From the moment I booked, I somehow had a feeling this would be a special trip.
Seeing the hotel name "Feliz Villa Suite Irabujima Nagahama Bay", my first thought was "what is there at Nagahama Bay?" I have been to Miyakojima many times, but I knew almost nothing about the Nagahama area of Irabu Island. When I looked it up, the words that came up were "mangrove", "lagoon" and "private pool". "Not so much an outer-island resort feel, but more being wrapped in a forest?" I booked it while feeling a little puzzled.
When I actually arrived—a scenery completely different from what I had imagined spread out before me. A stillness wrapped in lush mangroves. A calm lagoon right in front, where you hear nothing but the voices of birds. There were many moments when I thought, "Is this really Japan?" Neither a hotel nor a resort, the sense of "I have come to a holiday home" had already settled in completely 15 minutes after checking in.
In this article, I will write honestly about what I felt actually experiencing Feliz Villa Suite Irabujima Nagahama Bay, covering everything from the basics to nearby sights and the food situation. I would be glad if it helps anyone looking for somewhere to stay on Irabu Island, anyone seeking a private lodging experience, or anyone interested in a high-grade suite villa.
- Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay basic information
- Mangrove and lagoon—the one-of-a-kind location unique to Nagahama Bay
- Inside the suite villa—a space where holiday-home feel and high grade coexist
- Private pool and jacuzzi—the luxury of every unit having one
- On-site restaurant "San Irabujima"
- Who Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay suits and does not suit
- Nearby sights
- What the reviews tell us—the real assessment of Nagahama Bay
- Food life in the Nagahama area—self-catering and nearby restaurants
- A 3-day, 2-night plan at Nagahama Bay
- The prices to note and how to book
- Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay frequently asked questions
- What Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay leaves you with
- Summary: features of Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay
Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay basic information
Feliz Villa Suite Irabujima Nagahama Bay is a relatively new private resort villa that opened in the summer of 2023.
It is one of the "Feliz Villa Suite series" operated by Nikken Hotel Management; the same series includes Irabujima Sawada, Miyakojima Ueno, and Kourijima View. The overall concept of this series is "a holiday-home-style hotel", and among them I felt Nagahama Bay is the villa with the strongest sense of oneness with the natural environment.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official name | Feliz Villa Suite Irabujima Nagahama Bay |
| Location | Irabu Nagahama 1643-1, Miyakojima City, Okinawa |
| Opened | Summer 2023 |
| Access | About 30 min by car from Miyako Airport, about 3 min by car from Miyako Shimojishima Airport |
| Parking | 14 free spaces (no reservation needed) |
| Check-in | 15:00 onwards |
| Check-out | by 11:00 |
| Phone | 0980-79-6700 (reception 9:00–18:00) |
▶Check the details on the official site
"About 3 minutes by car" from Miyako Shimojishima Airport is astonishingly close. As an outer-island resort you can reach in about 3 hours from Tokyo using StarFlyer and the like from Haneda, the ease of access is top-class, I think. From Miyako Airport it takes about 30 minutes across the Irabu Ohashi Bridge, but that spectacular scenic drive itself becomes part of the trip.
Mangrove and lagoon—the one-of-a-kind location unique to Nagahama Bay
Even within the Feliz Villa Suite series, the greatest feature Nagahama Bay has is its location.
The grounds sit along the Nagahama lagoon surrounded by mangroves, and the lagoon spreads out just outside the villa's private pool. Lift your gaze while in the pool and you see the green of the mangroves and, beyond, the calm expanse of water. This combination is a landscape unique to Nagahama Bay, found at no other Feliz Villa Suite.
I still remember the feeling when I arrived, finished checking in, and threw the room's sliding door wide open. The wind blew. The rustle of the mangroves, and the voices of birds from afar. "Ah, this place is different", I thought. The very quality of the air is different from a city hotel or a seaside resort.
With the ebb and flow of the tide, the lagoon's expression changes. At high tide the water rises high and fish come in. Stay quiet at night and you hear a splish-splash sound. It is the sound of fish jumping. "Hearing the sound of fish jumping at a hotel" is an experience I have had nowhere but here. At low tide the water draws back and the mangrove roots appear, and the crabs all begin to stir at once. Red crabs, blue crabs, big crabs, small crabs—you are amazed by the variety. The phrase "a paradise of crabs" came to mind.
Night becomes another world. The island has few streetlights, and the grounds become almost pitch-dark. In return, the stars are truly visible. I had read reviews saying "the starry sky is beautiful", but the actual sight was at the level of "I had no idea the Milky Way could be seen this clearly". I saw shooting stars many times. Living in the city, you completely forget this kind of night sky.
Inside the suite villa—a space where holiday-home feel and high grade coexist
The villa interior has a chic, stylish decor. Rather than an atmosphere that pushes "Okinawan feel" or "tropical resort feel" to the front, it is unified in a refined modern taste. Personally I thought of it as "a high-grade city hotel suite, placed inside a forest and sea".
The living room is spacious, with a high-quality sofa. Throw the sliding door wide open and it connects to the outdoor pool and terrace, blurring the boundary between inside and out. The feeling of spending time in your own living room while gazing at the mangroves—this, I think, is the core of the "holiday-home style" concept.
The kitchen has proper equipment, with a rice cooker, microwave, hob, fridge, tableware and cooking utensils all there. Even seasonings are provided, so if you buy ingredients at the supermarket you can fully self-cater. When I stayed, we made our own breakfast and ate it on the terrace. Home-made breakfast eaten while gazing at the mangroves was more delicious than any hotel buffet.
The bathroom has a jacuzzi bath, so you can ease your whole body after playing in the sea. Towels and detergents are plentiful too, so there is almost no need to bring everyday items. Hand soap scented with Miyakojima's night-blooming cereus is placed throughout, and you feel small touches of care in the details. Different kinds of hand soap are placed in the kitchen, the toilet and the powder room respectively, and I thought, "they have really thought this through".
The bed is large and comfortable. When I woke in the morning, what I heard was the chirping of birds. The pleasantness of waking not to an alarm but to the voices of birds was a sensation I knew for the first time on coming here.
To add a little about the interior, compared with Miyakojima Ueno in the same series, many say Nagahama Bay has a chicer, more grown-up taste. From the sofa design and the placement of the lighting to the interior accessories, it is a cohesive, stylish space. "Being invited to a stylish holiday home" may be the closest feeling.
A washing machine is provided too, so it can handle long stays. The feeling of "I want to stay a week" comes, I think, precisely because there are facilities with this sense of daily living.
Private pool and jacuzzi—the luxury of every unit having one
Every villa at Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay comes with a private pool and jacuzzi. "A pool in every unit" is a rare facility even for a villa of this class.
The pool is set on a terrace adjacent to the mangroves, so you can gaze at the lagoon while you swim. Because the water temperature is managed (kept above 30 degrees, according to reviews), you can swim even in winter. A guest who visited in December also said in their account "I could swim normally even in winter", so there is the reassurance of being able to use it regardless of season.
Parasols and deck chairs are placed by the poolside, so you can easily spend all day here. In fact, there was a day when I cancelled all my sightseeing plans and spent it reading by the poolside. The "luxury of doing nothing" is here.
The jacuzzi bath is on the terrace or in the bathroom, so you can have the experience of soaking in the jacuzzi under the starry sky. On the night terrace, soaking in the jacuzzi while sensing the presence of the mangroves, I had the strange feeling of "how did I get to come to such a wonderful place?" It was time far removed from the everyday.
On-site restaurant "San Irabujima"
Within the grounds of Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay is the affiliated restaurant "San Irabujima". It is a sukiyaki and shabu-shabu specialist using Miyako Kyori beef and Agu pork, where you can enjoy Okinawan ingredients with a step-up cooking method.
For villa-type lodgings that do not provide meals, the food side often becomes a challenge. But here there is a restaurant on the grounds, so the fact that there is a dinner option is significant. It also handles delivery to your room, so you can use it in the "I want to eat by the poolside" way too.
Drawn by the words "Miyako Kyori beef", I had dinner at the restaurant. The umami of the lean meat was rich, it paired well with shabu-shabu, and I was surprised that "you can eat this kind of meat dish in Okinawa". A BBQ plan is also available, so the options are wide if you want to enjoy a meal outdoors.
Nearby there is also a cafe called "Kuninaka Shoten", and some travellers seem to go there for breakfast after checking out. Its chewy bread and chinsuko shake are well-regarded, and it can be used as a place to drop by at a leisurely pace after check-out.
Who Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay suits and does not suit
Here is my honest assessment, felt from actually staying, of who this villa suits and does not suit.
Who it suits
It suits people who seek nature and stillness most of all. Mangroves, lagoon, the voices of birds, the starry sky—an environment at the opposite pole from the bustle of the city. It is perfect for people who think "rather than uploading to social media, I want to feel this moment with my body".
It also suits people who want to secure maximum privacy. Because of the all-independent villa structure, there is almost no chance of running into other guests. Play music, talk with friends until late at night, and you bother no one. This freedom is unique to a private villa.
It suits an anniversary trip for couples or partners. The private pool, the starry sky, and the terrace surrounded by mangroves are second to none for creating a romantic atmosphere. It is understandable that many people choose it for a birthday or anniversary trip. Premium members of services like Ikyu.com also get a sparkling wine gift, so you can stage a special evening.
It also suits people considering a long stay. Because facilities such as a kitchen and washing machine are in place, you can spend even a week-long stay comfortably. The "use this as a base to explore Irabu Island" approach suits it. You do not get tired of it, I think, because the natural scenery changes a little each day.
It is also an ideal location for people who want to enjoy sightseeing on Irabu Island and Shimojishima. Access to spots such as Toriike Pond, 17END, Toguchi-no-Hama and Sawada-no-Hama is good, and the location of a 3-minute drive from Miyako Shimojishima Airport has high convenience as a sightseeing base.
It also suits people who like canoeing and water activities. You can enjoy a canoe experience on the lagoon, and the sensation of paddling the calm water is an experience you can only have within Irabu Island's nature.
Who it does not suit
It may not quite suit people who seek luxury-resort service. Because it is a holiday-home style based on self-service, if you want hotel-concierge-like attentive service, you may feel it falls short. Things like bed-making may not be done every day (please confirm).
It may be too quiet for people who like lively places. The night is truly quiet, and all you hear is the sounds of nature. For people who think "I want to go out into town and enjoy the night", a lodging close to central Miyakojima suits better.
It is difficult for people travelling without a car. Getting around the island assumes a hire car, and there is no supermarket or convenience store within walking distance. A hire car being essential on Miyakojima is the same everywhere, but finishing your shopping at AEON and the like before check-in is essential.
It is a little inconvenient for people who want to eat out every meal. As the nearby restaurants within walking distance are limited, moving by car becomes the premise. Using the on-site restaurant every day is one method, but it costs money. Having the self-catering option supports the practicality of a long stay.
Nearby sights
Here are the main sights of Irabu Island and Shimojishima you can tour with Nagahama Bay as your lodging base.
Toriike Pond | about 5 min by car
A mysterious pond on Shimojishima, designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument. The structure in which two circular ponds, one large and one small, are connected underground and also link to the sea is the origin of the name "Toriike" (passing pond). It is also a diving spot known to divers around the world.
The water level and colour change with the ebb and flow of the tide, showing entirely different expressions depending on when you visit. A promenade is in place, so you can fully enjoy it without diving.
It is about a 5-minute drive from Nagahama Bay, so it is easy to incorporate as a stroll on your arrival day.
17END | about 10 min by car
A seashore spreading out at the end of Shimojishima Airport's runway, famous for its spectacular view at low tide. Emerald-green shallows stretch out gently, and you can enjoy the collaboration of aircraft taking off and landing with the sea. However, it is a sight you can only see at low tide, so checking the tide table is essential. Many travellers go at high tide and are disappointed that "it is different from what I imagined", so please take note.
Toguchi-no-Hama | about 15 min by car
A white-sand beach representative of Irabu Island, with calm waves and high clarity. The spectacular sight of powder-fine white sand stretching for 800 metres is unforgettable once you see it. It suits both snorkelling and swimming, enjoyable for a wide range from families to grown-up trips.
Sawada-no-Hama | about 15 min by car
A beach on the north coast of Irabu Island, chosen as one of "Japan's Top 100 Beaches". At low tide the rocks appear, and the sight of the sun setting between them is exquisite. It is popular as a photogenic spot, and at dusk there are many travellers with cameras at the ready. Being a short distance from Nagahama Bay, it is easy to fit into post-check-out sightseeing too.
Irabu Ohashi Bridge | about 20 min by car
A bridge 3,540 metres long connecting Miyakojima and Irabu Island, the longest toll-free bridge in Japan. The spectacular view of the Miyako Blue sea and coastline seen from the bridge is the standard of standards for Irabu Island sightseeing. It is lit up in the evening.
Nakanoshima Beach | about 10 min by car
Also called "Kayaffa Beach", one of Irabu Island's finest snorkelling points. A coral reef where over 100 species of tropical fish live spreads out, and being shallow, it is easy to enjoy even for beginners. You can sometimes meet sea turtles. Being right near Nagahama Bay, it is easy to drop by casually.
What the reviews tell us—the real assessment of Nagahama Bay
The Booking.com score is a high 8.8, and it maintains a high rating on Ikyu.com too. From the voices of people who actually stayed, I have organised the real assessment of Nagahama Bay.
There are many voices like, "I could fully enjoy a quiet, luxurious resort stay while gazing at the mangroves and lagoon right in front. The room of course, but the latest appliances, cooking utensils, plates and cutlery were all clean and comfortable, and it felt like care had been taken down to every corner. The staff were kind too."
You can also see comparison comments like "Even within the Feliz Villa Suite series, Nagahama Bay has a chic, grown-up taste" and "More modern and calm in atmosphere compared with Miyakojima Ueno". For travellers using multiple villas in the series, the assessment that Nagahama Bay has "the strongest sense of oneness with nature" seems to have taken hold.
A voice that left an impression was, "The stillness and beauty of the mangroves of course, but the full free services, the high-sense stylish interior, and the private pool you can use even in winter were the best. One night was not enough, so next time I want to stay three nights or more here."
On the other hand, as an honest opinion, there is the voice that "because meals become self-catering-centred, there is an aspect that does not suit travellers who mainly eat out". Flipped around, this also means "high freedom in dining", and it is a point where preferences divide.
Regarding the on-site restaurant "San", there is also the assessment, "The satisfaction with dining is high, with the heated pool, the mangrove scenery, and the shabu-shabu at the adjacent restaurant. With the full free drinks and amenities, the courteous staff response, and the quiet environment, even a family with children could spend a relaxed time."
On the whole there are many voices of "it exceeded expectations", and the high desire to revisit, especially "I want to come again and again", stands out. That, I think, is this villa's true strength.
Food life in the Nagahama area—self-catering and nearby restaurants
The Nagahama area where Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay is located is a residential district with little tourist feel. The restaurants you can walk to are limited, but that, conversely, creates a feeling close to "island life".
Shopping before check-in is very important. On the way from Miyako Airport there is AEON Miyakojima Shopping Center, where you can get food, drinks, daily items and BBQ ingredients all at once. There is free ice for keeping things cold too, so do make use of it. Once you cross the Irabu Ohashi Bridge there is no large supermarket nearby, so stocking up at this timing is essential.
Regarding the on-site "San", as mentioned above, you can enjoy high-grade sukiyaki and shabu-shabu using Miyako Kyori beef and Agu pork. It is worth using once as a special dinner.
The cafe "Kuninaka Shoten" within walking distance is popular for bread made with locally produced ingredients, and is recommended as a breakfast spot after check-out. Its chinsuko shake and freshly baked bread are well-regarded, and you can taste an island sense of daily life different from resort dining.
As restaurants you can drop by mid-sightseeing, local diners are dotted around the Sarahama Fishing Port area. You can eat seafood dishes using fresh bonito and tuna, and the atmosphere unique to a fishing town is enjoyable. Long-established Miyako soba shops are dotted around too, an essential standard gourmet item of an Okinawa trip.
A 3-day, 2-night plan at Nagahama Bay
To make an actual stay easier to picture, here is a suggested way to spend 3 days and 2 nights. I write honestly, including points where it is easy to slip up.
Day 1: arrival and an island night
Once you hire a car at Miyako Airport, head straight to AEON first to procure food and drinks. Prepare plenty of ice for keeping things cold—buy too little thinking "it is just for BBQ, a bit will do" and you will regret it when your drinks go warm at night (a slip-up I genuinely hear about often). After that, cross the Irabu Ohashi Bridge to Nagahama Bay.
After checking in, enjoy the dusk at the terrace pool. For dinner, the on-site "San" or a terrace BBQ with the ingredients you stocked up. At night, stargazing. With the sound of fish jumping from the lagoon in your ears, you spend a quiet night. If you are used to city hotels, at first the lack of sound may surprise you, but after about 3 hours it turns into "this stillness feels good".
Day 2: sightseeing and a pool day
In the morning, to Toriike Pond and 17END (for 17END, check the tide table in advance before going—you cannot see the famous scenery except at low tide). Toriike Pond is a close 5 minutes from Nagahama Bay, so it is good that you can go on a "what shall we do this morning" whim.
At noon, return to Nagahama Bay and spend time at the pool. Napping in a hammock while gazing at the lagoon is a luxury too. In the afternoon, snorkelling at Nakanoshima Beach. Shallow and highly transparent, the coral and tropical fish are magnificent. Always use sunscreen together with a rash guard. Regretting a bright-red back is a classic of Irabu Island snorkelling.
In the evening, spend a relaxed time on the white sand of Toguchi-no-Hama, then return to the lodging, soak in the jacuzzi, and a night gazing at the lagoon.
Day 3: fulfilling even after check-out
Check-out is at 11:00. After spending a leisurely morning, a bread breakfast at Kuninaka Shoten. The freshly baked chocolate bread and chinsuko shake are well-regarded, just right as a breakfast eaten outside.
After that, drop by Sawada-no-Hama to see the distinctive rocky scenery, then cross the Irabu Ohashi Bridge to Miyakojima. Eat Miyako soba near the airport before boarding—leaving the island with the feeling "I wanted to stay longer" is, I think, a classic of this lodging.
The prices to note and how to book
For the price band of Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay, there is information that the reference price on Ikyu.com is from ¥36,960 including tax per unit for 2 people (room-only). Considering it as a private villa, this is in a relatively reasonable class for the grade of facilities and location.
In peak season (July to August, Golden Week, the New Year period) prices rise and popularity is high, so early booking is necessary. It is best to act 1 to 2 months before peak season. The off-peak period (winter weekdays) is relatively easy to book and prices are settled, so it is a good target.
You can book directly from the official site (felizvilla-nagahama.snack.chillnn.com), and also on Ikyu.com, Rakuten Travel, Booking.com, Jalan and others. Ikyu premium members get a sparkling wine gift perk, so for members, booking from Ikyu is a good deal.
Set bookings of lodging plus airfare, or lodging plus hire car, are also handled from the official site. A hire car especially is in tight demand in peak season, so it is wise to arrange it at the same time as your lodging booking. The official site also advises "we recommend booking a hire car together".
Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay frequently asked questions
Q. What is the deal with meals?
No meals are provided (self-style). With a full kitchen, self-catering is possible. Use the on-site "San" restaurant, or manage with nearby restaurants or ingredients you have stocked up. Shopping at a supermarket before check-in is the basic.
Q. How many people can stay?
There are 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom types. It can handle anything from couples and partners to families and groups. Please check the details on the official site or booking sites.
Q. Can the pool be used year-round?
Because the water temperature is managed, it can be used even in winter. A guest who actually stayed in December wrote in a review that "it was warm and I could swim".
Q. Can you get there without a car?
There is information that it is about a 20-minute walk (or 3 minutes by car) from Miyako Shimojishima Airport, so if you use Shimojishima Airport, it could just about be called within walking distance. However, a car is essential for sightseeing on the island, so it is absolutely better to have a hire car ready.
Q. Is there Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi is advertised in the official information. You can use it without issue for checking work email or watching videos.
Q. What is the cancellation policy?
It varies by booking service. Please check the policy of each booking service, such as the official site, Ikyu.com or Rakuten Travel. There are also plans with free cancellation until around 18:00 the day before.
Q. Can I bring a pet?
There is no mention in the official information. If you wish to bring a pet, please inquire with the hotel in advance.
What Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay leaves you with
On the day of check-out, I drank coffee on the terrace until it was 11:00.
The mangroves shone green in the morning light. A crab walked sideways at a leisurely pace on the rocks. The lagoon was calm, its surface faintly swaying. A single bird crossed over the mangroves.
Places where the feeling "I want to come again" wells up naturally are not so many. Not "satisfied to have gone" as a sightseeing spot, but a pull of "I want to come back here again". That is my honest impression of Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay.
If you are looking for somewhere to stay on Irabu Island, please put this villa properly on your shortlist once. The experience of a "forest holiday home" wrapped in mangroves and lagoon, different from a seaside resort, can only be had here. It is an executive-grade suite villa, but a place where you can feel satisfaction beyond its price, I think.
People coming to Irabu Island for sightseeing, and people who want to stay slowly as if living there—each can find their own "special time" here. As a lodging for a trip to Miyakojima and Irabu Island, do consider Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay.
That stillness of the mangroves is something you can absolutely never obtain in the city. So, when you come to Irabu Island, do breathe in the morning air of Nagahama Bay once. That alone should make you feel it was worth coming.
Summary: features of Feliz Villa Suite Nagahama Bay
- One-of-a-kind location: the mangrove-and-lagoon view is Nagahama Bay only
- Private pool and jacuzzi in every unit: a heated pool usable even in winter
- Holiday-home style: a full proper kitchen for self-catering, spend freely and self-service
- Stylish interior: high grade as a chic, refined suite villa
- Good access: 3 min by car from Miyako Shimojishima Airport, 5 min to Toriike Pond
- On-site restaurant: "San", shabu-shabu and sukiyaki of Miyako Kyori beef and Agu pork
- Rich nearby sightseeing: 17END, Toriike Pond, Toguchi-no-Hama and Sawada-no-Hama within a drive
- A sense of oneness with nature: a sky full of stars, the sound of fish jumping, the chirping of birds
At the moment of check-out, you can think you were glad to have chosen this lodging. A place like that is in Nagahama on Irabu Island.
