phenomenal. It reminded me of being in Thailand - really tropical, very large, and well-equipped. Welcome snacks and a comp minibar were great. The bed was massive and comfortable - really easy to sleep well here. The bathroom was massive and had excellent Thann toiletries. The food at Sankara really makes it stand out. The breakfasts are superb and fill you up for the day. They change buffet options just enough each day to keep things interesting. Their baked options are, oh, wow... Custard tarts, curry bread, black tea melon pan... The dinners are otherworldly. The main restaurant, which was included in our price, had an excellent daily menu with phenomenal specials. We 'upgraded' to the fancier restaurant upstairs one night and had an even more elevated experience - an exquisite menu and elevated service. I also fell in love with Nanbu Bijin sake here. They have a great range of local shochus and beers too. The main lounge is open all day and they have beer/shochu on tap - as well as a great selection of snacks and baked products (which are all excellent). They also put out a full bar each evening for happy hour. They do car hire here which made exploring the island so easy (includes insurance and petrol - think I spent Y6,600 for several hours). They also rent out waterproof clothing - and hiking boots - making is SO easy to explore and trek up the island's famous mountains. There was a full-on typhoon here during one of our days but it didn't matter - just added to the atmosphere of the hotel, in which we had a snug and lazy day. The gym is simple but sufficient for anything you need - important for burning off some of the calories from all the great dining options they have. The pool is awesome - but a little cold while we were there. But it's the staff here that make it so special. They always seem to anticipate your needs - and do so in such an unobtrusive, subtle, accommodating way. I've never come across anything like it in Japan. I will definitely come back one day. There's so much more I could say but words wouldn't do it justice. You have to experience this magical place for yourself.

We stayed at the Sankara for 3 nights on part of our holiday to Japan, and it was definitely the highlight of the trip. Everything about our stay was fantastic - the staff were all amazingly welcoming (and spoke fantastic English), and nothing seemed like an imposition for them. They really went out of their way to make us feel at home and taken care of. The hotel itself was great - the rooms were huge, private and well appointed. The public areas were comfortable, with free drinks and snacks throughout the day. The pool area was beautiful with stunning views of both the sea and the mountains. The hotel even offers car rentals and hiking equipment rentals, making it incredibly easy to experience all that Yakushima has to offer. Lastly, the food was EXCELLENT. I was a bit nervous about the dining concept of French food using Japanese ingredients (as I wanted to mainly have Japanese food while in Japan) but I didn’t need to have worried. Literally everything I ate was heavenly. We ate at both restaurants during our stay and both were world-class. I didn’t want to leave, and can’t wait to return.

We had a perfect time at Sankara Hotel & Spa. The kitchen is first class and the guest service is excellent. They took care of everything so we could fully enjoy our stay, for example when we used one of their rental cars, the staff already configured the car navigation to english with the correct destination and provided a beach bag with towels and water, which was very forthcoming. For anyone looking for peace and nature, but doesn't want to miss out on amenities, this is the best choice on Yakushima. Excellent food and exceptional staff which also speaks perfect english so communication is easy as well.

Among my favorite hotels of all time. I think I will definitely come back at some point (waiting for them to join the Hilton/SLH partnership) Pros - Unparalleled hospitality. Staff is very accommodating to your needs. Helped us make dinner plans, moved dinner times, suggested activities, etc. - Room comes with pickup & drop-off at the airport - Okras restaurant food is so good I think it might be worth going just for the restaurant. Was better than the last 3 Michelin Star restaurant I dined at (Le Bernardin). - Property is quite beautiful - Rental cars are available to rent on property, and hotel also has hiking equipment for rent - Happy hour provides free drinks for about two(?) hours a day Cons - The property itself is on a steep incline, so there is a bit of climbing that is necessary to go to and from your room to the main building. The staff will pick you up via golf carts however, if you request, so I am thankful for that. - The property is located quite far from the airport and is tucked away in a relatively isolated location, so going in and out of the property does take some time.