【FOCUS IT.]Choosing to travel to Okinawa in the spring: 3 pleasures I experienced at the Iriomotejima Hotel by Hoshino Resort in April.

Japan has a culture of enjoying the four seasons. However, there is also a certain pleasure in taking a trip and letting it fly away. Traveling abroad is a particularly great way to experience this change, but it is also possible to enjoy it in Japan.

Take Okinawa in spring, for example. The sea has already opened, and even though it is spring, it feels like summer. I have heard from people who live in Okinawa that the best time to visit is before June, when typhoons come, because there are fewer people. I wanted to experience it for myself, so I went to "Iriomotejima Hotel by Hoshino Resort". I would like to introduce three points that I actually felt during my stay, along with photos taken by my smartphone "OPPO Find X8".

1. Taste the ocean anyway, even in spring!

The average temperature in April is 22°C, and in May, summer days exceeding 25°C continue day after day on Iriomote Island. The weather is pleasant enough to wear T-shirts except in the morning and evening, and the period from late February to late April is called "Urizun" in Okinawa, which is said to be the most comfortable season. This year, Iriomote Island has already opened the sea on March 15, and the beach was just waiting for us to enjoy the sea.

The beach called "Tudumari Beach" stretches right in front of the hotel where we stayed, and we may go to the beach as soon as we arrive. The sandy beach here is like a private beach, relaxing and perfect for chilling. Of course, you can go into the ocean, but just being there is soothing.

The sunset from "Tsukigahama" is very beautiful.

If you want to have more fun, it is recommended to rent a car or join a reservation-based tour. Iriomotejima Hotel by Hoshino Resort" has many tours where you can enjoy activities, and I joined two of them this time.

Ida beach" can only be reached by boat. It is just so beautiful, but it's too bad the pictures don't do it justice...!

The scenery on the way by boat. The color of the sea changes from place to place.

The ship we boarded this time.

The "First Time Kayak Challenge" starts at Tsukigahama Beach and takes you through the ocean and mangrove forests. The kayaks are for two people, and there are places where you can stand on your feet, so you don't need to be scared.

No preparation is necessary as they will lend you a life jacket. The hat is my own, but the colors match and the styling is nice.

The instructor will teach you carefully, so even if it's your first time, you'll be fine.

The color of the sea on the way to the boat is also fun "Let's play on the beach of Ida! Ida Beach is a white sand beach with a beautiful gradation of the ocean! Ida Beach can only be reached by boat and is said to be the most beautiful beach on the island. The water is so clear that you can see small fish swimming in the water.

Another kayaking experience we tried was the "Hajimete no Kayak Challenge. As the name suggests, this is a kayaking experience for beginners. After an explanation, you board a kayak from "Tsukiga-hama" beach and slowly make your way around the mangroves and other areas. The instructor's careful advice, the pleasant scenery, and the moderate fatigue are all very comfortable.

There are many other tours available, some of which can only be enjoyed during that season, so you may want to think about it after you go.

2. Bathe in negative ions.

Almost all of Iriomote Island is a national park. Not only the sea, but also the greenery on land with subtropical vegetation is spectacular. From the Iriomote wildcat that everyone knows, rare animals such as the Ryukyu wild boar and the crested serpent eagle also inhabit the island.

The Iriomote Jungle Library.

There are also Acapulco chairs to sit and relax and read a book.

There were pictures of animals you can meet in Iriomote Island.

A minute's walk from the hotel entrance is the Iriomote Jungle Library, where you can read books while bathing in the forest. If you participate in the Iriomote Guided Walk Jungle Course, you will be guided further into the jungle, where you can learn about the animals and the trees.

Walking through the trees, you can see a variety of plants. Although we did not see any on the day we went, we did catch the call of a bird that comes to the island in April, the Ryukyu Red-crowned Kingfisher, which you can't find out by asking Google.

3. Spend some time on the premises anyway.

When you go on a trip, you may be tempted to stay busy and play around. However, there is also the option of doing nothing at all. There are those who lie in the water and read a book instead of getting in the water. You can read a book by the pool on the grounds, or just do whatever you want in your room, but that's just vacation, and you are free to do whatever you want.

We stayed in a twin bed + daybed room that sleeps 1-4 people. The view from the terrace was of the pool, the beach, and the open sky. The sunset time is especially beautiful and impressive no matter where you are. Sparkling wine is provided, so you can relax and enjoy it wherever you want and however you want.

The buffet was just right, about too much food, and I enjoyed it so much that I had to have another helping.

Dinner is served at the hotel restaurant. The buffet-style meal is rich in variety and includes dishes that are popular in Iriomote Island. Moreover, beer and several kinds of Awamori are free to drink! We enjoyed drinking and trying different ways of mixing the different kinds of Awamori.

The amenity of note was the "All-in-One Soap," developed with OSAJI for this hotel in consideration of environmental conservation, which uses a hypoallergenic formula and highly biodegradable amino acid-based cleaning ingredients. I was worried because my skin is sensitive, but I felt no discomfort even when washing my entire body, and it was very comfortable to use.

It takes about 6 hours to get to Iriomote Island by plane and boat from Haneda. Of course, summer is a great time to visit, but spring is just as pleasant and enjoyable.