Approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes by car from Naha Airport. It is a small inn located in Motobu-cho in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island. The inn is owned by an owner who is determined to protect dugongs and offers various experiences in addition to staying at the inn. A slightly maniacal inn is recommended for those who do not want to take just a sightseeing trip.
Point 1: How can I get to Dugong no Yado (formerly Hananumoto Hennaji no Yado)?
Source: Rakuten Travel
Dugong no Yado (formerly Hananumoto Hennaji no Yado) is a Ryukyuan traditional house inn located in Motobu-cho, northern Okinawa’s main island.
The owner, who believes that sustainable living will protect the dugongs that connect the forest to the sea, is determined to “protect the dugongs,” and practices sustainable living, which he shares with guests at this precious inn.
It takes about 1 hour and 28 minutes from Naha Airport via Okinawa Expressway, or in case of a bus, take YKB888 Yanbaru Express Bus bound for Resort Hotel Bel Paraiso, and get off at “Motobu Museum Mae”. If you call in advance, a “dugong car” like the one in the photo will come to pick you up.
The dugong car, with a dugong painted on its body, will bring a smile to everyone’s face just by looking at it.
Point 2: Rooms at Dugong no Yado (formerly Hananumoto Hennaji no Yado)
Source: Rakuten Travel
Dugong no Yado (formerly Hananumoto Hennaji no Yado) consists of two Ryukyuan traditional houses, Handiya (approx. 20 tatami mats) and Taila (approx. 16 tatami mats).
Each is a separate building and is reserved for one group per day.
The building where you will stay is exactly what we imagine a red-tiled “Ryukyu House” to be, with many plants growing in the garden. Rooms at Hennaji no Yado
The kitchen at “Handiya” Source: Rakuten Travel
Each building has a kitchen, decorated with herb water prepared by the owner. The rooms are not inorganic, but rather handmade with a warmth that oozes the personality of the owner, and you can feel your heart relaxing.
Source: Rakuten Travel
The ceramic washbasins and glass lighting are handmade, giving the rooms a crafty feel! You can feel a warmth that you cannot find in ordinary hotels.
Source: Rakuten Travel
Outside the house, there is an open-air bath in the grove of trees, where you can also enjoy the star-filled sky. The night in Yanbaru, where there are no street lights, is dark, so bring a flashlight to the open-air baths!
Point 3: What can I experience at Dugong no Yado (formerly Hananumoto Hennaji no Yado)?
Source: Rakuten Travel
At Dugong no Yado (formerly Hananumoto Hennaji no Yado), you can not only stay overnight but also have various experiences with the owner.
These include exploring a seaside cave, learning the Xiaoshu Weather Gong method, looking for fireflies and firefly larvae, cooperative farming without pesticides, herb water, and the “pizza experience” pictured in the photo.
The pizza experience begins with lighting a fire in a “rocket stove,” a type of wood-burning stove.
The “firewood,” which is rarely seen in the city, is then used to raise the temperature of the pizza oven. The pizza dough is then kneaded, fermented, and loaded with ingredients, and baked at a high temperature.
This is an impressive experience for anyone other than campers, not only children but also adults, who are not accustomed to seeing naked flames.
The inn offers breakfast for an extra charge if you wish, but everything else is self-prepared. There are several cafes and restaurants in the surrounding area, but the nearest one is about a 3-minute walk away.
Reservations can be made through Rakuten Travel, and the cost for two people is just under 10,000 yen per person, which I think is rather inexpensive considering that you can have such a great experience in a private house.
Especially for children, the experience at this inn will remain in their memories for a lifetime.
Please visit “Dugong no Yado” in the northern part of Okinawa’s main island.
