Okinawa Hinode Resort and Hot Spring Hotel Review. An Amazing Family Hotel in the Heart of Naha
The Okinawa Hinode Resort and Hot Spring Hotel is an amazing four star resort hotel located in the heart of Naha, and packed with extras that make it a perfect spot for families. We stayed here for five nights during our recent trip to Okinawa, and it was a great choice, balancing affordability with great facilities, a pool and outdoor hot springs, and great location.
When researching where to stay in Okinawa with kids, we wanted a hotel that offered more than just a comfortable bed for the night. We were looking for somewhere that felt like part of the holiday itself, with facilities that both adults and children could enjoy. And the Okinawa Hinode Resort and Hot Spring Hotel definitely delivered that.
In fact, thanks to its natural hot springs and a family-friendly outdoor pool to unlimited drinks, free ice cream, evening ramen and daily activities, this hotel delivered far more than we expected. And it was one of our favourite hotels of our most-recent Japan trip.
Looking for the perfect hotel in Naha, Okinawa? Here’s our full family Okinawa Hinode Resort and Hot Spring hotel review:
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Location
Okinawa Hinode Resort and Spa is located in Naha, making it an excellent base for exploring the city and the wider island. The hotel sits directly adjacent to Makishi Station on the Okinawa Urban Monorail, meaning it’s easy to get to both from the airport, and to explore the rest of Naha’s attractions.
The hotel is also just a 3 minute walk away from Naha’s main shopping street and entertainment hub. Kokusai Dori (which translates to international street) is so close to the hotel and is packed with souvenir shops, excellent restaurants, and fun covered markets.
From a practical perspective, the hotel is also less than 2 minutes away from your choose of konbinis (both Lawsons and Seven Eleven) which was great for stocking up on water bottles and snacks before our road trips, as well as snacks for the kids to have around the pool.
For families spending a few days exploring Naha before heading elsewhere in Okinawa, the location is extremely convenient. We actually choose to spend 5 nights here, and made it our base for wider explorations of the main island. You can arrange affordable car parking with the hotel if, like us, car hire will be an important aspect of your trip.
Our Room
Our room was fairly compact, as is often the case in Japan, but it was modern, comfortable and finished to a high standard. While there wasn’t an enormous amount of space, it worked perfectly well for our family and provided everything we needed after busy days exploring Okinawa.
The beds were comfortable, the room was spotlessly clean and everything felt well maintained.
Please note that these rooms have traditional tatami mat floors. I love the way these look and feel, but it’s worth noting because it means it’s even more important to remove your shoes as you enter the room. It also means that you can’t wheel your luggage across the room: you’ll have to lift it. There is a luggage rack in the room for this purpose, which we used to stack both of our suitcases.
The Pool and Hot Springs
One of the highlights of our stay was the outdoor pool area. Not because the pool was particularly large, but because it was so needed in the heat of the Okinawan sun. The swimming pool itself isn’t huge, but it’s beautifully designed and perfect for cooling off after a day of sightseeing.
There was enough room for the boys to play ball games, swim, and have a good time. Small floats are allowed in the pool, and there are life vests lined up along the site of the pool for any child that needs them.
The pool is divided into two, and the smaller section is much shallower, best suited to toddlers There is also a small toddler slide in this side of the pool (I say it’s for toddlers and it is, but both boys enjoyed sliding on it anyway!)
Behind the pool are the hotel’s natural hot springs, which became one of our favourite features.
As a family travelling with two boys, we’ve sometimes found traditional Japanese onsen experiences difficult because of gender-separated bathing areas. The boys and Mike would go one way, and I would go another, on my own. What made Okinawa Hinode Resort and Spa different was that these outdoor hot springs could be enjoyed in swimwear.
This allowed our whole family to experience the hot springs together, something we hadn’t really been able to do elsewhere during our trip. The waters are maintained at a temperature of 42.2 degrees. This is a genuine, mineral-rich hot spring, which is why the water has a yellow tinge. The mix of iron, sulfur, and high salinity give them an amber hue.
For families, being able to enjoy these hot springs together is a huge advantage of choosing this hotel, and one of the reasons we’d happily stay here again.
Unlimited Drinks, Ice Cream and Popcorn
If you have children, this section alone may convince you to book. The hotel has a self-service drinks area that is available throughout the day. This is located in the same dining area where they serve breakfast.
Guests can enjoy:
- Unlimited soft drinks 24 hours a day
- Alcoholic drinks between 10am and 10pm
- Self-pour beer
- Cocktail ingredients and recipes to make your own delicious cocktails
- Local Okinawan alcoholic drinks
One of the most memorable experiences was trying Okinawa’s famous habushu, a traditional rice liquor infused with snake. It was on our list of things we wanted to try during our time in Okinawa, and we managed to do it right in the hotel!
It certainly isn’t something you encounter every day…and it isn’t something I’d want to try again!
Alongside the drinks station, guests can also help themselves to unlimited popcorn and ice cream throughout the day. The popcorn flavour changes every day (highlights for us included butter soy and matcha flavours) and there are always at least two ice cream flavours with sauce and toppings.
Needless to say, this was incredibly popular with our boys, who were starting to look like ice cream tubs by the end of the trip!
Free Evening Ramen
Another unexpected highlight was the hotel’s evening ramen service. Each evening, freshly prepared ramen noodles were available for guests to enjoy free of charge. This takes place from 8.30pm-9.30pm every night. Again, flavours change daily, and the day’s flavours were posted in reception and in the elevators each morning.
After a busy day exploring Okinawa, it was the perfect late evening snack and quickly became part of our daily routine for the boys to have noodles and ice cream before bed.
It’s one of those small touches that made this hotel stay feel genuinely special.
Activities For Children And Adults
Many city hotels offer very little in terms of children’s entertainment, but Okinawa Hinode Resort and Spa was different.
The hotel offered two activity sessions each day, one in the morning and another in the late afternoon, that were aimed at both children and adults: in fact they would be perfect for families to enjoy together. Again, these were posted in the elevator and in reception.
Activities changed daily and during our stay they included:
- Craft sessions such as jewellery or keyring making
- Archery or ninja star throwing
- Traditional Okinawan costume experiences
- Cultural activities
We were so busy out and about every day exploring the island in our car that we didn’t manage to enjoy any of these activities, but we caught the end of a craft session and it looked like a lot of fun!
Breakfast at the Okinawa Hinode Resort and Hot Springs
Breakfast was included during our stay and was excellent. The buffet offered a wide selection of Japanese and Western options, making it easy to find something for every member of the family. I indulged in French Toast on my first visit to the buffet followed by freshly prepared sushi on my second.
Everything was fresh, well presented and regularly replenished. The boys were excited to see mini corndogs (their Japanese junkfood favourites) on the breakfast menu, and there was also a station where you could make your own fresh onigiri.
Starting the day with a substantial breakfast made sightseeing much easier and added significant value to our stay. One day, the boys ate so much at breakfast that they didn’t want anything but ice cream (Blue Seal, of course) for lunch!
The Staff
The service at Okinawa Hinode Resort and Spa was outstanding.
We arrived earlier than expected (we had an early flight in from Osaka) and the team went out of their way to help find a room that was already available, so that we could freshen up.
Throughout our stay they were friendly, welcoming and incredibly helpful. They were so kind to the boys, letting them practice their Japanese and praising their efforts.
One detail we particularly loved was the collection of staff-designed postcards and stickers available at reception free of charge. The boys spent ages choosing the perfect postcards and stickers for their Japan scrapbooks. It might be a small touch, but it perfectly captures the thoughtful atmosphere that runs throughout the hotel.
Booking the Okinawa Hinode Resort and Spa
I cannot write enough good things about this hotel: we had an amazing stay. And it blows my mind that we only paid £451 for a 5 night stay for our family of four.
We booked this hotel through Klook, our go-to for our Asian hotel and attraction bookings. You get instant booking confirmation, and if you use our discount code, prices are generally cheaper than elsewhere too.
QUICK BOOKING BOX:
👉 Check prices and availability for the Okinawa Hinode Resort and Spa
🎁 Use code THATMUMTRAVEL5KLOOK for an extra-reader exclusive discount
Is Okinawa Hinode Resort and Spa Worth It?
From my point of view, the Okinawa Hinode Resort and Spa was worth every penny!
The combination of comfortable accommodation, family-friendly hot springs, unlimited drinks, free snacks, evening ramen, children’s activities and exceptional service makes this one of the best-value family hotels we’ve stayed in during our travels in Japan.
While the rooms aren’t enormous, the facilities and overall experience more than compensate.
Final Verdict and Further Reading
If you’re looking for a family-friendly hotel in Naha that offers something beyond the ordinary, Okinawa Hinode Resort and Spa is an easy recommendation.
The swimwear-friendly hot springs, unlimited refreshments, thoughtful family facilities and outstanding service helped make this one of the most memorable hotel stays of our Okinawa trip. And its convenient location means that, if you want to explore Naha without hiring a car, there’s no better spot!
Would we stay again? Without hesitation.
Still planning the perfect Okinawa trip? Check out some of our other kid-friendly guides and reviews:
👉 Okinawa with Kids: The Ultimate Family Guide (2026)
👉 Things To Do In Naha Okinawa With Kids: Best Family-Friendly Attractions
👉 Where to Stay in Okinawa with Kids: Naha vs Beach Resorts (2026 Guide)
👉 Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium Guide (2026): Is It Worth Visiting with Kids?
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Heads up! This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a very small commission – at no extra cost to you. This helps to keep the site going. Thanks for the support!
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