Sankara Hotel & Spa Yakushima
It doesn’t get much more country than Yakushima, an island off the southwestern tip of the Japanese mainland, at the same time one of the greenest, rainiest and most stunning locations on Earth. This lush, wooded, mountainous island was the inspiration for Princess Mononoke’s forest, and today, a couple of decades after the last logging operation ceased, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has become something like a Japanese version of Walden Pond.
Rather than the ultra-traditional ryokan concept, tatami and all, Sankara’s twenty-nine rooms are Western in format — floors are for walking, not sitting. The concept is “auberge,” and like so many other French traditions, it travels well. The rooms are sophisticated and comfortable but they’re a bit understated; the restaurant and spa are the main event, at least in-house. The spa imports Thai treatments and aesthetics. The real attraction, though, it must be said, is the island itself — Sankara offers sea views or forest tableaux out every window, and offers hikers and adventurers a base camp for exploring the island’s endless trails. A country inn, however thoughtfully crafted, is only as good as its setting — fortunately in this case there’s no upper limit.
How to get to Yakushima:
-From Tokyo: 2-hour flight to Kagoshima then a half-hour flight or 3-hour ferry to Yakushima.
-From Osaka: 1.5-hour direct flight to Yakushima.
How to get to Sankara Hotel & Spa:
-15 minutes from Anbo seaport by hotel's complementary transfer service.
-30 minutes from Yakushima airport
Location
Guest Score & Reviews
Scores are on a 20-point scale, from verified guest reviews. The quality score helps ensure that our selection stays fresh and vital.
Perfect getaway for the discerning luxury traveller. The hotel is a very sophisticated and quiet. A very mature atmosphere that keeps the public spaces calm and most importantly quiet. The staff are dedicated, excellently skilled and politely friendly, some of the best service I have recieved anywhere in the world! The restaurant offers a set menu made from excellently prepared, fresh and local produce and it is always excellent! This review is a rave, because this hotel deserves it.
武井シェフ監修のフランス料理、きめ細かなサービス、アクティビティ手配の充実
La piscine et les espaces communs.
Rooms & Rates
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