ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort Review: Is It Worth Staying Here?
Last Updated on July 14, 2026 by Kay
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Thinking of visiting ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort and wondering if it’s worth the stay?
We decided to spend two nights at ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort because my brother-in-law stayed at the hotel on his honeymoon many years ago and still raves about it.
So did it live up to his hype?
Well, overall, we really enjoyed our stay. In fact, we loved the hotel from the moment we walked in. The resort is beautiful, the grounds are well-maintained, and there was plenty to do without even leaving the property.
That said, there were a few things I think are worth knowing before booking.
In this article, I’ll share what it was like for my family of three to stay here. I’ll share my perspective as an adult guest (for those who are traveling without kids) as well as my thoughts as a parent of a six-year-old.
Table of Contents
- Our Overall Impression of the ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort
- Where to Stay: Bay, Ocean, or Coral Wing?
- Our Stay at ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort (Bay Wing)
- Ocean Wing and Coral Wing
- Is ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Good for Kids?
- Is ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Good for Adults?
- Would I Stay at ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Again?
Our Overall Impression of the ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort
I truly felt like this hotel was perfect for guests of all kinds (families, couples, and anyone wanting a resort stay in Ishigaki). Not everything was perfect, though.
If you don’t have time to read the full article, here’s a quick overview of what our stay at ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort was like.
What We Liked
- Beautiful resort grounds
- Multiple swimming pools
- Stunning ocean and pool views from many rooms
- Extremely comfortable bedding
- Excellent breakfast buffet
- Walking distance and direct access to Maesato Beach
- Plenty of activities for children
- Marine activities available directly from the resort
- Don Quijote across the road
What We Disliked
- Bay Wing guests cannot use the pool in the Ocean and Coral Wing, and likewise, Ocean and Coral Wing guests cannot use the Bay Wing pool
- The Bay Wing pool closes at 6 PM in off-season
- Some outdoor furniture could use better maintenance
- Used poolside dishes were not always cleared quickly
- Dinner buffet was expensive
- We found some of the Beach House staff a bit unfriendly
Where to Stay: Bay, Ocean, or Coral Wing?
ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort has three wings: the Bay Wing, the Ocean Wing, and the Coral Wing.
The Bay Wing is the newest, having opened in 2020, and from our experience, everything still looks fairly pristine and new. The Ocean Wing and Coral Wing originally opened in 2009, although the Coral Wing was renovated in 2023 with family-friendly rooms that have bunk beds and tatami areas.
We had originally wanted to stay in one of the more child-friendly rooms in the Ocean or Coral Wing. However, none of the rooms with ocean views were available, so we decided to book the Bay Wing instead.
We were a bit worried because the Bay Wing seemed more adult-oriented, but it worked out perfectly for our family of three.
If you are staying with babies, toddlers, or preschoolers, the Ocean or Coral Wing may still be the better choice. They are closer to the family-friendly pool with a water slide, as well as some of the resort’s indoor activities for children.
However, our elementary-school-aged daughter was perfectly happy in the Bay Wing. She has no interest in water slides, so the large Bay Wing pool was just right for her.
You can walk between the Bay Wing and the Ocean and Coral Wing area in about five minutes, so we never felt particularly isolated from the rest of the resort.
Our Stay at ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort (Bay Wing)
As the Bay Wing is one of the resort’s newer areas, everything felt pristine when we arrived. It even smelled nice.
We were seated and given welcome drinks (shikuwasa juice) while checking in, which we really appreciated, and the staff took our bags to the room for us. I loved the attention and care.
The lobby itself is fairly small and only has a few reception desks, so you may need to wait if several guests arrive at the same time.
Our Classic Ocean View Room
We stayed in a Classic Ocean View Room in the Bay Wing.
The room was perfect — modern, bright, and spacious enough for the three of us. Everything was clean and well-maintained, so I was impressed from the get-go.
If you want to close off the washroom area from the bedroom for some privacy, there’s a sliding door to do so.
There was a large closet at the entrance with bathrobes, pajamas, and some storage:
From the television, we could order additional items such as pillows (synthetic medium, soft or firm, Japanese style buckwheat, or a tempur pillow), find out about activities at the resort like snorkeling, and learn about the prices for the mini bar items.
There was a fridge, a kettle, a coffee maker, free bottled water, as well as dishes and glasses (which we very much appreciated and used):
I was pretty stoked about the complimentary TWG tea, which is my favorite:
But don’t get too excited about these little snacks and drinks in the drawers, because they cost money! However, I didn’t find the prices absurd by any means. For example, the Pringles were only 300 yen. (As mentioned earlier, you can check the prices through the television.)
The bed and pillows were absolutely heavenly. Hands down, this was the most comfortable bedding I have ever experienced at a hotel in Japan. I was SPOILED. My husband felt the same way.
The room was spacious enough for us to open one large suitcase using the luggage rack.
We felt bad about dragging our second suitcase onto the carpet, and we didn’t need anything from it. This was why we kept it closed in the entryway and then moved it whenever we needed to open or close the door, which was annoying at times.
The bathroom was spacious, with a walk-in shower and large bottles of Byredo Bal d’Afrique shampoo, conditioner, and body wash (another favorite of mine).
We also got amenities like toothbrushes, a comb, a vanity kit, and a shaving kit. Our daughter received children’s amenities as well.
The toilet was also in a separate room, which is a must for me when traveling in Japan. (And the same Toto washlet that I have at home!)
The room was also extremely quiet. Our neighbors were adults without children, so perhaps that played a role, but we never heard anyone around us.
The balcony had two chairs we could sit on and enjoy the stunning view of the ocean and pool. Needless to say, the ocean view room did not disappoint; it’s absolutely worth paying extra for.
In fact, watching the sunset from our room while drinking some wine (kid had juice, of course) was one of the highlights of our stay.
The Resort Grounds
One thing that really stood out was how well-maintained the grounds were.
Palm trees, tropical plants, wide walking paths, and open lawns made the resort feel really spacious.
There were swings around the hotel grounds, including one beneath a large banyan tree, as well as soccer nets for guests who wanted to play sports.
The large lawns also gave children plenty of room to run around.
Here is what the atmosphere at ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort looks like at night (magical, right?):
The Bay Wing Pool (Sunset Pool)
The pool area was one of the biggest reasons we enjoyed staying here.
There are three outdoor pools in the resort: Club Intercontinental (for Club Intercontinental guests), Sunrise Pool for Ocean and Coral Wing guests, and Sunset Pool for Bay Wing guests. You can only use the pool at your wing, not any other pool. This means guests staying in the Bay Wing cannot use the pools reserved for Ocean and Coral Wing guests, and vice versa. All guests can use the indoor pool, though.
The Bay Wing’s Sunset pool is large and gorgeous. It doesn’t have any slides, but this did not bother us or our daughter. She spent most of her time swimming underwater with her goggles on.
Okay, I lied a little. There are two slides, but they don’t go into the pool and are a little lame for kids other than toddlers.
The pool wasn’t very busy for most of our stay, so it never felt crowded. There were plenty of loungers available, along with shallow areas for children and deeper sections for adults. Granted, we stayed in May during the low season, so perhaps it might be a little different during summer when many families go on vacation.
The water temperature was just right. It was a little warm but still refreshing on a hot day. There was also a hot tub, which I really enjoyed.
There were sometimes bugs in the water, particularly because there are so many trees around the pool. However, I suppose it can’t really be helped. It is an island, after all!
Another little downside is that you can’t see the beach or ocean from the pool, either.
The resort provides free inner ring rentals for both adults and children, as well as free lemon water for guests near the pool.
One annoying thing was that the pool closed at 6 PM during the off-season. We stayed in May, and it would have been nice to be able to swim a little later. If you stay from July 1st to October 31st, the pool is open until 10 PM.
The resort also offers adults-only night pool hours at certain times of the year, which could be a nice option for couples or parents looking for somewhere quieter after dark. However, this was not available during our stay because of the earlier off-season closing time.
Some of the cabanas at the far end of the pool looked like they needed quite a bit of TLC. I had no issues with the loungers, though.
There are also some cleaner shaded seating areas that are a little bit away from the pool and have tables:
There are also around three cabanas with large, shaded daybeds that you can use for about two hours if you pay 10,000 yen for an all-you-can-drink plan.
One thing I really, really loved about the pool is that there are private showers right next to it, and they have the same Byredo Bal d’Afrique shampoo, conditioner, and body wash as the room. So our family would stay in the pool until it closed, take a shower, and then head into town for dinner. It was way more convenient than going back to our room dripping wet.
Ordering Food and Drinks by the Pool
You can order food and drinks from your lounge chair using an app.
The food was a little expensive, but everything we tried tasted good. I definitely recommend the truffle fries.
There was also a happy hour from 3 PM to 5 PM, when drinks such as wine and beer were discounted. You can’t order these drinks through the app, though, you have to go to the pool bar at SALTIDA.
One problem, though, was that the staff did not always clear away used plates and dishes quickly enough. This meant that crows sometimes reached them before the staff did.
Maesato Beach
The resort is located along Maesato Beach, which is less than a 5-minute walk away.
As you can see in the image above, there’s a floating obstacle course called Maesato Ocean Park, which costs 4,500 yen for hotel guests and 5,500 yen for general admission. Children ages three to five can join for free.
This looked like a fun option for families, especially for kids who enjoy climbing, jumping, and playing on inflatable equipment in the water. Our daughter wasn’t interested in trying it (I asked her several times), but kids who were using it seemed like they were having fun. Although it’s pricey, it is included in the family pass, which I’ll cover later on in the article.
The beach was fine, with good water clarity and nice sand. The water also had the beautiful blue-green color that Okinawa is known for.
However, I did not love the overall view from the beach, and I would not choose this resort purely because of its beachfront location.
There was also some broken coral mixed into the sand, so sandals may be more comfortable when walking around.
The swimming area is protected by a net, which is common in Okinawa because of jellyfish. If you walk along the rocky breakwater (or maybe it’s a pier?), you can also see lots of fish in the clear water below, which made my daughter’s day.
If you are looking for long stretches of perfect, soft white sand, there are better beaches around Ishigaki, but you won’t find them with nets to keep out jellyfish, and they might be dangerous since there aren’t any lifeguards. So, if you simply want a safe and convenient beach where you can cool off without leaving the resort, it does the job.
Snorkeling and Marine Activities
You can book snorkeling and other marine activities at the Leisure House near Maesato Beach or through the hotel front desk.
The Leisure House is closed from noon to 1 PM, so keep that in mind when planning your day.
You can also purchase drinks and snacks from here.
As mentioned earlier, ANA InterContinental Ishigaki has a Family Pass that includes snorkeling near the beach (not by boat) as well as access to Maesato Ocean Park and equipment rentals.
My daughter didn’t want to go to Maesato Ocean Park or snorkeling, though, so we didn’t get it. However, I booked a 90-minute group snorkeling tour for myself for ¥8,000. The instructor spoke basic English and did his best to explain how to snorkel before we even got on the boat, although I did not need any instruction since I’ve been snorkeling for years.
The tour involved taking a boat about five minutes from Maesato Beach’s shore, and there was only one other couple with me. The instructor was really informative and told us about some of the ocean life we saw while snorkeling.
Although my snorkeling instructor was lovely, we found some of the other staff working at the Leisure House to be a little bit unfriendly. This was disappointing because the service elsewhere in the hotel was generally so good.
Breakfast at the Bay Wing
Breakfast was included in our stay at the restaurant SALTIDA, and it was one of our favorite meals at the resort.
There was a great mix of Japanese and Western food, including fresh fruit, pastries, eggs, vegetables, yogurt, cereal, and made-to-order omelettes.
I think I had the best omelette of my life here.
The fruit was mouthwatering, and I loved the little pancake maker. They also had fresh honey served directly from a honeycomb, which was really cool to show our daughter.
Everything we tried was fresh, and there was enough variety that we never got bored over two mornings.
They also served iced TWG tea in my favorite flavor, Vanilla Bourbon, so I guzzled that like my life depended on it.
There was never a line or wait to get seated during our stay. This may have been because we visited during the off-season and families often stay in the other wings.
The seats were also super comfortable!
Dinner at the Resort
We had dinner at SALIDA one evening.
There was a wide variety of seafood, salads, desserts, and Okinawan specialties. The dessert spread was especially impressive with cakes and biscotti.
The hot food selection was okay, but I personally thought the buffet was expensive for what it was, especially once we added wine.
It was not bad by any means. I just do not know if I would choose it again when Ishigaki has so many great local restaurants.
I think it might be better to eat dinner at one of the Ocean Wing restaurants, which I’ll share below, or in town, although you may need a car or have to hire a taxi.
Ocean Wing and Coral Wing
Although we stayed in the newer Bay Wing, we visited the Ocean and Coral Wings to see what it was like. Although Bay Wing guests can’t use the pool here (Sunrise Pool), it’s completely fine to use the other facilities in these wings.
The Ocean Wing has a main lobby, several restaurants, the resort shop, the activity desk, and a small aquarium that my daughter liked to stop and look at.
The Suncoast Cafe is where Coral Wing and Ocean Wing guests can enjoy a buffet breakfast during their stay.
I’ve also heard really great things about the Yaeyama restaurant, which serves kaiseki meals featuring Ishigaki ingredients. When I stay at ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort again, I’ll definitely try to dine here.
Omoto Teppanyaki is another restaurant that has great reviews online, especially for their Ishigaki beef. It’s pricey, though, and they don’t have many seats, so it’s best to make a reservation.
The Ocean Wing also has both an indoor swimming pool and a larger outdoor family pool with waterslides (Sunrise Pool). I did think the Sunrise Pool looked more worn and less luxurious than the Sunset Pool in the Bay Wing.
There’s a small playground here and a sandbox for young kids as well.
The Coral Wing is connected to the Ocean Wing, so it’s easy to walk between the two.
The Coral Wing has a Family Lounge where guests can play ping pong and board games.
There is also a very small children’s play area that looked best suited to babies and toddlers.
The resort shop right down the hall from here sells swimsuits, beach supplies, snacks, and drinks, which is helpful if you forget something.
Is ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Good for Kids?
Absolutely! I think ANA InterContinental Ishigaki is an excellent resort in Ishigaki for families.
There were children throughout the resort, and we also saw a couple of other families staying in the Bay Wing, including one or two with babies.
Some of the things our daughter particularly enjoyed were:
- Swimming in the pool
- Exploring the resort grounds
- Using the swings
- Watching the pancake machine and honeycomb at breakfast
- Completing the stamp rally around the resort
The stamp rally was a nice surprise. Children (or anyone, really) can collect stamps from different locations around the hotel and receive a sticker as a prize.
We saw someone receive the sticker at the Beach House, but when we asked there the following day, we were told to go to the front desk instead, which was a little weird but not a big deal, I suppose.
Although we loved the Bay Wing, for families with babies, toddlers, or preschoolers, I would probably choose the Ocean or Coral Wing. Those wings are more convenient for the family pool, water slide, indoor play area, and other child-friendly activities.
For an elementary-school-aged child who does not care about water slides, the Bay Wing can work perfectly well. Our daughter loved the pool, beach, grounds, and activities, and we never felt as though we had chosen the wrong part of the hotel.
Overall, I thought the resort did a great job of balancing luxury with being welcoming to families.
Is ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Good for Adults?
If you stay in the Bay Wing, absolutely. Most families stay in the Coral and Ocean Wing, so expect it to be much quieter and less chaotic.
And hey, like I mentioned in the beginning, my brother-in-law stayed here on his honeymoon even before there was a Bay Wing and he loved it!
Would I Stay at ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Again?
Yes, yes, 100% yes.
ANA InterContinental Ishigaki Resort is the perfect balance between luxury and family-friendly.
The beautiful grounds, large pool, excellent breakfast, spectacular views, and incredibly comfortable room made it somewhere we genuinely enjoyed spending time.
The Bay Wing worked much better for our family than we had expected. Our daughter loved the pool, and my husband and I appreciated how quiet, pristine, and relaxing everything felt.
Not everything was perfect, but none of those things would stop us from returning.
We had a really great stay and would gladly stay here again, perhaps even in August when there are fireworks every Saturday night, and live music every other night!
If you’re interested in staying here, you can check availability and rates here.