Refurbished property boasts Sky Lounge with panoramic views of surrounding port
After extensive renovations, Hotel East China Sea on Ishigaki Island, Southwestern Japan, has officially reopened its doors for business. The popular hotel has enjoyed immense popularity among numerous guests as a landmark – which is only three minutes' walk from the Ishigaki Port Terminal.
The close proximity to the port makes the hotel the ideal spot for travellers looking to hop aboard ferrries connecting Ishigaki with other islands such as Taketomi, Iriomote and Hateruma. The island is also a hub for island tours, marine sports and cycling.
The key and most welcome change to the propery involves a new Sky Lounge, which offers a commanding a panoramic port view. The 70-square-meter terrace offers sprawling views of other Yaeyama Islands including Taketomi and ships sailing on the sea as well as sunset and the wonderful starry sky.
The interiors of the 26 guestrooms – suite rooms on the 13th floor and other guestrooms on the 10th and upper floors – have been refurbished into earth color-based ones that chime in with an unobstructed view of the ocean and sky.
Each guestroom is equipped with amenity goods produced by Aromatherapy Associates, an established British aromatherapy brand.
The new third-floor Italian restaurant “Porto Azzurro”, is a typical restaurant at a resort area. The blue- and white-based interior of the restaurant represents the sky and ocean stretching infinitely.
Original foods – such as those using “miyabuta” and “misakigyu” beef nurtured by the nature of the Yaeyama Islands that include Ishigaki – are served at “Porto Azzurro.” These foods have been produced in the spirit of “nuchigusui” (the medicine of life), which has been handed down from generation to generation in Okinawa.